Old Catton Surgery

Written by a carer

This surgery deserves a 0 star if I could only give. My dad is a key worker and was advised by one of their practitioners to shield during pandemic for at least 12 weeks due to having lots of health issues. Now employer is chasing him to get an official letter from Government or GP to confirm he is in a high risk group. We called the practice last week and been told the letter will be issued straight away and can be collected from surgery the same day. Unfortunately it was nothing like an official letter from GP it was only the list of his health issues, so while collecting this letter I was told to contact the surgery again if employer will not accept that as a confirmation. Employer refused it so I contacted the surgery back the same day to be told that an official letter is now requested from GP and will be ready for collection next day which was Friday. On Friday I waited till late afternoon and telephone them again to see if it’s ready and was told that GP is not at work and the letter will be ready on Monday! Soo frustrating but ok. On Monday I called again and was told that GP will not issue any letter and I need to apply online on the gov.uk website which I did and found out that it’s not an application for shielding letter but an application for a food and medicines delivery for shielding patients which my dad does not need as I’m sorting his shopping so far. So I contacted the surgery again to say I still need a letter please could you advise what to do how to get it as employer is chasing us and my dad will not get paid if he will not provide this and guess what I was told by a rudest receptionist ever?! “I will ask GP to produce one for you and will get back to you once I hear from gp”. Is it not the same thing you’ve been telling me last week I said. Could you tell me how long it will take? “ I can”t read gp’s minds she said and we are here to deal with a health issues she added and hung up! They are not even busy right now as people do not fancy telephone appointments. It’s disgusting how they take care of their patients during this difficult pandemic time. My dad feels even worst now as scared not to get his wage and have no money to survive and pay his bills. Shame on you Old Catton.

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Written by a patient

If I could leave a zero I would, I phoned to get an appointment at 1:30 when they ask you to call back, told the receptionist the problem and then she put me on hold what seemed like she had to ask some if it was important enough, she then come back on the phone and said they have no appointments for this afternoon and if I’m in that much pain I’d need to go to the walk-in centre what a joke. You can see why most of there reviews on here a 1star.

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Written by a carer

I have just been writing a letter on my mother's behalf about recent failures in her care within the surgery , There has been 3 serious mistakes the last few weeks and has made me loose complete faith in the surgery The surgery not dealing with a medical problem because it was Friday afternoon when we called for advice , We were told to go to A&E but on arrival and been accessed were told the surgery should of dealt with this . My mother contacted the surgery for advice on medication and was told the doctor would get back to her that day however she had to ring again that day but still that didn't ring her until the next day. My mother requested a re-prescription but received double the dosage. Understandably we feel totally unable to have any faith in the staff which have no dedication to their job roles.

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Written by a patient

Every time I have to deal with this surgery, there is some sort of problem. Whether that's waiting for over an hour because surgery's running late, having to explain in detail the problem to the receptionist before being able to make an appointment (when did they become medically trained?), being made to see a nurse practitioner rather than a doctor or the general bad attitude of the receptionists and (most) of the doctors. Highlights include going along to see a nurse practitioner who already had a variety of prescriptions in front of her signed off by the doctor for me and after listening to the problem she simply selected one of the prescriptions! Then there was the time I rang up on a Friday because my daughter's inhaler had run out that morning and we needed another one only to be told I couldn't order a prescription over the phone, it had to be in writing and before a certain time and even then they couldn't guarantee the doctor would have time to print the prescription. God forbid I should interrupt their tea break. I had to leave work to take a note to the doctors so that we had the inhaler for the weekend. Receptionists are at best barely civil and at worst downright rude and I really do object to giving them medical details over the phone when they have no training and should not even have access to my medical notes. The one saving grace for this surgery is that the current midwife is excellent and I cannot fault her whatsoever. Just a shame she has to work in such a dreadful place!

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