Ballyclare Group Practice

Ballyclare Group Practice 2019-11-14 Person 2 5 0

I joined this practice reluctantly because I had heard it was poor. I didn’t believe I could go elsewhere but now have found another practice that will accept me in Glengormley and am relieved. The first time I saw one of the male doctors, 7 years ago now, I knocked on the door and came in saying hello, as this was normal at my previous GP. Thus doctor didn’t greet me, just mumbled something about what the problem was. He had zero bed side manner and I felt uncomfortable. When I left I said goodbye and thank you - he didn’t reply. Every time I went after this experience I asked for a different doctor, and can you believe it , they were all just as unpleasant, with the exception of the one female doctor. Over the last few years some younger female doctors have joined, what a difference! They actually treat you as human. However one has recently joined, not sure if she is permanent or not, I saw her this week and she is off hand and again can’t say hello or goodbye. I have had enough and am thankfully leaving. If you’re reading this as a doctor, please try and remember your patients are humans and not cadavers

Ballyclare Group Practice 2019-10-28 Person 2 5 0

The same day booking system does not work. It means your doctors appt consumes your entire day and you cannot make plans. Firstly, you must ring first thing to try and book your appointment. Today I rang bang on at 9am and still had to wait 25 minutes before I got through. On getting through, you give the receptionist a short description of the problem and then have to wait AGAIN for a GP to phone you back. Why is a GP spending half the day on the phone making their own appointments when they could be seeing patients? Why am I sitting in my house on my only day off waiting to organise an appointment? With the previous system, I would have booked it for this particular day in advance, at 9am, so I could see the doctor and then get on with my life. When the doctor rings back around 11am (2 hours since my original phone call) I am given a time for an appointment, much later in the day. What a massive palava that could be solved by the simple online booking system that used to be in place. For those of us working it is just so ridiculously inconvenient. May I add, The care I receive is always good once I get there!

Ballyclare Group Practice 2019-09-24 Person 1 5 0

For the last eight of so months I have been having an ongoing issue and have contacted the surgery at least 6 times regarding this. All six times the reception staff were friendly and helpful & a doctor did call but in the 8 months of the same repeated issue I have been having not once have I been physically seen by a doctor for an examination. I feel that the idea of a doctor phoning is not the same as a face to face appointment, I have experienced that you don't get the same treatment or interaction as they can't actually physically see you. I imagine in the near future due to the way this practice operates the doctors are going to miss a patient with something seriously wrong with them as they cannot make a proper diagnosis for everything over the phone. I am considering moving to another practice where patients are seen in person as I feel consulting Dr Google will give you the same level of service sometimes. Not very impressed!

Ballyclare Group Practice 2019-07-05 Person 1 5 0

I waited 15 minutes for a receptionist to pick up for an appointment. this is an unacceptable time for anyone to wait

Ballyclare Group Practice 2019-04-17 Person 2 5 0

Didn't want any of the options available on the phone line so had to keeping pressing 4 for general enquiries - waited 15 minutes and still no one answered. Even when a hospital consultant was trying to contact a GP regarding my husband's care, couldn't get a reply. Appointments line only open for a couple of hours each day, same with repeat prescriptions. No routine preventative check-ups re Well Man or Well Woman and little or non-existent patient care. If I could go to any other surgery I certainly would.