Biddlestone Health Group

Felt truly listened to at the surgery

The clinician at this GP practice is excellent and demonstrates a lively, professional approach. They are an attentive listener and show genuine care towards patients. I would highly recommend this GP surgery.

Thorough doctors if you ring early morning

The clinical staff here are among the most thorough and compassionate I've encountered. They demonstrate genuine attentiveness and make a real effort to establish accurate diagnoses and provide appropriate care. Scheduling appointments can be challenging due to their high patient volume, though calling early in the day tends to improve your chances of securing a slot.

Felt genuinely listened to during appointment

I recently attended an appointment and found the healthcare professional to be exceptionally warm and easy to talk to.

Phone lines constantly busy and unresponsive

The telephone lines are difficult to reach, and when someone does answer after an extended wait, the call is disconnected shortly after.

Helpful staff despite lengthy appointment waits

Extended wait times for appointments are typical throughout the NHS, though this practice does offer some weekend slots to provide additional accessibility. My visits have been straightforward, with consultations running punctually and the team demonstrating a helpful and welcoming approach.

Easy to book appointments when needed

I have no difficulty getting an appointment when I haven't booked in advance by calling after 8:30 am. The clinicians I choose to see are very good. My only concern is that I regularly experience problems with my medication requests.

Impossible to book appointments by phone

The service was disappointing. It proved difficult to schedule an appointment through the standard booking process. Attempts to contact the practice by telephone were frequently unsuccessful, with calls going unanswered on a daily basis. On the occasions when contact was established, the staff directed me to an alternative walk-in facility, citing unavailable appointment slots.

Dismissed concerns over mental health assumptions

I had a deeply unsatisfactory experience at my recent appointment. My physical health concerns were not adequately addressed and were instead attributed to mental health factors, which I felt was dismissive and unhelpful. This approach left me feeling undermined and stigmatised. I have lodged a formal complaint regarding this visit. However, I have had positive experiences with other clinicians at this practice and would recommend them.

Long waits and no help booking appointments

It seems contradictory that this practice identifies itself as a "health group" when patient wellbeing does not appear to be prioritised. Securing an appointment requires an extended wait period—calling in January results in availability only in March. The alternative involves attending in person at 8:30am to queue for the possibility of a same-day appointment. While this approach may suit some circumstances, it presents challenges for those managing family commitments and school schedules. No effort was made to explore alternative solutions or assist with appointment access. The quality of service is particularly disappointing given that staff should be expected to demonstrate understanding towards patients seeking medical care. Instead, interactions felt dismissive, with apologies that appeared obligatory rather than genuine.

Phone lines open late, appointments gone within minutes

Attempted to book an appointment after experiencing an ear condition with bleeding. Visited a walk-in clinic first, where I was advised to obtain a referral from my GP. Called the surgery at 8:50, shortly after opening time, only to be told the earliest available appointment was several weeks away. I explained the situation to the receptionist, noting that waiting that long wasn't feasible given my symptoms. The receptionist acknowledged this and suggested calling back the following day to request an emergency same-day slot. I found it unclear why I wasn't offered a specific callback time that day rather than being asked to call again. I was informed the surgery opens at 8:30 and that appointments filled very quickly. While on the call, I also inquired about scheduling a routine health check that I was due for soon, thinking it made sense to book ahead given the lengthy waiting times. I was told there would be no point booking this now as I would be seeing the GP the next day. The following morning, I began calling from 8:25 to secure an appointment. The phones didn't become available until 8:35, and after a further wait, I was informed all slots were full and asked to try again the next day. Over two consecutive days, I called well before the surgery's stated opening time only to be turned away both times, which left me questioning the effectiveness of the booking system.

Impossible to book appointments when you need them

Accessing appointments at this practice has proven to be extremely challenging. When I contacted the surgery at midday, I was informed that the earliest available slot was several weeks away. This situation feels unacceptable and suggests the practice may struggle to meet patient demand effectively. There appears to be a significant gap between the availability of same-day appointments and those that can be booked in advance. Additionally, despite making repeated attempts to reach the practice by telephone from opening time onwards, I have been unable to secure a same-day appointment. I am currently considering alternative GP practices in the local area.

Hard to book appointments, long waits in practice

It can be challenging to secure an appointment, with frequent unavailability cited as a reason. While some clinicians provide excellent care, accessing them consistently proves difficult. The practice communicates strict policies regarding late arrivals, yet patients frequently experience substantial delays beyond their scheduled times. Greater transparency regarding actual waiting periods would be beneficial.

Friendly reception made the visit pleasant

Excellent

Receptionist was unhelpful and unwelcoming

The receptionist on duty this morning demonstrated poor customer service abilities. She came across as unwelcoming and appeared reluctant to assist me. Her manner was quite discourteous. There seem to be recurring issues with the appointment process at this practice.

Hard to book appointments as a working person

The reception team are helpful and the clinicians I have consulted with have been diligent and competent. However, obtaining an appointment presents a significant challenge. Current waiting times are quite lengthy, and the available slots tend to fall during standard business hours, which creates difficulties for those in full-time employment. This scheduling situation is particularly problematic for individuals managing ongoing health concerns who need regular access to care.

Long waits make appointments pointless here

There is little benefit in registering with this practice as appointment availability is extremely limited. On multiple occasions when I have attempted to book a consultation, the waiting times have been so lengthy that I have chosen to seek care elsewhere instead.

Receptionists made registration feel genuinely welcoming

I joined this practice approximately five months ago and have been very pleased with the standard of service and care provided. The reception team have been welcoming and supportive, which compares favourably to my experiences at other surgeries. I have attended three consultations with different clinicians, each of whom demonstrated professionalism, attentiveness, warmth and clear clinical competence. While there can be delays in booking routine appointments, urgent matters can typically be seen the same day. I would be happy to recommend this practice based on my time as a patient here.

Couldn't find me in the system when ill

I registered with this practice quite some time ago, but when I became unwell and required an appointment, there appeared to be difficulty locating my details on their system. They requested that I attend in person to complete the registration process again before they could schedule an appointment, which resulted in a significant wait of several weeks before I could be seen.

Reception staff made booking difficult

The receptionist displayed a dismissive and impolite manner, which detracted from the overall experience. This has been a recurring issue on previous visits, where interactions at the front desk have felt unhelpful rather than supportive. The clinical care itself was satisfactory.