Birkwood Medical Centre

Friendly staff made switching surgeries worthwhile

I switched to this GP surgery and I'm very pleased with the decision. The team members are welcoming and supportive, and I would suggest this practice to anyone seeking quality healthcare.

Welcoming staff who actually listened to me

Excellent practice! The team created a very welcoming atmosphere and provided genuinely helpful support throughout my visit. The staff demonstrated genuine empathy and understanding without any sense of judgment. I would happily suggest this surgery to others.

Impossible to book appointments around work

Extremely frustrating experience with appointment availability - the scheduling system appears incompatible with working hours, and even when advance bookings are secured, they are subsequently cancelled.

Reception staff discouraged new patient registration

Attempted to transfer to a local GP practice following a house move. The receptionist questioned why I didn't consider registering elsewhere instead. It was disappointing to encounter such discourteous behaviour from the reception staff.

Thorough approach to health concerns

Extremely supportive and comprehensive in addressing my health concerns during the pandemic period.

Couldn't book appointment, phone staff unhelpful

It is very disappointing that obtaining an appointment proved to be extremely difficult. Despite making several attempts to contact the practice, I was unable to secure a same-day slot or arrange one in the near future. Additionally, the staff member who answered the phone was unhelpful and did not allow me the opportunity to discuss my ongoing health concern.

Phone queue delays and missing medication records

I found myself waiting in a telephone queue again. My regular medications have been removed from my medication list once more, which has prevented me from ordering them online. I inquired about why this continues to occur but did not receive an explanation, which is consistent with my previous experiences. This reflects the standard of service I have come to expect from this medical centre. I would have given a lower rating if it were possible.

Never answers the phone here

Disappointing experience with this practice. The phone lines are frequently unavailable and the staff interactions were unwelcoming.

Reception staff were unhelpful and rude

This practice has significant issues that make it difficult to use. The reception team came across as unhelpful and dismissive, and the appointment system is extremely restrictive with very limited availability. The overall experience felt poorly managed and frustrating, raising concerns about the standard of service provided. I would consider seeking care elsewhere.

Reception staff were dismissive and unhelpful

I have been waiting for considerably longer than expected to speak with reception staff. When I finally made contact, I found the interaction to be dismissive and unhelpful. I was unable to resolve my concerns and was not offered the opportunity to discuss the matter with a clinician. This experience fell short of what I would expect from the practice. While I have generally had positive experiences with the clinical team in the past, I feel the practice would benefit from reviewing their front-of-house service and considering improvements to how reception handles patient interactions.

Reception dismissed my urgent prescription problem

I have experienced significant difficulties with prescription management at this practice on multiple occasions. On separate instances, my prescription has not been located, resulting in gaps in my pain medication supply over weekends. When I contacted the practice on a weekday afternoon to address this issue, I was informed by reception staff that nothing could be done and that I would need to wait until the following Monday. Despite explaining my situation and the impact this was having on me, I felt that my concerns were not treated with the urgency I believed they warranted. Having relied on regular pain relief for an extended period, these lapses in medication availability have been particularly distressing and have left me frustrated with the level of support provided by the practice.

Prescription delay left mother in pain

I would rate this experience much lower if possible. My elderly relative recently underwent a significant surgical procedure and submitted a request for their regular pain management medication to be renewed. Unfortunately, nothing was processed. They were informed that a technical issue had prevented the system from functioning properly. Despite this explanation being given on one day, by the following day the prescription still had not been provided. As a result, my relative was forced to visit the medical centre in person while experiencing considerable discomfort. I find it deeply concerning that someone in pain was left without their necessary medication for this length of time. I am very dissatisfied with the service provided by this practice.

Long phone queues make appointments impossible

I waited 45 minutes initially just to speak with someone. Obtaining appointments has proven consistently difficult. When I do try to book, I'm either directed to a different medical centre at considerable distance or advised to attend out of hours services rather than being seen by my regular doctor. I find this approach to be unsatisfactory. I am planning to transfer to another surgery at the earliest opportunity as I believe this practice does not meet my expectations compared to other options available. The practice would benefit from reviewing their appointment and access procedures.

Phone lines impossible to get through on

Attempting to call at 8 for an appointment resulted in getting through an hour later, only to find all slots were already taken. The appointment booking system seems poorly designed. The walk-in service was disappointing, but this telephone experience was even more frustrating.

Reception staff made us feel like an inconvenience

My overall experience with this practice has been disappointing. There appears to be a perception that patients are treated as a burden rather than a priority, and the level of service falls short of expectations. While I recognise the pressures facing the NHS, the standard of care provided here simply does not meet an acceptable standard.

Struggling to book appointments through rude reception staff

I have been attempting to secure an appointment for my child over several days. I requested a callback option but was informed that the available slots were fully booked. My child has a preference for seeing a particular clinician, and I was advised to call at opening time. However, this creates a practical difficulty as I need to manage school arrangements, and by the time I return home, all slots have been allocated. I found the reception experience to be unwelcoming and unhelpful. I believe the practice may be operating beyond its capacity, which means my child is unable to access timely care due to these systemic constraints. This situation has been frustrating and unlike anything I have previously experienced with healthcare services.

Long waits and dismissive reception staff

The waiting times were extremely long. The reception staff were unwelcoming. The clinical staff seemed overwhelmed, appearing to manage far too many patients with insufficient resources. The practice felt more focused on financial gain than patient care. There was a noticeable lack of compassion and interpersonal skills throughout. It is unfortunate that a lower rating option is not available.

Long phone queue and intrusive questioning

When calling at 8am, you find yourself waiting in a queue. The receptionist asks for detailed information about your situation before advising that a clinician will contact you if an appointment is deemed necessary.

Reception turned us away without trying to help

This surgery was disappointing. My husband was unwell and attended this morning, but found the doors closed, so he returned in the afternoon hoping to be seen. However, the receptionist informed him that an appointment would not be available and he would need to contact the practice the following morning instead.

Long phone queues make booking difficult

Spent a considerable amount of time on hold and remained in a queue position further back in the line......accessing an appointment feels quite challenging......uncertain why I continue waiting given the likelihood of being informed that no slots are currently available 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️