Ringmead Medical Practice

Ringmead Medical Practice 2021-09-03 Person 0 5 0

Since COVID it’s impossible to get through on the telephone. After waiting in the queue for 45 mins for a test result which they had no record off. Option 6 you get a message saying all appointment have gone please call back and you get cut off.

The first sample was lost even though it was the only one in the bin. Was asked for another one and when I dropped it off there was no receptionist. The staff have blamed a computer malfunction on more than one occasion. I think an improved telephone system that works e.g. 15 In queue and 45 mins even though they are answered at 2 sites. Also GP should be back in the surgery and seeing patients not working from home.

Ringmead Medical Practice 2021-09-02 Person 1 5 0

Simply hopeless…cannot contact and just refers to a web page that includes essential items that are out of date and links that do not work The Crowthorne practice is now worse having been put in measures and run by Ringmead.

Just getting hold of someone would be a help and not referred to a fairly useless web link…at least sort out the link and get someone to answer the phone.

Ringmead Medical Practice 2021-07-18 Person 0 5 0

I had a blood test a few months ago and were looking for two specific things. I rang to check the outcome of the blood tests and I was told “all normal” which didn’t really answer the questions. I spoke to a Doctor again on Monday who advised - no blood results for two years which conflicts with what the receptionist told me: I rang back to state I was having ongoing issues what had worsened over a few months but particularly on this occasion. I rang and submitted e-consults and received texts stating “You will receive a call tomorrow” each day I tried - no call back. Then I receive a text at 17.59 saying tour phone is engaged so you will have to call us. But my phone has an answering service, I wasn’t on the phone and I have call waiting so there is absolutely no way it was engaged. Spoke to a receptionist who said submit an e consult. I said I have already done this but she wasn’t interested. I then received another text stating you will receive a call tomorrow to which I did not receive a call. I asked for a sick note which they supplied without even talking to me or knowing what it was for. I’ve still not received a call and it’s now 7 days later. Good job I wasn’t suicidal

Try calling when you say you’re going to

Ringmead Medical Practice 2021-06-02 Person 1 5 0

Every channel of communication seems to be closed - it certainly isn't accessible. Covid has been a big issue but we have all had to learn to work with it and around it. Long phone calls to the GP surgery... listening to long repetetive messages which are mostly irrelevant before selecting any one of several numbers... finally getting to the correct department and the message states the calls will only be answered between 9 -12 - knowing I have to go through it all again the next day, and then to find the prescription clerk hasn't done what she said she would... not on one occasion but on two, two weeks apart. There is no quick phone call - each of three times trying to resolve one issue and losing at least 30mins of time each time (this being at least one and a half precious hours of my time) ... and time is precious when you work full time, travel a 4 hour return journey every week to care for YOUR patient (a parent with dementia), live your own family life AND try to keep your parent healthy with no help, only hindrance from the surgery (and GH Lloyds Pharmacy.) Every turn is a battle, yet I am doing my very best to keep said parent/patient healthy so that we don't need to bother the GP at this difficult time. The end result... should have saved myself 1.5hrs as I'm still where I started a month ago and a lot more stressed. Unfortunately the elderly and vulnerable have all the same problems as pre Covid times... the difference now is there's no accessible support. I'm struggling as an able person trying to keep one vulnerable person healthy... I hate to think how your other vulnerable patients are coping if they have no one strong enough to support them. I am at my wits end.

Announce dept contact hours immediately so that patients can ring off at the first opportunity if neccessary, freeing up the phone lines and the patients time. Initial phone message should be relevant to callers... THEN, once selections are made the very long covid message should be given - it isn't relevant if only phoning to speak to a prescription clerk. We've all heard the message many times... and those that will ignore it, will ignore it despite it being played... Having the opportunity to speak to someone who can help, to be able to email them or to leave a message for that person. A receptionist telling you to call back the next day when you've already spent an age trying to speak to someone is unhelpful and infuriating especially when you are supposed to be working. (I doubt a GP surgery would be happy for their staff to spend their working hours contacting others).

Ringmead Medical Practice 2021-04-16 Person 3 5 0

Unable to book appointments. Phone waiting times are a joke. General advice is poor. The entire practice has gone down hill in the last year to the point where they don’t even feel like a doctors surgery any more. If I need urgent advice 111 is actually more efficient and you get to speak/see a doctor is necessary. My 4 month old baby was unwell and I couldn’t book an app and after getting a little irate a doctor eventually called me who basically wasn’t interested in anything other than covid, even though a hospital had diagnosed my baby with a chest infection a few weeks prior. Your practice and surgery is a joke and you should be ashamed of the service you don’t provide. If you have too many patients stop taking them on!

Actually provide a proper service like you used to.