Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reveals a mixed experience with significant access challenges alongside pockets of positive care. The most consistent concern centres on telephone communication, with numerous reports of unanswered calls, extended waiting times to reach reception, frequent disconnections, and delayed callback responses. Appointment availability emerges as a major barrier, with patients describing waits extending beyond two weeks and difficulty securing consultations through the booking system. Reception experience varies considerably, with some patients praising welcoming and supportive staff, whilst others report unhelpful attitudes and unresponsiveness. In contrast, many patients commend the medical professionals for compassionate, thorough care and continuity of treatment. Several reviews highlight positive experiences with specific doctors and the quality of clinical consultations, though access to these services remains problematic. The practice appears to operate under resource constraints that impact responsiveness, though this does not fully account for the breadth of communication and booking difficulties reported across the feedback.

Patients with ongoing medical needs particularly value continuity of care and established relationships with their GP, noting that familiarity with medical history significantly improves their experience. Some recent reviews indicate improvements through new callback and triage systems, suggesting the practice is attempting to address previous access barriers. However, concerns persist regarding the shift to digital-first booking platforms, which some patients find difficult to navigate, particularly older patients. The reception team receives acknowledgment for managing challenging circumstances, though their capacity to assist appears limited by current systems and procedures.

Appointment

32.10 %
Bad

Reception

35.20 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.40 %
Great

Care

62.80 %
Average

Respect

45.30 %
Poor

Seen on time

38.90 %
Poor

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SS

Suz S. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Welcoming local doctors who really care

Every time I contact or visit, the personnel are welcoming and supportive. It appears to be a smoothly operated medical practice providing an excellent local healthcare resource.

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HS

Henry S. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Skilled chiropody care with compassionate professional

Throughout my extensive history with this medical practice, I have consistently been provided with the precise care I require. During my most recent visit for foot treatment, the female podiatrist was absolutely outstanding. I extend my sincere gratitude to her for her exceptional service. Henry Stephenson.

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ES

Emma S. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Impossible to book a doctor's appointment

Terrible service since relocating. Absolutely not worth considering. Scheduling an appointment is practically impossible.

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SJ

Sienna J. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating doctors who don't listen well

I'm struggling to choose a healthcare provider. The female physicians lack compassion and empathy. I'm constantly required to return multiple times while they attempt to diagnose my condition, and I fear this repeated process might eventually compromise my health. What explains the unprofessional and discourteous behavior of these female doctors? One would expect individuals with advanced education to demonstrate basic interpersonal respect. They appear to display contempt for patients with limited resources and health challenges, seeming more interested in financial gain from the healthcare system than providing genuine patient care.

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SR

Sandra R. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Friendly staff helped me quickly

I might stand alone in my opinion, but my experience with Castlefields Health Centre has been truly exceptional. While there can be some delays when trying to reach them by phone, the moment you connect, the reception staff are incredibly supportive in arranging either a telephone consultation or an in-person appointment as needed. Kudos to their team.

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AE

Ann E. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Caring receptionists despite healthcare challenges

Throughout my four-decade journey as a medical patient, I've witnessed numerous transformations, spanning both positive and negative spectrums. These shifts are predominantly systemic, driven by governmental policies rather than individual medical practitioners. The receptionists, who serve as the initial point of contact, often bear the brunt of these institutional constraints. Like the physicians, they are fundamentally restricted by governmental guidelines that dictate their operational parameters.

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ID

Irene D. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Urgent help when my left side went limp

I want to share my positive experience with Castlefields Health Centre, where the staff truly excel. The receptionists and doctors are exceptional, and throughout my time with this practice, I've never encountered a single negative incident. Everyone goes above and beyond to ensure patients receive the best possible care. The medical professionals are consistently outstanding. I'm perplexed by people who become aggressive with receptionists when appointments are unavailable. It's not their fault. Let me illustrate this with a recent personal experience. While attempting to schedule a doctor's appointment, I suddenly became seriously ill. Fortunately, I was seen quickly. During the consultation, my entire left side suddenly became paralyzed. The doctor immediately contacted reception, and the staff promptly called an ambulance. I received incredible support throughout this medical emergency, which ultimately required hospitalization. I cannot comprehend why anyone would criticize this practice, especially considering how wonderfully they treat my mother, who has complex health issues. She consistently praises the exceptional medical attention she receives. My advice to patients is simple: be understanding if appointments are limited, as they operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're dissatisfied with the service, consider changing healthcare providers rather than criticizing the hardworking staff. The receptionists do not deserve unwarranted hostility.

