Ashdown Forest Health Centre

Ashdown Forest Health Centre 2019-04-11 Person 1 5 0

As an experienced ex-nurse, I continue to be disappointed by this GP unit. First of all there is a long message on the answerphone with a very irritating voice. This is frustrating when you don’t have much time to make the call. There are only set times to call for appointments which is difficult when at work and you can’t get to the phone at these times. Added to which, because everyone else has to call at these times, it is unlikely you can get through quickly or at all which means you need a great deal of time to do this. The word “empathy” seems an anathema to staff working here including the doctors. So, when the shock and inconvenience of some medical condition arises, it is with great reluctance that I want to go near this clinic. My recent experience of trying to get test results has been appalling for 2 separate health issues. I am left with no result or communication about an echocardiogram that was performed at the princess royal hospital over 2 months ago. At the time I was not informed that the results would not be sent to the clinic who instructed me to call the hospital where I have left several messages with the cardiologist’s secretary who has not returned my call. Perhaps staff do not realise that when their patients need medical advice or attention, they should not have to put up with unhelpfulness or have to be aggressively assertive to get their needs met.

Ashdown Forest Health Centre 2019-04-08 Person 1 5 0

At 08.30 I dialled repeatedly for 20 mins. before getting through to reception. By this time all doctors' appointments had gone. I was told to ring back at 13.30. I rang repeatedly for 20 mins from this time before getting through. So, again, no appointments available for the afternoon, except for two nurses who deal with phlebotomy, which I do not need. I went online to book and guess what? No appointments available there today or even for any future date either. This is just appauling.

Ashdown Forest Health Centre 2019-03-26 Person 4 5 0

A very caring and dedicated team, however I find the system of booking appointments frustrating as you cannot book in advance. Some appointments are available at 6am online but usually only two per Doctor. If you miss those you have to wait on the telephone after 8.30am and by the time you get through all have gone.

Ashdown Forest Health Centre 2018-06-30 Person 3 5 0

I have been with the surgery for 50 years and due to NHS rules the service has got very disjointed. I complained of blood in my urine about 9 months ago and was given antibiotics. This happened many times. Sometimes it happened at weekends and by drinking loads of water I cleared it for a week or two. Gradually it got worse and I kept visiting the surgery and one Friday Dr.Cannon met me at the back door with antibiotics and said "this has been going on too long. We should refer you". That week I visited the surgery again and saw yet another Dr who prescribed a week of antibiotics but was eventually referred to P.Royal and underwent a flexible cystoscopy when a huge tumour was discovered in my bladder. I had a pre-ops appt for the following Friday but got retention and clots so rang 111 in the evening and they told me to go to A and E. My daughter happened to be staying (I live on my own) and she got her 3 year old son up and took me to A & E at P.Royal. If we had called an ambulance it would have taken ages and probably gone to Pembury. P.Royal took me in and kept me until they operated and then because a kidney was blocked I had to go to Brighton for a day for a stent and nephrostomy. I eventually came home this week but had to go to B'ton for a day to have the nephrostomy removed. Now, Sat., I have dark urine (probably blood again) and am worried because I started my Rivaroxaban this morning (as instructed). I will contact Macmillan nurses in the morning as 111 will probably tell me to go to A and E again. I just want to settle at home. If I had been referred earlier it could have saved a lot expense for NHS as the tumour could have been removed at an early stage. Another patient on my ward had had the same happen to her from a west Sussex surgery and her cancer has spread. I am awaiting the biopsy whilst holding my breath. The ward said everyone should be referred earlier. I am not blaming you - it is the system - and also I have to go to P.Royal for all blood tests etc because your samples go to Maidstone. It is MAD. Dr.del Mar always came round straight away when my husband came out of hospital but we never see anyone now. I am hoping I haven't got another infection or a bleed and am lucky to have such help from Macmillan. We all miss the personal care given by Dr.Sibley and his successors at the surgery. You all work so hard but it seems to be mis-directed due to the "system". I will try to get better and keep on living for a while.

Ashdown Forest Health Centre 2018-06-11 Person 1 5 0

I rang the surgery 122 times this morning between 8.30 a.m and 9.04am when I finally got through. I just kept redialling. My daughter (who has special needs) was very poorly and really needed to see a dr. The receptionist was mechanical and abrupt. So I am off to A & E to see if we can get the check we need before her condition gets worse. But no doubt we'll get told there we should have seen our GP. I absolutely understand that our surgery is very busy and I was polite and explained as quickly as I could how ill she was but I was given no time. Very disappointed.