Share review of Dalston Medical Group

Dalston Medical Group 2024-02-13 Person 1 5 0

It is impossible to get a time critical appointment at this surgery. Most routine appointments as the surgery calls them take up to two weeks or more. For a time critical appointment you have to ring either at 8am or 12 noon only to find there is a queing service which often results in all appointments taken. This makes no sense as appointments are given out not on medical need but who is lucky enough to be first in the que. I have rung dead on time and still been 11th in the que or cut off when I reach a lower number. When this is the case the surgery relies on the 111 service to take their patients. I respect the receptionists for the difficult job they have to do but they are not medically trained and should not be triaging patients. Supposedly they direct you to the right service which usually means to 111 when there are no more appointments. One is just grateful to get any kind of appointment which is usually a telephone call. Recently as my husband had booked a follow up telephone appointment after a recent visit to CHOC as we were both suffering from a severe chest infection. I asked to be put on the same call to save the doctor time and as we both had the same severe symptoms. This was refused as there were no appointments left. I was told to try ringing the following day at 8 or 12 and running the gauntlet of the queing system once again! Oh how I wish for the days of my youth when family doctors knew their patients and went out of their way to provide exceptional care. Unfortunately I feel this practice is system led and not patient led.

I think I've said it all above.