Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reveals significant challenges with appointment access and reception experience, alongside notable strengths in clinical care. Securing appointments remains a persistent frustration, with patients reporting difficulties reaching the practice by phone, long waiting times to join queues, and limited availability despite multiple booking attempts. The reception experience is frequently cited as problematic, with patients describing staff as dismissive, unhelpful, and occasionally discourteous, creating barriers to accessing care. Communication gaps between reception and clinical teams have also been noted, with patients reporting inconsistent information and inadequate follow-up on test results and treatment plans.

In contrast, nursing and medical professionals consistently receive praise for their courtesy, compassion, and attentiveness. The pharmacy team is similarly commended for responsiveness and support. Recent improvements to the online booking system have been welcomed by some patients, though others report ongoing frustrations with the Patches appointment platform. The practice appears to be in transition, with some patients noting positive changes in efficiency and staff friendliness, while others continue to experience significant access difficulties and organisational challenges that undermine confidence in the service.

Appointment

32.67 %
Bad

Reception

28.92 %
Bad

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

52.18 %
Average

Respect

31.54 %
Bad

Seen on time

45.23 %
Poor

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LS

Louise S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Disastrous healthcare leaving patients in critical danger

If possible, I'd rate this zero stars. This review stems from my husband's appalling treatment throughout the past twelve months. The medical practice shows zero concern for his cancer-related issues, making it incredibly difficult to secure medications and schedule appointments. Despite experiencing a stroke, he's been forced to wait four entire weeks just to see a doctor, which is absolutely unacceptable. I'm genuinely terrified he might suffer another stroke before receiving his critical medication. The surgery's reception staff are completely unprofessional and discourteous, which only adds to my frustration and anger.

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CW

Chris W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Patchs healthcare system fails patients miserably

Patchs. An utterly chaotic booking system. Claiming availability from 7:45am, yet only online at 8am and offline again by 8:25am. I submitted a crystal-clear request for a doctor's consultation at the surgery, but was inexplicably assigned a 4pm nurse appointment at a hub. Then, I endured 28 frustrating minutes on hold, stuck at number 6 in the queue with no response. It's mind-boggling that anyone at Patchs even bothered to read my submission, as they clearly ignored every detail. Blandford, the continuous stream of one-star reviews should be setting off serious alarm bells for your organization.

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LS

Lizzie S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Poor!

Friendly doctors, but reception staff crush patient hopes

The medical professionals and pharmacy team are delightful and consistently supportive, but the front desk personnel are incredibly discourteous. They habitually interrupt conversations and completely disregard patients' concerns, invariably instructing everyone to 'call back tomorrow' regardless of the inquiry. There appears to be a total breakdown in communication between reception and the clinical staff - multiple times I've scheduled appointments for different health issues, only to be allocated a single slot. Upon arriving, I'm then informed that there's only time to address one problem, with the doctor seemingly unaware of my original request to discuss multiple concerns. These interactions are so frustrating that they genuinely dampen my entire day. I recognize that working in reception must be challenging, but basic customer service should still be maintained. There's a significant distinction between experiencing workplace stress and simply being deliberately unhelpful and rude.

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PJ

Peter J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare system fails patient urgently

Wasted nearly an hour attempting to schedule a medical consultation, only to be told no physicians were accessible. They claimed someone would contact me within five days - absolutely ridiculous. By that point, a serious health issue could potentially become life-threatening.

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PJ

Paul J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Healthcare nightmare at unresponsive medical practice

I'm writing this review based on my son's ongoing struggle. For several months, he's been repeatedly calling to secure a medical consultation due to a relentless cough. His condition has deteriorated to the point where he's unable to sleep, eat, or function normally, yet the reception staff consistently block his attempts to see a physician. When he ultimately obtained a scan, the nurses casually remarked that such experiences are routine. The reception staff are dismissive and unhelpful, and the doctors seem completely absent. The service is absolutely appalling. Their advertisements claim patients should be seen quickly in case of serious conditions, but with this practice, you're more likely to die before receiving any attention because the reception staff apparently know better than medical professionals. STEER CLEAR.

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LM

Lucie-anne M. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service puts patients health at risk

I'm allocating just 1 star because zero isn't an option. Securing an appointment here has always been challenging, but during my recent encounters concerning my mother's declining health, the situation has become even more frustrating. After finally managing to get through, there are consistently no available slots, and when the nurses eventually returned my call, their sole recommendation was 'paracetamol and Ibuprofen' for an undiagnosed condition that would ultimately transform her life. Fortunately, I was able to pursue private healthcare to obtain the necessary tests, diagnosis, and ongoing medication she requires. However, for individuals without the financial means to do so, my urgent recommendation is to switch medical practices immediately if you desire any semblance of genuine care or meaningful answers before it becomes irreversibly too late.

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AL

Alex L. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating customer service with no communication

Customer service is completely unresponsive, and getting in touch with a live representative seems impossible.

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SL

Shaun L. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Great!

Simple and satisfying product

Enjoyable product

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DR

Dave R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Exceptional doctor delivers outstanding personalized care

The physician I consulted recently is absolutely exceptional. He dedicated over 90 minutes to ensuring I received proper care, and if this medical practice doesn't promote Dr. Timothy Forster to a partnership role, they're clearly making a significant mistake. I wholeheartedly endorse him with complete confidence.

