Poplar Grove Practice 2016-03-30 Person 2 5 0

Echoing many other patients view, the practice has gone downhill a LOT since the merger & extension. Appreciate the receptionists are under a lot of pressure sometimes but never seem particularly helpful or cheerful and considering the surgery is shut for staff training on a very regular basis, maybe this could be addressed. Appointment system is probably similar to many other surgeries but only real way of securing an appointment is to head down there in person on the day, otherwise it is about a months wait. To be honest, if it was not for the convenience of where the surgery is AND the nurses who do put themselves out for the patients and are very friendly, we probably would have switched practices. I was once prescribed a certain type of vitamins by consultant at hospital, dropped prescription in before going away on a weeks holiday, went in about a week after my return to find it STILL hadn't been passed on to chemist. Asked at surgery where it was and after 20 minutes was found it in back office and I was told 'as it is vitamins these can be bought over counter' - took prescription over to chemist who told me , it 'needs to be prescribed by doctor' - went back to surgery and had to wait another half an hour for this to be signed off. IF the reception staff (or doctor or whoever thought they were 'above' the hospital consultant) had thought the tablets could be bought over counter, why on earth were we not contacted earlier or was the prescription just going to sit in back office forever. Another time my husband was told a doctors would contact him for telephone consultation - absolutely nothing .... I do appreciate that we are very fortunate to be able to rely on NHS but there is definite room for improvement at this practice