Clifton Court Medical Practice

Reception check-in feels unnecessarily distrustful

Patients may feel they are not treated with full respect. Upon arrival for an appointment, check-in at reception is required, which some may perceive as reflecting assumptions about attendance reliability. The clinical staff approach sometimes comes across as dismissive and unhelpful. The telephone system includes repeated reminders regarding conduct expectations and language standards during calls. For telephone consultations offered as an alternative to in-person visits, appointment slots are given as a broad time period such as morning or afternoon rather than a specific time window. Appointments have consistently run significantly behind schedule.

Phone lines constantly busy and hard to reach

Attempting to reach the practice by telephone proves difficult, as the lines appear consistently unavailable and calls go unanswered. When appointments are eventually secured, the surgery remains busy, and obtaining an urgent appointment slot takes several days, which feels inadequate for time-sensitive matters. Additionally, callback calls are extremely brief before being disconnected.

Reception staff were unhelpful and dismissive

The reception team was disappointing. Only a small number of clinical staff members were satisfactory, while the overall practice fell short of expectations. I would not recommend this practice to others. There seemed to be a lack of engagement with certain health concerns, and treatment approaches felt inadequate. 👎👎👎

Welcoming practice with pleasant reception staff

A wonderful surgery with friendly and approachable clinicians. The reception team are also courteous and helpful.

Refused help, forced to seek hospital care

The medical team was unable to provide the assistance I required. Due to restrictions affecting my health situation, I now find myself needing to seek care at the hospital instead.

Reception staff could be more patient with callers

I called the medical practice this morning and spoke to a member of staff who came across as rather curt. There was no need for the manner in which she communicated with me, particularly given my circumstances. The tone of her voice was unhelpful, and while other staff members at the surgery were perfectly fine, this particular individual seemed to lack understanding of how to interact appropriately with someone who has additional support needs.

Phone lines could use some improvement

After reviewing several GP practices in the local area, it appears that feedback tends to highlight comparable concerns around telephone accessibility and occasional reports of staff manner, though this hasn't been a personal experience. It seems most practices have both strengths and weaknesses, a situation that hasn't been improved by recent circumstances. It's worth remembering to approach interactions with kindness, particularly during challenging times.

Long wait times delayed urgent care needs

My wife experienced a serious health situation that required urgent medical intervention. When she contacted the practice to request blood work, she was informed that an appointment would not be available for several days. Fortunately, she was able to receive the necessary care at the hospital.

Telephone appointment left me feeling unheard

Following a telephone consultation with a member of the clinical team this morning, I felt more distressed than before the call. I am a vulnerable patient requiring additional support due to respiratory health concerns, and I am currently experiencing significant anxiety which is affecting my wellbeing. I felt the consultation did not provide the reassurance or support I was hoping for. I have noticed a considerable difference in the approach taken by different members of staff at the practice, as my daughter had a more helpful and supportive experience during her recent appointment at the same location.

Patients feel genuinely well looked after here

Patients at this practice receive good care and attention.

Closed early and left me waiting

Disappointing experience at this practice. The surgery closed earlier than expected on a day when I had a scheduled appointment. Getting through by telephone during morning hours can be quite time-consuming. The main strength appears to be the efficiency of managing ongoing medication requests.

Appointment mix-up left me frustrated and unheard

This practice has been disappointing. I am currently in the process of switching to a different surgery. During a recent appointment, I was turned away due to an administrative error where my visit was confused with a blood test appointment. I have been dealing with a long-standing joint issue for several years. When I first sought help at this practice, the advice given did not address my concerns effectively. Despite returning multiple times since then, I have not received the support I was hoping for. I find this situation very frustrating.

Booking an appointment felt nearly impossible

Attempting to secure an appointment at this practice feels unnecessarily difficult and frustrating.

Long phone queues and unavailable appointments throughout

The service provided falls significantly short of acceptable standards. Administrative processes are deeply problematic, with urgent referrals failing to materialise and routine tasks requiring repeated phone calls to complete. Appointment availability is extremely limited, with extended waiting times when attempting to book, and correspondence through email and post appears unreliable. Clinical care raises serious concerns. Staff appear to lack basic procedural competency in fundamental tasks, and medication recommendations have been made without adequate consideration of documented medical history, creating potential safety risks. There appears to be insufficient attention paid to patient records prior to consultations. The overall management and training of staff appears inadequate, and the facility itself requires improvement in cleanliness and maintenance standards, including basic supplies such as hand sanitiser. The practice seems unable to manage conditions beyond straightforward presentations. The experience has been sufficiently poor that alternative healthcare provision will be sought immediately, and this practice will not be returned to.

Impossible to book an appointment by phone

It is extremely difficult to obtain an appointment at this practice. Attempted to contact the surgery multiple times during morning hours and experienced continuous busy signals throughout the period. The telephone system appears to be outdated and the booking process seems to have remained largely unchanged for an extended period.

Phone lines impossible to get through on

I found it extremely frustrating to be unable to reach anyone by phone. I made multiple attempts to get through starting from early morning, but my calls went unanswered. When I went to the reception desk to ask why no one was picking up, I felt dismissed by the response I received. I was told my manner was inappropriate, though I felt I was simply speaking at my normal volume due to a hearing difficulty. The overall experience left me feeling the practice needs to improve its phone systems and staff communication training.

Reception staff made me feel unwelcome

I had an extremely negative experience with a member of the reception team who I found to be unprofessional and impolite. I felt there was a lack of courtesy and empathy shown during my interactions. I would advise others to be cautious, as my encounters with this individual left me feeling distressed and anxious.

Reception staff could be more sympathetic

I find it contradictory that there is a prominent sign asking patients to be respectful when some of the reception staff can come across as dismissive and lacking in empathy. The appointment booking systems are frustrating, with availability disappearing quickly, and the phone lines are extremely difficult to get through on. By the time you manage to connect, all the slots have already been taken. I have been a patient here for many years, and since several experienced clinicians departed, the practice has noticeably declined in quality. I am actively seeking to transfer to another surgery and cannot wait to make the move.

Staff understood my long-term health needs

Excellent practice. Have consistently received support here. I have ongoing health concerns and the clinical team demonstrates understanding of this. Well done on maintaining these standards.

Rushed appointments and dismissive attitude

Absolutely disappointing experience. The practice does not seem to prioritise patient care, with appointments feeling rushed and impersonal. I have concerns about the quality of care provided and am considering switching to a different practice.