Reviews
Everyone at the Surgery are always very helpful, kind & considerate. Thank you to all the staff at Ashdown Forest Health Centre.
I wanted to provide some feedback as a surgery patient wanting an appointment.
I phoned yesterday morning to make an appointment for my daughter (grown up) as she was unable to call at 8.30.
It took me 15 calls before I got passed the engaged tone and then 15 minutes waiting to speak to a receptionist, only to be told all appointments had gone and I should call that after noon or the following morning.
I can forgive the half an hour process but with out any progress, only to start another half and hour process again with no guarantee of a different outcome is not acceptable and not inclusive.
over 10 minutes before phone answered - i can understand that you are busy, but having to listen to the same message droning on and on is not good
I have had acute gastrointestinal problems for 16 days and are thus feeling extremely unwell. When I had the embarrassment of submitting a stool sample the receptionist pulled a disgusted face, asked me to make sure the bag was closed properly and then went to get a large yellow bin, which she held up in front of the full waiting room, and asked me to throw it in. I felt utterly humiliated and left the surgery in tears. I then got a text to say my results were normal. I rang to ask if the doctor would therefore need to speak to me to decide what to do next. The lady I spoke to was very rude and said ‘no why would they?’ I explained that I still had gastroenteritis and just wondered if the doctor had noted a treatment plan. To which she replied angrily ‘can you imagine us having a treatment plan for everyone we do tests on. Do you know how many we do?’
I explained again that I still had symptoms even though the Giardia results were negative. She then said ‘well you need to see a doctor then. Call back tomorrow’
I worked in the veterinary field for 30 years. My daughter works in the NHS. I understand how things work in a busy GP practice but I still think patients deserve to be treated with respect and empathy. We are not all wasting the doctors time. I have been polite and patient in every interaction I have had with all staff. I have not at any point been rude or demanding.
After recently moving from a "multi" practice surgery, my recent blood test at this surgery has revealed that I have a B12 deficiency. This was expertly explained to my by Dr Fyfe and relevant injections booked in and the first administered on 3rd November, the day after my telephone conversation with my Doctor, so dealt with very quickly . I had put most of the symptoms of this condition down to getting older, but I now know I have had this condition for many years which was never picked up by anyone else. With the diagnosis and relevant medication I am looking forward to feeling a whole lot better. Excellent service and care.