Birchington Medical Centre

Birchington Medical Centre 2020-10-26 Person 2 5 0

Always a battle to get an appointment or help when required. I care for elderly parents with health needs but rarely can I get medical help at the time of request. Most recently it has taken over a week to get help with mum's deteriorating leg condition and I had to get cross before something got done. This is ongoing and there has been no improvement in the last 2/3 years since I met with the then practice manager with my sister.

Listen carefully Tell the truth over the phone. I was told that a prescription was available but it took over an hour and the fact I wasn't going to leave outside the surgery until I had it. Think a bit more carefully about the impact of telephone consultations with the elderly who have concentration/dementia issue and need support with the call.

Birchington Medical Centre 2020-09-30 Person 1 5 0

My wife needed to make an appointment. Called Tuesday 29th Sept and told to call back Monday 5th Oct when the next block of appointments would be released, starting 26th Oct.... This is almost 4 weeks away.....how can you possibly run a surgery this way? Are we expected to predict 4 weeks in advance when we need to speak to a Dr? Not everything is critical, but 4 weeks is a joke, no 'business' could operate at this level of 'customer service' and expect to survive.

The surgery should be adequately resourced to provide timely appointments for non-critical matters, despite the Covid situation. Had to tick the cleanliness of the surgery score as could not progress without doing so, however did not actually get there!!

Birchington Medical Centre 2020-09-24 Person 1 5 0

I had a txt from Sharon Bedingfield asking me to make a appointment for a further blood test that my consultant has requested which I tried to do 6th October I was first offered but my consultant has said I will be receiving a urgent appointment I can see I will get my consultant appointment but no blood test receptionist said I am offering you app tomorrow ring at 8 well I expect by time I get through there will be no appointment left .I think the way your running your surgery at the moment is worse than ever covid is no excuse you could make things a loteasier even getting through on the phone is hopeless .

You need completely restructuring.

Birchington Medical Centre 2020-09-24 Person 1 5 0

I am appalled by this surgery. I rang on Monday (which is not an easy process in its self) as i had severe cystitis. I could not get to see a doc or get a telephone call. I was told to come in with sample. Which i duly did. my medical treatment. A text message with perscription. Had i been able to talk to someone i would have told them that i needed a specific antibiotic, as the normal ones do not work. So i get a treatment that will not work. I give it a couple of days and am in worse pain. Ringing the doc at 12.45 on wed 23/9. Im told no one can see me , nothing they can do as there closing and ring 111 or call back in morning. Appalling!! I was in severe pain. No compassion for a person suffering. So i ring 111 to be told that there is nothing they can do, and ring docs in morning and tell them 111 said to give me an appointment. So i go online and pay £50.00 for a private doc and perscription. and this morning i feel slightly better. As far as im concerned. This is not acceptable.

Yes in the 15 mins the surgery had left they could have spoken to a doctor and got me a perscription. I have been suffering with cystitis for a number of years and know the treatment i need.

Birchington Medical Centre 2020-09-21 Person 1 5 0

The phone answered in less than 15 minutes and getting a GP appointment in less than 3 weeks at this practice has always been a challenge. Covid 19 and the move to "a digital practice" further reduces the opportunity for any timely contact with a clinician. A 3 week wait for a telephone consultation now appears to be standard. F2F communication allows for a better exchange of information since both speaker and listener are able to see and interpret body language and facial expressions, patients need this when they have concerns about their health. The reception staff do their best but are now gatekeepers rather than facilitators to patient care. I have no idea if the surgery is clean as I have not had the opportunity to go in

Follow the advice from RCGP chair Professor Martin - https://www.gponline.com/shift-away-face-to-face-gp-care-pandemic-dangerous-warns-rcgp-chair/article/1683171 regarding the need for F2F consultations and fulfil your duty to offer F2F appointments to patients rather than making it as difficult as possible BBC News online 17 September 2020 Earlier this week NHS England wrote to every GP surgery in the country to remind practitioners they had a duty to also offer face-to-face appointments as it was feared many with serious conditions were being missed