Beacon View Medical Centre

Long-term patient satisfied with consistent service

I have been a patient at this practice for many years and have consistently been pleased with the standard of care and service I have received.

Felt comfortable and heard quickly

The clinician was lovely and I am grateful to feel so comfortable and have received good service promptly.

Staff were helpful and genuinely pleasant

I appreciate the care provided by all members of the team at the surgery. I recognise the challenges that GP practices have faced. The staff were consistently pleasant, courteous, and provided helpful assistance throughout my visits.

Front desk staff dismissive when booking appointments

I doubt they will pay attention, but I feel compelled to share my experience regardless. I have encountered what I perceive to be discriminatory treatment at this GP practice. Following an official complaint I made about an interaction with a member of the front desk team, a manager offered an apology. However, since that complaint, I have noticed a shift in how I am treated by reception staff. On several occasions when calling, staff have interrupted me before I could fully explain my reason for seeking an appointment, suggesting I did not need to see a doctor but rather a physiotherapist. This morning, my concerns were reinforced. I had been experiencing significant pain for four days and needed an urgent appointment. I arrived early at the practice and, having been advised the previous day to call or visit at 8:30 a.m., requested a 9:30 a.m. slot. When I approached the reception desk, I explained my situation and asked to see a doctor. I was told the physiotherapist would contact me, but I felt I needed medical assessment. The receptionist stated the earliest available appointment was 10 a.m. When I politely asked if anything earlier was possible, mentioning I was due at work and was already in uniform, I was told no in what felt like a dismissive manner. I accepted the 10 a.m. appointment and waited. I then observed that another patient who arrived after me was offered a 9:20 a.m. appointment. Shortly after, the receptionist approached me and asked me to leave, stating my appointment was not until 10 a.m. and it was only 8:45 a.m. I acknowledged I was aware of my appointment time. I feel the staff at this practice have treated me unfairly, particularly since my earlier complaint. You promote zero tolerance towards violence against staff, yet I experience what feels like bullying and discrimination, seemingly as a consequence of raising concerns about a previous interaction that deeply affected me. This treatment has discouraged me from attending the practice for the past four days despite being in pain. I believe my concerns are not taken seriously. When I eventually was seen, I was referred to hospital for the same issue the receptionist had suggested did not warrant a doctor's appointment. Additionally, I had blood tests completed, and some results were outside normal ranges, yet no one has contacted me to discuss these findings. I feel my concerns are being dismissed.

Reception staff could improve their politeness

The reception team could benefit from improving their courtesy and professionalism. While most staff members are pleasant, some could learn better communication skills. It seems inconsistent that politeness is expected from patients while not always being demonstrated in return. If lower ratings were available, this experience would warrant one.

Helpful staff with mixed reception experiences

Positive experience with the nursing staff who were helpful and provided clear information. The reception team has been mostly welcoming, though one interaction felt less warm than others. Overall, everyone has their good and bad days.

Staff were consistently polite and professional

For two years I have been a patient at this surgery and every member of staff I have encountered has consistently been excellent. It is disappointing that the overall rating does not reflect this. All staff members are courteous, professional and truly outstanding! I would like to give special recognition to the team members who have provided such exceptional care xx

Friendly reception staff and easy appointment access

The receptionist at the front desk was friendly and approachable, and I was consistently able to book appointments without difficulty.

Staff were dismissive and unhelpful

The staff members were quite impolite. They seemed indifferent to patient concerns and their conduct was disappointing.

Long wait times and poor callback service

I would not rate this experience positively at all. My family member was unwell and contacted the out-of-hours service, who indicated a clinician would call back shortly. However, when we followed up with the practice directly, we were told the callback could occur at any point before closing time. Overall, I found this to be a disappointing experience with the service provided.

Manager suggested switching practices instead

I recently spoke with the practice manager regarding several ongoing concerns I've had with the service at this surgery. One of the responses I received was a suggestion to consider registering with a different practice instead. I found this response to be quite disappointing and unhelpful given the nature of my concerns.

Caring doctor who really listened to me

I had an appointment yesterday with a clinician who was exceptionally kind and caring. They were very helpful and went out of their way to assist me.