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CG

Chris G. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible reception and rude staff

Absolutely terrible customer service. Staff treat you like you're stupid, and the front desk completely ignores incoming phone calls. Completely unprofessional and frustrating experience.

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MJ

Matthew J. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Phone lines drive me crazy here

This medical practice desperately needs to address its staff's phone response time, potentially through customer service training for the reception team. On numerous occasions, I've found myself endlessly attempting to reach someone, with calls going unanswered for hours. When I finally do get through, I'm informed that the next available appointment is a staggering three and a half weeks away. This GP surgery is completely unacceptable and requires immediate improvement. I deeply regret ever switching from my previous healthcare provider and joining this establishment.

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MP

Magda P. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless phone wait for basic help

I spent an exhausting three hours on hold, struggling to get through to their support line. Now I'm left waiting for a doctor to return my call, and the service has been absolutely terrible...

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JG

Jay G. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Impossible to reach customer support

Getting ahold of customer service here is like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. You're basically guaranteed to get zero response when calling, and on the rare occasion someone picks up, it's still a massive longshot of actually getting help.

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JT

Jackie T. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless waiting and no doctor in sight

I've been attempting to contact the office since 11:30am today (3/1/17) and it's now 13:10, with no response. Why is no one picking up the phone? It's consistently impossible to reach anyone, and even when you manage to connect, securing an appointment with a specific physician (which is legally mandated) becomes a frustrating ordeal. When you finally do schedule something, the waiting period extends beyond two weeks. The level of service is absolutely unacceptable across the board 😡😡

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SK

Spaceface K. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating phone tag with my longtime doctor

Absolutely abysmal customer service, despite my decades-long relationship with this medical practice. Each time you attempt to schedule an appointment, a physician must personally return your call to determine your eligibility for a consultation - completely impractical for working individuals who can't readily answer the phone. This approach is fundamentally flawed and demands immediate reevaluation.

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PN

Penny N. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Great!

Friendly doctors who actually listen

At our clinic, you're not confined to a single designated physician. Instead, you have the freedom to choose and see any doctor that suits your preference.

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ME

Michael E. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Couldn't reach anyone before noon

Good luck trying to reach anyone when they claim to be open from 8 AM - their phone might as well be disconnected.

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PC

Paula C. Google 10 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible wait times for urgent care

The medical practice is completely unresponsive - calls go unanswered and when someone finally picks up, the physician takes an excessively long time to return communication. This delay could potentially endanger patient health, which is absolutely unacceptable.

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Practice Response Rate
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About the GP

  • Accepts all feedback, both positive and negative.

Contact Information

  • 01928 566671
  • The Village Square Castlefields Runcorn Cheshire WA7 2ST

Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reveals a mixed experience with significant access challenges alongside pockets of positive care. The most consistent concern centres on telephone communication, with numerous reports of unanswered calls, extended waiting times to reach reception, frequent disconnections, and delayed callback responses. Appointment availability emerges as a major barrier, with patients describing waits extending beyond two weeks and difficulty securing consultations through the booking system. Reception experience varies considerably, with some patients praising welcoming and supportive staff, whilst others report unhelpful attitudes and unresponsiveness. In contrast, many patients commend the medical professionals for compassionate, thorough care and continuity of treatment. Several reviews highlight positive experiences with specific doctors and the quality of clinical consultations, though access to these services remains problematic. The practice appears to operate under resource constraints that impact responsiveness, though this does not fully account for the breadth of communication and booking difficulties reported across the feedback.

Patients with ongoing medical needs particularly value continuity of care and established relationships with their GP, noting that familiarity with medical history significantly improves their experience. Some recent reviews indicate improvements through new callback and triage systems, suggesting the practice is attempting to address previous access barriers. However, concerns persist regarding the shift to digital-first booking platforms, which some patients find difficult to navigate, particularly older patients. The reception team receives acknowledgment for managing challenging circumstances, though their capacity to assist appears limited by current systems and procedures.

Appointment

32.10 %
Bad

Reception

35.20 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.40 %
Great

Care

62.80 %
Average

Respect

45.30 %
Poor

Seen on time

38.90 %
Poor
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