Biddlestone Health Group

Biddlestone Health Group 2015-06-08 Person 3 5 0

It rather depends on which doctor is seen. Some are very helpful and attend to ones needs and others spend their time inputting information on the computer without really looking at you. I really feel happy with my recent experience when I felt properly listened to. The appointment system needs attention as it's often difficult to get an appointment. \ There is understandably a desire to ensure patients are on time for their appointment but this can be a problem if the appointment is at 8.30am when the surgery is not yet open. There are often many people waiting outside in poor weather and a 5minute earlier opening would be beneficial.

Biddlestone Health Group 2015-06-06 Person 3 5 0

It's often incredibly hard to get a same day appointment over the phone Sometimes takes 20-30 mins to even get through on the phone if I ring at 8.30 as the phone is constantly engaged even if I just repeatedly speed dial. Then when I do get through all appointments are gone. Can you not set up a "you are Nth in the queue" system? Surely this would be preferable. On a positive note GPs are all nice New ones seem much more responsive than old ones who have left.

Biddlestone Health Group 2015-06-03 Person 2 5 0

Just about every time I have made an appointment to see a doctor over the last few years I have had to wait at least half an hour longer than the appointment time in the waiting room. Either don't have appointment times or keep to the appointment time.

Biddlestone Health Group 2015-06-03 Person 3 5 0

Took a day off work in order to make a call to the surgery and arrange an emergency appointment as my workplace forbids the use of mobile phones during working hours. I spent 30 minutes trying to get through only to be told that all the appointments were booked. This is a good practice but insufficient human resource (doctors) to meet the demands made. I'm a patient and a carer.

Biddlestone Health Group 2015-06-01 Person 2 5 0

The GPs at the sugery on the whole are helpful and supportive. However, there is often a long wait to be seen when you have an appointment, for example I recently had an appointment where the GP was running late by more than an hour. This lateness is not an isolated occurance and happens to some degree at every appointment of at least half an hour plus. In addition there is often no apology by the GP for the lateness. I work full time in a demanding job and have to leave work early to get to appointments at the surgery. It might help if you could call the surgery before you left to check on the expected delay and make your way to the surgery accordingly. On the whole the Reception staff are helpful, however, there has been a number of times when there is no-one on reception and there is no way to get their attention. Perhaps some sort of bell may help? In addition it is very undignified for people to have to wait outside the surgery and queue on the road to make an appoinment for that day. Often the doors aren't even open at exactly at 8:30am. I have never witnessed such queuing oustide a surgery before. However, this seems to be the only way you can make an appointment for the same day as by the time you get through by telephone all the appointments are gone for the day. Perhaps these appointments should also be available online each morning. There seems a great power imbalance between the patients and the GP/surgery.