Old Cottage Hospital Surgery

Written by a patient

Had a Blood test appointment at the Old Cottage Hospital this morning. I got checked in 5 minutes early by the receptionist who initially had difficulty finding my name. After waiting 15 minutes I asked another receptionist if I could read out my blood pressure reading I took from home with her as advised by my GP. This caused too much confusion and I was advised to instead use a machine locally near reception. After doing this I asked if my name was called out and I was informed I was not checked in and who did I see upon arrival. This was asked by the receptionist who checked me in and then went on to verify she has remembered me! This all resulted in a DNA (did not attend) entry being recorded on my patient file, which I was informed could not be amended - even though it was a receptionist error and not mine! I then had to wait for the next available slot. If that all wasn't bad enough I then got told by the nurse, before taking my blood tests, that my records show I am not due for another 3 months from today when in fact I am due now and had a card from my GP to prove it. This took some discussions before I was reluctantly seen and my blood taken. All in all, a very bad experience not to mention extended time I had to take away from work today. Next time I will check myself in using the self check in machine and not trust the receptionists as that seems to be the only full proof way to ensure I not get a DNA when in fact I am early and waiting in the waiting room.

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Written by a patient

Promised a call back from a doctor it never happened! It’s not the first tine this tha happened. 20 minutes to get tho off peak , very abrupt receptionist. Impossible to get appointments up there now . Two tier system running if you can drive you can get there at 8.15 they allow those patients to book appointments. The patients who can’t drive and use the phone lines which open at 8.30 sometimes late have less appointments then ! No one should be allowed to book early!

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Written by a patient

So difficult to get appointments now and phone on the day you can try for 200 re dials on a mobile phone to get tho to a receptionist by then no apptointments. Phones open at 8.30 yet they open at 8.15 to anyone who can drive there to make a appointment very unfair they are allowed to book those appointments early ! Can’t get emergency appts on Saturday they are for Pre booked appts only ! They don’t do out of hours either

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Written by a patient

Very hard to get to physically see a doctor. Livi web service was offered but conclusion was “you need to be examined”. Out of hours hopeless - rang when opened at weekend and it was already all booked up. Then rang Monday and took half hour to get through, no morning appointments free and largely incompetent receptionist. In the time she tried to find me a slot I could hear her colleague get through 3 calls in the background. If you ever need evidence of stain in the NHS here it is. Basically, you need to know in advance that you are going to be ill.

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Written by a patient

More staff employed at peak times to answer the phone I’ve just spent the best part of an hour trying to get through and either user busy, put on hold with horrendous music to listen to or ringing out to what appears to be an empty office. Not good. I can’t use patient access as my appointment is of a sensitive nature and needs to be dealt with by a female. There could be a male/female under each doctors name to make this clearer.

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