Air Balloon Surgery

The worst service

Unable to book an appointment. Reception staff and practice manager rude and unhelpful. Providing outdated information regarding policies. Having to contact 111 to be able to get an appointment. Would not recommend this practice to anyone.

Receptionists were helpful but doctors seemed disengaged

If you're seeking a GP practice where you can develop an ongoing relationship with your clinician, this may not be the right fit. During my five years as a patient here, I never had a face-to-face appointment with a clinician. I had several telephone consultations, and with the exception of one, the approach felt dismissive. There was a sense that going the extra mile to support patients wasn't a priority. The main reason I remained with the practice was simply due to its convenient location. That said, the reception team deserves genuine praise. Most of them are welcoming, supportive, and genuinely caring. They truly form the backbone of the practice, as they're the ones managing patient frustration when concerns haven't been adequately addressed by clinical staff. The clinical pharmacist also gave the impression of being disengaged. Overall, I found this to be the least satisfactory practice I've experienced and am relieved to have moved on. Since joining my current surgery just over a week ago, I've already received more attentive care than during my entire time at the previous practice. While I understand healthcare is a business, and this one is clearly successful, I feel patients deserve to be treated with greater consideration. The positive rating I've given reflects my appreciation for the reception and nursing staff I encountered.

Appointment ran on time with helpful staff

The appointment ran on schedule without excessive waiting time. The practice demonstrated effective time management throughout the visit. The team members were particularly attentive and supportive. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Reception staff were friendly and helpful

Positive experience 🙂👍

Confusing vaccine reminders and unhelpful reception staff

I received multiple automated text reminders from the surgery about booking vaccinations, though these arrived separately with no option to schedule both at the same appointment. I proceeded to book one online and received both a confirmation and reminder via text. When I called to ask whether I could receive a second vaccination at the same appointment, the receptionist I spoke with was dismissive and insisted I wouldn't have been eligible for an invitation, despite my repeated attempts to explain that I had received invitations directly from the surgery, successfully booked an appointment, and had confirmation of it. Rather than engaging with what I was telling her, she transferred me to another department, though the call disconnected after brief hold music. Upon calling back, a different receptionist was far more helpful and courteous, confirming that my appointment was indeed valid and that I could receive both vaccinations together. The initial interaction highlighted gaps in staff training regarding both clinic procedures and professional communication standards. I felt frustrated by the dismissive approach and the time wasted trying to clarify a situation that should have been straightforward given that I had already received official confirmation from the surgery itself.

Reception refused to help with online form

Only a couple of receptionists were helpful. Some staff members made comments that negatively affected my wellbeing, and I felt they were dismissive when I asked for assistance with completing a form. There were instances where staff indicated they had passed on information to the doctor when this didn't appear to happen. I also experienced confusion with appointments being registered under my name incorrectly, and had issues with a prescription not being sent to where I needed it while away. There have been several other concerns throughout my time as a patient.

Reception hung up during my call

Disappointing experience with the service. After waiting for 20 minutes to speak with reception, the call was disconnected. I felt my concerns were not being properly heard. I was attempting to discuss something a clinician had previously explained to me, but the conversation ended abruptly. In my view, this role requires someone who demonstrates genuine interest in listening to patients and their needs.

Helpful staff got my daughter seen quickly

Excellent experience at this Bristol practice. My child was seen promptly when I had concerns, and the entire team was very supportive and accommodating throughout.

Inappropriate notes written about family member

I attended an appointment with my child for a routine check-up. However, I noticed in the clinical notes that observations had been recorded about another family member who was not the focus of the appointment. I found this inappropriate, as the visit was specifically for myself and my child. It was concerning to discover these comments in the notes, particularly since they seemed unrelated to the purpose of the consultation.

Felt unheard and dismissed during appointment

The clinician appeared somewhat detached and did not seem particularly invested in providing the level of care that was needed.

Quick appointment access and thorough consultations

I've been impressed with this surgery and how quickly they've been able to see me for appointments and consultations compared to other practices I've attended. I also had a telephone appointment recently and wanted to express my appreciation for the care I received. The clinician was thorough and methodical, talking through a sensible approach for how we'd assess my health concerns. It stood out to me that they showed care and attention to detail with each matter I raised, which I can imagine is challenging when working within the time constraints they operate under.

Easy to book appointments at this practice

I'm very satisfied with this practice. Appointments are readily available and I haven't experienced any problems during my time as a patient here.

Parking charges and poor service overall

One of the worst practices in the area, and you also risk receiving parking penalties when visiting.

Rushed appointment, antibiotics without proper time

Awful experience at the practice. I was prescribed antibiotics for my condition, but felt rushed through appointments and didn't receive adequate time or attention. The only thing I can really comment on is that the service was quite poor.

Delayed notes caused months of missed care

I've had quite a challenging period and chose to seek care abroad in France. The level of care I received there was excellent. I was very satisfied with both my healthcare providers there. Looking back now, I'm struck by how disappointed I was with this practice. A member of the management team contacted me before my trip abroad and suggested I was causing difficulties, but I believe what I actually needed was access to a specialist mental health service, which was not made available to me following a brief consultation. I also raised concerns about other significant health matters, but these were not properly addressed or taken seriously. It appeared they did not consider my reported symptoms to be indicative of a particular condition. In my view, the overall experience was quite poor. My medical records from my previous practice took several months to arrive, which meant I couldn't receive appropriate treatment for my physical health concerns as they lacked essential background information. They didn't appear particularly concerned about this delay. An ethnic minority review.

Receptionists consistently helpful over many years

I have been attending this practice for over a decade and I must say the reception team have consistently been excellent and the vast majority of the clinical staff have provided the same level of care. However, I did encounter one clinician on occasion who seemed dismissive, though I wouldn't say this experience was significant enough to warrant some of the negative feedback I have seen posted about the surgery.

Consistently pleased with my GP practice

I am consistently satisfied with the care provided at this practice.

Staff were helpful and appointments ran on time

The team here is pleasant and appointments tend to run punctually.

Friendly reception and quick appointment

Positive experience 👍

Long-term patient switching practices after relocation

About to switch to a different practice as I'm relocating after being a patient here for 25 years. I've consistently received good care and service throughout my time here, both for myself and my family members. The entire team has provided exceptional support.