Theale Medical Centre

Theale Medical Centre 2023-10-30 Person 4 5 0

I’ve recently and over the last three years had a number of illnesses that have led to my becoming an inpatient the most recent just last month in September. I was seen a number of times by two members of staff depending who had the earliest time to see me. The most caring and thorough help and advice came from one of their paramedics though in truth they both were but the para was often duty ‘doctor’ and in this particular occasion I was feeling so I’ll I called to speak to whoever was available and this lovely young man asked if I could get to the surgery asap he would wait to see me tho almost closing time. I was brought to the surgery he saw me immediately examined me printed off my medical notes and told me I should go straight to A&E I was kept in overnight as they found I had Nephritis was discharged home next day with treatment plan already started. Less than a week later I was feeling very unwell indeed again I was seen by the same para. I explained my daughter was taking me away for a few days at the coast. I had started to feel improved by next morning and I dropped off samples for testing over the weekend as he requested. We returned Sunday evening I was by then feeling very tired and off colour again just after 8am Monday I had a call from a doctor telling me I’d tested positive for CDiff that he had ordered an ambulance as I needed to go to hospital asap the reception staff have been very helpful in finding me appointments sending me reminders of upcoming appointments. I felt I’d almost become a sitting tenant at the surgery. They’ve gone to great lengths to help me out lately. In the seven years we/I have been registered at Theale Medical Centre it has gone through a lot of very positive changes and since COVID the previous routine was rather erratic but it’s now a much better less frenetic establishment. Quite a number of new GP’s have joined and I believe I am registered with one of them since my Reg GP retired but I have yet to meet her face to face.

In my case recently, no; I’ve been treated with respect and kindness by all staff members both medical and non medical. Some I’ve come to get to know and as far as medical staff I’ve encountered recently, especially,(see above) I can’t really fault them other than though I had mentioned more than once or twice and is noted on my Records, I’d had CDiff twice before, could it be anything like that, it just didn’t appear to crop up. Maybe it did but it’s a difficult thing to diagnose without testing but I’d been going back and forth to the surgery over so many weeks as I’d felt so unwell and seemed to be getting worse then hey presto CDiff! But a month on now since leaving hospital after almost three weeks I’m still wondering if it has all gone away, but if it’s the case then I know I’ll have the same care and kindness I received before but I’m keeping fingers crossed it’ll just be me with a bit of ‘tummy ache’!! Don’t call me I’ll call you

Theale Medical Centre 2020-08-18 Person 2 5 0

As others have said - it was near impossible to get an appointment 'pre-COVID' - and now it is impossible! Requested a Dr call back and was told would be sometime during the day (couldn't give a timeframe, but likely afternoon) I missed the call as was in the morning, and when I called back was told no more calls were available, and would have to book one for a week or so's time. Called to book a blood test - held for 18 minutes to get through only to be told first available appointment is in 3 weeks time.

Very briefly there was an automated system in place to book appointments on the phone (and one via the Patient Access App). -this seems to have been switched off. Also - tried to use the website and that appears to be down also... Like others have said, I find my Dr exceptionally helpful when I get to see / speak with her - but the reception staff not so helpful and clearly not enough services to cover demand.

Theale Medical Centre 2020-01-26 Person 2 5 0

Great doctors are severely let down by some of the worst administration and management I have ever experienced. Total lack of customer service and virtually impossible to get a response from the centre management. You get the impression mere patients are just a nuisance to be endured. Poor systems and IT just make things worse. As I say, great doctors and nurses but why oh why do they put up with such poor support?

Theale Medical Centre 2018-06-25 Person 2 5 0

When you actually get to see a nurse or a GP the treatment seems excellent but this surgery has been let down by terrible administration over the last few years I have been a patient there. - At one point about 2 years ago, the wait was about 5 weeks for an appointment. I was quite honest that it wasn't urgent so there wasn't anything they could do. - I was waiting at reception about 18 months ago whilst 3 of the staff were just the other side of an open door. One was telling the other two about how annoying and needy patients are. This was because of what appeared to be an difficult phone call she'd just had but was incredibly awkward to listen to and very unprofessional and was a conversation which should have been had behind closed doors. - They never seem to answer their phones quickly. People seem to have just given up trying to call them and turn up in person to make appointments, hence why there's often a queue of disgruntled patients at reception. - I have recently moved house only just outside their area and my 8 month pregnant wife was forced to change surgeries straight away. I asked for a bit of compassion for her and extend her registration there but the answer was quite simply"no". - About 18 months ago I waiting for a blood test result and when I called up, they said it was late and they would call me when it was in. I called up about a month later and they said I should have called up weeks before and that they wouldn't have called me; it's a good job it wasn't too important. I submitted this review previously and their response was to suggest I was being untruthful. I assure anyone reading this that everything above is truthful and I certainly don't have any sort of "vendetta" against them.

Theale Medical Centre 2018-05-08 Person 4 5 0

The wait time for an appt is currently a month. This is quite a long time.