Blackthorn Health Centre

Compassionate care that truly listens and supports

I have absolutely no complaints about the medical care I experienced. During our telephone consultation, the staff thoroughly explained my medication options and provided comprehensive guidance. This approach made me feel genuinely heard and respected as a patient.

Compassionate service that truly saved the day

Sarah was absolutely fantastic, resolving all my concerns with genuine empathy and understanding.

Terrible healthcare experience in english medical system

During our time residing in Hamble, our French family encountered significant healthcare challenges. My general practitioner at Blackthorn Health Center failed to diagnose my gallstones for two excruciating years. The persistent pain was unbearable. Upon returning to France, hospital staff immediately identified the issue, which took merely a single day - in stark contrast to the prolonged suffering I endured in England. I deeply regret experiencing such medical negligence. When my two-year-old son became seriously ill, I consulted four different physicians who proved completely ineffective. Their sole recommendation was administering paracetamol. Frustrated, I ultimately contacted my French doctor, who successfully diagnosed my son's condition over the telephone. My child had been unwell for three weeks before receiving proper medical attention. Throughout these experiences, I felt profoundly isolated and unsupported by the healthcare system.

Convenient telehealth with room for improvement

I scheduled a telehealth consultation. The physician called exactly on time and we covered nearly all of my medical questions. However, I still find in-person appointments more preferable.

Professional and helpful asthma nurse review

I consulted with Emma, a nurse, regarding my asthma assessment. Her expertise on asthma management and inhaler techniques was truly remarkable. She demonstrated a high level of professionalism while maintaining a warm and approachable demeanor. I'm looking forward to having Emma as my healthcare provider in future appointments! 😊

Terrible system that makes scheduling a nightmare

The scheduling platform is utterly absurd. Whoever conceived this system clearly needs a psychological evaluation. Its apparent purpose seems to be alienating and deterring potential patients from seeking care.

Terrible service and uncaring staff at medical practice

Undoubtedly one of the most frustrating healthcare experiences I've ever encountered. Not only is scheduling an appointment nearly impossible - even for a visibly sick infant - but some reception staff display a dismissive and apathetic attitude that screams 'I couldn't care less'. They desperately need to retrain their front desk team on basic customer service and compassionate communication. I've personally experienced multiple unpleasant interactions with this practice, and I'm far from alone. When I've shared my encounters with others, they've been genuinely stunned, as their own medical practices would never treat patients so poorly. Patients should never feel like an inconvenience when seeking medical help. The mere thought of calling this surgery fills me with overwhelming anxiety. I'm sincerely hoping that when I relocate, I'll be assigned to a medical practice that actually demonstrates understanding and genuine helpfulness.

Exceptional service with a smile from amazing professionals

Exceptional experience with an incredibly supportive group who consistently exceed expectations and deliver outstanding service.

Worst medical practice ever avoid at all costs

A complete embarrassment. Severely undermanned with a pervasive "not my responsibility" mentality. Securing a GP appointment is practically unattainable, phone calls go chronically unanswered, and they demonstrate utter indifference towards processing repeat prescription requests. Anyone unfortunate enough to be registered with this practice should explore less torturous options, including, shockingly, ending their life. The healthcare delivery is abysmal, while the lead physician seemingly enjoys luxury transport with personalized license plates. Without widespread patient complaints to the NHS, this systematic negligence will persist unchecked.

Frustrating booking system wastes everyone's time

The appointment booking process is incredibly frustrating. Their reservation system is among the most convoluted I've encountered. Forcing everyone to crowd the reception area at 8am only generates unnecessary stress for staff, who then spend their time repeatedly turning people away. I've attempted to schedule an appointment three times, but the current method is impossible due to work constraints that prevent me from waiting around for three-quarters of an hour just to book. Implementing online scheduling would be a massive improvement, even if limited to a two-week advance window. This would at least allow me to attempt booking during my work hours without disrupting my entire schedule.

Friendly service that made my day better

Clear and responsive dialogue, supportive and understanding throughout our interaction.

Frustrating healthcare experience with limited patient access

Getting an in-person consultation requires navigating an overly complicated process, which is deeply troubling and frustrating.

Terrible service with zero appointment availability

Completely worthless. Impossible to secure an appointment slot for more than a fortnight. Even worse, they're offering only phone consultations for a condition that clearly requires an in-person physical examination.

Reliable delivery saves the day again

Prompt and speedy assistance, just like always

Friendly staff but questionable medical hygiene standards

The surgical center was great, and the front desk staff were particularly friendly, especially the two younger blonde receptionists. However, I do have a concern. During my blood draw, I was surprised that no cleaning or sanitizing of my arm took place before the needle was inserted. This seemed unsanitary to me, as in other medical facilities I've visited, they always thoroughly clean the area before drawing blood.

Declining quality of care at blackthorn medical practice

Overall Experience from GP survey: 2020: 91% 2021: 87% 2022: 71% 2023: 65% Source: https://gp-patient.co.uk/surveysandreports Blackthorn is currently positioned in the bottom third of national medical practices regarding patient experience. According to the rankings, they now stand at 4605 out of 6430 practices, or the 71st percentile. In 2020, they were at 1495 out of 6833, or the 22nd percentile. This represents a significant decline over just three years. The quality degradation has driven me to exclusively use private GPs through Bupa, which I now pay for out of pocket. I now obtain medications via online services because during my last interaction, Blackthorn failed to issue a prescription they had promised. Recently, the practice texted me about a Bupa letter they had received. I managed to secure a telephone consultation scheduled for several weeks from now. I consider myself fortunate to get an appointment - though I'm doubtful it will actually materialize as planned. The statistical data unequivocally tells the story, and my personal experience perfectly aligns with these numbers.

Friendly medical care in small town

Small medical facility catering primarily to the neighborhood population.

Frustrating healthcare system fails patients repeatedly

Utterly appalling, scheduling an appointment is impossible! Despite contributing substantially to taxes and national insurance throughout my entire career, when I desperately require assistance, they're completely uncooperative. Ring them first thing Monday morning? They'll dismiss you and suggest calling another time. Follow their previous recommendation and call on the specified day? Absolutely not! Now they claim they're fully booked and tell you to try again next week! What possible purpose are they serving?!

Unhelpful reception adds stress to medical waiting game

I sought information about my test results, but Jane at the front desk informed me that no details could be provided until a doctor reviews them, with no indication of when this might occur. I recognize the current strain on healthcare resources due to staffing shortages, yet I believe there needs to be more empathy when communicating with patients. When awaiting medical results, individuals naturally feel anxious and exposed, and a receptionist's cold, detached response only intensifies those feelings of uncertainty. My purpose in sharing this feedback is to encourage the reception staff to approach patient interactions with greater compassion, moving beyond rigid scripted responses and demonstrating genuine concern for those seeking medical information.

Frustrating experience with limited appointment availability

When the service works, it's fantastic. However, I have significant frustrations with this healthcare provider: 1. The phone system is excruciatingly tedious and verbose. They desperately need a streamlined option to quickly access essential details. Instead, I'm forced to endure an interminable, irrelevant introduction that consumes precious minutes when all I want is to schedule an appointment. 2. The consultation availability is woefully inadequate. Having consultations restricted to just one day per week is completely insufficient and impractical. As a result, I now postpone seeing my general practitioner until I'm in such dire straits that I require emergency department intervention or an ambulance, primarily due to these ongoing issues.