Southcoates Medical Centre

Helpful staff who actually listened to me

Excellent, helpful team members and a wonderful healthcare professional who genuinely cares about patient wellbeing.

Long wait for an appointment

I have been experiencing a lengthy wait to get an appointment with a clinician.

Prescription ordering system doesn't work for working people

Since the new system was introduced, obtaining prescriptions has become more difficult. I work during the designated hours and am unable to request essential medication outside of these times. No alternative arrangements seem to be available for my circumstances. Securing appointments is extremely challenging and requires planning well in advance.

Struggling to book appointments since the changeover

The practice has become increasingly difficult to access for appointments since the recent change in management.

Reception staff overstepped their role

These concerns warrant further review by relevant regulatory bodies. The experience with clinical staff was disappointing. There were concerns about the appropriateness of advice given by reception staff and questions about their level of training and professional boundaries.

Staff were dismissive and unhelpful

I had a very negative experience with the staff at this practice. I felt the clinical care provided did not meet my expectations, and I have concerns about the quality of treatment I received. I am considering pursuing a formal complaint regarding my care.

Receptionists gave wrong medical advice

I had a very negative experience at this practice. I felt the clinical care fell short of expectations in several ways. I was concerned about the appropriateness of prescriptions I received, and I felt that necessary referrals were not made when I believed they should have been. I also questioned whether the volume of blood tests requested was justified. I experienced what I felt were diagnostic errors, and I remained on medication that I did not believe was suitable for an extended period. Additionally, I found that administrative staff sometimes offered medical guidance that I felt was inaccurate or unhelpful.

Practice has improved with better listening approach

I have been a patient here since it opened, having followed a clinician when they moved to this location from another practice. I acknowledge that this practice experienced some difficulties following a change in leadership. However, I am pleased to report that there has been considerable improvement since the current clinical team took over. The lead clinician is very courteous and listens attentively to patients' concerns without appearing rushed. They discuss your health matters thoroughly and present all available options so that you can make a decision that works for both the practice and yourself. The reception team are consistently helpful and accommodating. I would recommend this practice to anyone at the moment.

Staff rudeness made me consider changing surgeries

I have been a patient at this surgery since childhood and previously had consistently positive experiences. Following a change in clinical leadership, my experience has deteriorated significantly. I found the entire team to be unwelcoming and dismissive. During a recent appointment involving my young child, the clinician raised their voice while I was assisting my child to get dressed after being instructed to do so. Despite the interaction lasting only a few minutes, I was told in an abrupt manner that there were other patients to see. Additionally, when I arrived for an initial appointment, I was asked to complete registration paperwork for my child, but was interrupted and told this could be done later as the clinician needed to proceed with the consultation. Although I was nearly finished and only required to add a signature, this felt rushed and discourteous. I would not feel comfortable recommending this practice to others and am seriously considering transferring my care elsewhere.

Reception staff asked too many personal questions

The experience was disappointing overall. Communication during appointments was difficult to follow at times, and the approach seemed to involve repeated cycles of medication and follow-up appointments without addressing underlying issues. The reception staff also appeared to ask intrusive questions that felt unnecessary for their role. This practice may not be the best fit for those seeking comprehensive care.

Reception staff blocked access to medical care

I felt very let down by my experience with the practice. When my partner contacted the surgery during a difficult time, she was asked multiple questions about her medical situation. Despite having informed the receptionist that her condition had been recently confirmed by the hospital, she continued to face questioning and did not receive the support she needed from the practice. I was concerned that a non-clinical member of staff appeared to be making decisions about access to care. I would not recommend this practice.