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GG

Gem G. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible healthcare experience with unhelpful staff

Terrible medical procedure completely useless, attempting to secure a doctor's consultation is an absolute nightmare because the front desk staff demand to know every single detail about your situation

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MS

Mark S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Unacceptable care for vulnerable cancer patient

As someone battling cancer, I'm appalled by the staff's dismissive, disrespectful, and callous attitude. They've arbitrarily halted my critical medication without any notification, and when I tried to schedule an urgent consultation, they set up a phone appointment a full 9 days later - which is actually 3 days past when my medication supply expires. This is despite my explicitly stating the urgency during our initial conversation, when they promised a response within 24 hours. The entire experience is utterly futile and overwhelmingly anxiety-inducing - precisely the kind of additional burden no one should endure while fighting a serious illness!

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ZO

Zilif O. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare service with zero forward planning

Still restricted to same-day scheduling for general practitioner consultations! Every morning, all available slots are completely taken within just 30 minutes, leaving absolutely no possibility of advance booking. Steer clear

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GW

Gayle W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating phone tag with medical office nightmare

I called the medical office this morning at 8:08 requesting an appointment. I was informed that a doctor would contact me. My phone rang twice, which I believed were the doctors calling, but both times the call was abruptly disconnected. It is now 6:36pm, and I have yet to receive any communication from the medical staff.

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JB

Jaroslaw B. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical service ever experienced

Customer support is absolutely abysmal. Getting an appointment takes so long, you'd likely perish before actually scheduling one.

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SH

Susan H. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Great!

Patches system delivers exceptional patient care and support

Since becoming part of the Patches network, I can confidently state that I've never experienced such exceptional customer service. Dr Jessa has surpassed typical medical professional boundaries, consistently taking the time to genuinely hear my concerns. The Patches system appears to effectively alleviate some of the administrative strain on the front desk staff. Kudos to the team.

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LA

Lloyd A. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Compassionate care with occasional scheduling hiccups

Throughout my long-standing relationship with this medical practice, the staff have consistently demonstrated politeness and a genuine commitment to assisting me. Recently, I needed an urgent GP consultation and was pleasantly surprised when I could secure an appointment just three hours after my mid-morning phone call. While my overall experience has been positive, I have occasionally encountered some minor challenges with scheduling non-urgent appointments.

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TS

Target S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical practice ever, avoid at all costs

In no uncertain terms, if you're seeking a medical practice that specializes in dismissive treatment, verbal aggression, and unwarranted shouting, look no further. As if that weren't enough, they'll even go to the extent of threatening to involve law enforcement to paint you as the troublemaker. Fortunately, I had the foresight to document the entire encounter, which the police fully comprehended when I presented my evidence. This surgery's conduct is utterly reprehensible, and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. ☹️☹️☹️☹️

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LW

Lee W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Shocking medical incompetence leaves patient frustrated and unheard

This medical practice is a complete disaster, with ineptitude and carelessness evident at every interaction. I attempted to discuss concerns with the management, but the person in charge was utterly dismissive and devoid of any compassion. It's infuriating to think my tax contributions support such substandard healthcare. I strongly advise steering clear of this clinic under any circumstances.

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LS

Lewis S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare experience with terrible customer service

Total waste of time! Stuck waiting endlessly with staff who treat you like you're incompetent and talk down to you! They interrogate you with countless questions but never actually let you see a physician!! Even more frustrating when the hospital just sends you back to your primary care doctor!! This place desperately needs a complete management overhaul!!

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MF

Madeline F. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Nightmare healthcare experience with unhelpful staff

Completely repulsive experience with unhelpful, discourteous front desk staff and zero customer care. Just underwent a significant surgical procedure while battling p m r, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis, experiencing excruciating pain. Their response? A phone consultation scheduled three days out, and when finally speaking with a physician, they were solely interested in renewing my steroid prescription. Absolutely zero meaningful assistance or compassion provided.

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Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reveals significant challenges with appointment access and reception experience, alongside notable strengths in clinical care. Securing appointments remains a persistent frustration, with patients reporting difficulties reaching the practice by phone, long waiting times to join queues, and limited availability despite multiple booking attempts. The reception experience is frequently cited as problematic, with patients describing staff as dismissive, unhelpful, and occasionally discourteous, creating barriers to accessing care. Communication gaps between reception and clinical teams have also been noted, with patients reporting inconsistent information and inadequate follow-up on test results and treatment plans.

In contrast, nursing and medical professionals consistently receive praise for their courtesy, compassion, and attentiveness. The pharmacy team is similarly commended for responsiveness and support. Recent improvements to the online booking system have been welcomed by some patients, though others report ongoing frustrations with the Patches appointment platform. The practice appears to be in transition, with some patients noting positive changes in efficiency and staff friendliness, while others continue to experience significant access difficulties and organisational challenges that undermine confidence in the service.

Appointment

32.67 %
Bad

Reception

28.92 %
Bad

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

52.18 %
Average

Respect

31.54 %
Bad

Seen on time

45.23 %
Poor
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