Abbey Field Medical Centre

Caring staff helped me through tough times

Even when facing challenging situations, the staff here demonstrate exceptional support and expertise. Having been a patient at this medical practice for more than a decade, I am thoroughly impressed by their commitment and genuine efforts to provide personalized care for myself and my loved ones.

Batch prescription mix-up left us hanging

Abbeyfield medical centre, what a frustration! I went to collect my partner's regular monthly prescription, only to find one item missing because it's no longer on the same batch. When I called Abbeyfields to inquire, they informed me a blood test in January means the batch won't be renewed. Fantastic communication, right? How am I supposed to magically know this when they provide zero notification? I'm reluctantly giving them a low score, and believe me, if I could rate them lower than zero, I absolutely would!

Missed my slot by minutes, no mercy

I showed up slightly behind schedule, and despite being just minutes late, I was marked as a no-show. The staff refused to accommodate me for any upcoming slots, even though only two patients were ahead of me, claiming rescheduling was out of the question. The receptionist was incredibly discourteous, making me wait additional minutes before finally addressing me. In all my previous medical appointments, I've never encountered such treatment. I contacted my regular healthcare provider, who graciously scheduled me for the following day without any hassle. Problem resolved! ✅

Endless calls at 8am got me nowhere

The phone support is absolutely abysmal. I've been attempting to connect since early morning and after 67 futile tries, I'm still not through. Completely unacceptable.

Morning calls always end in frustration

Absolutely terrible medical practice. I strongly advise against choosing this clinic. Getting an appointment is impossible, even if you arrive as early as 8:30 am. Their phone lines are constantly engaged, making communication frustrating. A good general practice should prioritize swift patient care, but this one only creates anxiety and distress for those seeking medical help.

Friendly staff made me feel welcome

Since relocating to this medical practice, I've been consistently impressed by the healthcare professionals here. Despite my initial reservations stemming from my previous experience with a smaller, more intimate clinic, I've found the staff to be incredibly welcoming and accessible. Every doctor and nurse practitioner I've encountered has been exceptional, and I'm always able to secure timely appointments with compassionate and understanding caregivers.

Colchester clinic's wait times are frustrating now

The service used to be excellent, but the rapid construction and development in the Colchester area has made scheduling appointments increasingly challenging.

Terrible surgery with unhelpful staff

The way this medical practice handles patients is absolutely reprehensible - it's hands down the most terrible healthcare provider I've ever encountered. Booking an appointment seems impossible, even when calling the moment the phone lines open. Recently, I attempted to schedule a consultation for an alarming rash spreading across both legs, but the receptionist refused and redirected me to a pharmacist, claiming they could refer me back to the GP if antibiotics were necessary. At the pharmacy, I endured a 20-minute wait before seeing anyone. The pharmacist barely glanced at my legs, dismissively declaring them to be insect bites and recommending over-the-counter antihistamines (which she conveniently tried to sell me). When I requested a GP referral, she flatly refused, citing no available appointments, and suggested I visit the walk-in centre instead. Thankfully, the walk-in centre was a complete 180 from this incompetent surgery. The professional and compassionate nurses saw me within 15 minutes, quickly diagnosing folliculitis and emphasizing the need for immediate treatment. I've now been prescribed a week's course of antibiotics - entirely despite this shockingly negligent medical practice.

Confusing location but worth the effort

Finally tracked down the item after some searching, but it was worth the effort in the end.

Terrible customer support response time

Never received a response.

Receptionist ruined my calm doctor visit

The medical staff here are typically excellent, but navigating past the arrogant, confrontational receptionist is incredibly frustrating. It seems ironic that these highly educated doctors invest so much in their training when the front desk personnel appear to believe they're the true medical experts.

Rude staff and endless wait times

Hostile reception personnel, unaccommodating, extended wait periods for medical care, creating an atmosphere that makes patients feel burdensome or unwelcome when seeking information or scheduling consultations.

Smooth visit at friendly neighborhood clinic

Pristine and inviting medical facility with a well-organized general practice featuring multiple physicians.

Voicemail nightmare at this clinic

The front desk staff instructs you to call at 8AM, but it immediately goes to voicemail declaring the clinic is SHUT DOWN. Whenever I attempt to get assistance, I invariably wind up in the emergency room because there are ABSOLUTELY NO AVAILABLE TIME SLOTS!!!

Nightmare at reception with impossible appointments

Zero stars if I could. The reception staff have absolutely no respect for patients. They threatened to cancel my already booked appointment because I was honest about not feeling comfortable discussing my health details with a receptionist. I was accused of being rude, and they claimed they would cancel my appointment (potentially jeopardizing my health!) simply because they didn't appreciate my honesty. They are not qualified to demand I share personal medical information. It's completely unreasonable. And it doesn't stop there - they're still expecting patients to spend hours calling at 8am to book appointments like some kind of lottery. Getting an appointment is pure chance. I call exactly at 8am and I'm still 20-something people back in the queue, only to be told it's too late and I need to try again tomorrow?! They're still using COVID as an excuse! It's absolutely ridiculous! People are dying because of the NHS's incompetence! I'm telling you, it's the truth. A&E waiting times are directly caused by GP inefficiencies! They tell you to call 111, 111 tells you to go through your GP, you explain the GP sent you to 111, and 111 then suggests going to A&E if you need to see a doctor. You end up sitting in the hospital for half a day just to be told you need to speak with your GP... it's beyond absurd! The entire NHS is a complete disaster. To make matters worse, nurses go on strike, potentially causing thousands of deaths for a modest pay increase! They stand outside the hospital laughing and demanding raises while life-saving appointments are cancelled and waiting lists - already unmanageable - continue to grow, just like undetected cancers because no one can get an appointment! You should all be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves! Seriously!

Medication delays put my health at risk

This medical practice is absolutely terrible. The doctors consistently fail to transmit crucial repeat medication orders to the pharmacy. When questioned about this issue, they callously suggest patients must re-order and potentially wait up to five additional days, risking medication shortages. I was forced to contact emergency services 111 on five separate occasions just to obtain essential medication. Their patient care for mental health individuals is shockingly inadequate. During a personal crisis last November, I overdosed on over-the-counter paracetamol and was initially given weekly prescriptions for two months. Although my condition has significantly improved, and the community mental health team recommended returning to monthly prescriptions, the surgery arbitrarily continues weekly prescriptions even in May. I've since transferred to a different practice where my concerns are being properly addressed. The doctors here are completely incompetent. While the nurses are excellent, the receptionists are left managing the consequences of the doctors' poor practices. These physicians deserve a thorough investigation by the General Medical Council for blatantly violating professional conduct standards.

Desperate mom's nightmare with local gp clinic

After making more than 200 attempts to schedule an urgent appointment for my one-year-old daughter, I encountered nothing but frustration. The phone lines were perpetually engaged, and by the time I managed to get through, all available slots were gone. I reached out to the 111 service, who simply advised me to contact my GP directly. When I finally spoke with the duty doctor, she informed me that her clinic was closed and suggested I take my child to the emergency room if I was truly worried.

Clean and spacious gym at noon

Outstanding venue

Terrible medical care at this clinic

Absolutely terrible medical staff with an incredibly unprofessional and dismissive front desk team who provide zero assistance or customer service.

Dangerous delays led me to switch doctors

Completely unacceptable. Hospitalized twice due to the GP's negligence in reviewing hospital communications and sharing diagnostic outcomes. The most recent test results suggested no follow-up needed. Fortunately, a second medical opinion revealed critical information, prompting my immediate departure from this practice. My close associates have similarly encountered deeply unsatisfactory care. Steer clear of this medical facility at all costs!