Reviews
I wished to have a blood test to check on my PSA levels, and at the conclusion of an unrelated consultation with Dr Sue McCallum, she arranged one immediately. Very quickly she informed me of raised levels, arranged an appointment within days at St. Richards, who equally speedily arranged scans and biopsies leading to a positive diagnosis of prostate cancer, which led on to successful treatment. I was lucky as it was low grade early diagnosis cancer. Very grateful and impressed by highly professional care.
Firstly to qualify the 4* for cleanliness, that depends on the time of day of course.
I have been with the practice for10 years and have only once been less than satisfied.
I have always found all the staff and Doctors extremely helpful and on several occasions they have gone beyond the call of duty.
I find the triage system works well most of the time. However, there must be a way, when the GP says come back and see me I say 4 weeks, to book the appointment there and then rather than have to go back through the triage again.
In conclusion I have to say that this medical practice is excellent compared with stories that you hear about others in the press.
I am writing this in complete frustration! Everyone is generally pleasant, though staff do seem somewhat terse at times, but the telephone appointment system is appalling. I fully understand the sentiment of this system but it is failing abysmally in terms of practicality. Receptionists do not always pass on the correct telephone number to the doctors resulting in wasting everyones time. Doctors only try to contact a limited number of times and the system does not consider that it is not only doctors who are busy! People work and cannot always be available to answer the telephone - then patients have to call back and begin the entire process again! For me this has already meant a 2-week wait and there is no guarantee I will be able to answer the telephone when the doctor next calls. My condition is not an immediate emergency but that does not mean it is not serious. There must be a better way - what about on-line consultations for example?
Phoned to make a telephone consultation with my Doctor I was told he was not in and the staff did not know when he would be back so asked to see another Doctor was told no you can only see another Doctor if it’s a medical emergency otherwise you have to see your own Doctor.....not helpful if they don’t know when he will be back. No Doctor for me then
The Staff are friendly and Helpful, GPs are caring and compassionate, and take the time to listen, No rushing to get the appointment over.
Resources
Short link to review Riverbank Medical Centre: http://iwgc.net/eb9zs