Online consultations made booking straightforward

We've been registered for a few years but only recently required substantial support with our young child. The clinician we saw has been outstanding in providing guidance and monitoring throughout our little one's healthcare journey as she's dealt with various health concerns. Generally, we're able to secure appointments without difficulty when calling for our children, and accessing care for myself is straightforward thanks to the online consultation system which works really well. All the medical professionals at the practice that we've encountered have been approachable and supportive. We're very grateful for their assistance.

Quick appointment when baby needed urgent care

I contacted the surgery at midday on a Thursday to register my infant and arrange an appointment as she seemed unwell. The receptionist arranged a consultation within a couple of hours. My baby was quite unsettled during the examination, which understandably caused me concern and distress. The clinician demonstrated great empathy and reassurance throughout. I was promptly referred to the hospital for additional investigations, where my baby was diagnosed with a viral infection. The following morning, after an overnight hospital stay, the clinician called to check on both my baby's and my own wellbeing. I have been extremely impressed by the compassionate and thorough care provided by the entire team at the practice and would strongly encourage others to use their services. I am very grateful to everyone involved.

Reception staff attitude made appointments impossible to get

I would not recommend this practice. My relative, who is in their fifties and has experienced joint problems for a considerable time with increasing severity, has attended multiple appointments due to escalating discomfort. The approach has primarily involved pain management medication, which does not address what appears to be a need for more substantial intervention. My relative now faces mobility challenges that significantly impact daily functioning and independence, including difficulty accessing facilities promptly. The quality of life has been considerably affected by ongoing pain. I also found the reception experience unsatisfactory. The staff member I encountered displayed an unhelpful demeanor and appeared unwilling to provide adequate assistance. This attitude is frustrating when seeking medical care. The practice has not met expectations on several occasions. Obtaining appointments is particularly difficult, with availability typically exhausted by early morning, and callers are directed to try again the following day regardless of urgency or discomfort level. I have concerns about the clinical approach of relying on medication management for someone with complex health considerations including cardiovascular and liver-related concerns. It appears that cost considerations may be influencing treatment decisions rather than what would be most beneficial for the patient's wellbeing and quality of life. I am also concerned about reception staff communicating test results to patients, as this does not seem an appropriate use of their role and raises questions about whether proper clinical discussion is occurring. I would advise looking elsewhere for your healthcare needs.

Reception staff dismissive and unhelpful throughout

Unable to give zero stars so had to give one. Absolutely appalling service, the reception staff were unhelpful - there appears to be a lack of care and attention at this medical centre. The wait times and responsiveness were extremely concerning.

Easy to book and plenty of parking

Outstanding team members, straightforward booking process, convenient parking facilities.

Same-day callbacks and prompt econsult responses

I've been registered at this practice since March and cannot speak highly enough of my experience. To provide balance against some of the negative feedback that exists, I have consistently been able to secure appointments without difficulty, with callbacks typically provided the same day and face-to-face consultations offered as an option, though telephone appointments have generally met my needs. The online consultation service has proven invaluable for submitting requests and raising concerns, with responses arriving remarkably quickly—often within the same day, which exceeds my expectations. It's a particularly useful tool for matters that warrant attention but aren't time-sensitive. I did experience one instance where a call disconnected, though I had no trouble reconnecting on my next attempt. This morning I called at 8.40 expecting to wait considerably, yet was connected almost immediately and am now awaiting a callback from a clinician—the service couldn't be better. I've deducted one star due to an experience when I needed to cancel a face-to-face appointment following a positive test result. I was instructed to ring back separately to rebook, and I felt it would have been more convenient had an appointment been scheduled for a later date during that initial call, particularly given that the face-to-face had been requested by the clinician following an online consultation query. I have previously been able to prebook other types of appointments, so I'm uncertain about their rebooking procedures, but aside from this minor point, it remains an excellent practice. I would readily recommend it.

Phone lines staffed by people with attitude problems

Struggling to reach the practice by telephone, and when contact is made, the reception experience has been disappointing. I've experienced being disconnected, felt dismissed, and received unwelcoming greetings when attempting to arrange appointments. The clinical staff have been excellent and very supportive. However, the front desk team seem dismissive and lack courtesy in their interactions. The overall experience has left me considering finding alternative care elsewhere.

Reception staff wouldn't listen to my concerns

Similar to other feedback, this would receive the lowest possible rating if available. Attempted to register at this practice but experienced difficulties with paperwork, felt unheard during attempts to clarify the situation, and the interaction was cut short. Found the experience disappointing and would advise caution before choosing this practice.