Somerset Gardens Family Health Centre 2015-06-03 Person 4 5 0

There are some really genuine caring GP's at this surgery. The care demonstrated by all staff appears to be getting better. I really welcome the idea of not having to disclose my medical concerns to the receptionist. I always abhor the idea of telling non-medical staff y medical issues and at times appear to have staff judging me and give me strange looks. I suffer with depression and it can sometimes be hard to gather the courage to call the GP for help. At times I rather suffer in silence. Please make allowances for people like me and make the process of speaking with a GP with concerns (even if they sound minor to you, these issues may be so huge to me and make me feel suicidal, scared, anxious etc). My GP Dr Hazell has been amazing and really understands this since I mentioned it to her. It should apply to more people, depression, anxiety and low moods are quite horrendous to have as an individual, so we need as much help as possible to normalise our lives. The reception staff need to show more empathy and even if they are fed up, they need to be welcoming. They mostly look like they don't want to be there and don't care to help you. This has recently got somewhat better, but the older reception staff still hang on to bad habits. Thank you for the good service the surgery continues to give to the local population...but there is scope for better!