Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals significant challenges with appointment access and booking experience. Patients consistently report difficulty reaching the practice by phone, with extended waiting times and frequent disconnections. When contact is achieved, appointment availability is severely limited, forcing many to seek care elsewhere or attend accident and emergency departments. Long hold times, restricted booking windows, and system malfunctions compound these access barriers.

Reception experience presents a mixed picture. While some patients praise welcoming and professional staff, others describe dismissive and discourteous interactions, particularly during peak periods. Communication responsiveness is a concern, with delayed callbacks and unfulfilled promises to contact patients. Prescription processing failures and incomplete care coordination have created serious consequences for patients managing chronic conditions.

Positive feedback highlights professional nursing care, courteous interactions when appointments are secured, and a clean environment. However, these strengths are substantially overshadowed by widespread frustration with the fundamental ability to access timely appointments and reach the practice reliably. The combination of booking system limitations, insufficient staffing, and inconsistent reception courtesy has eroded confidence in the service for many patients.

Appointment

28.75 %
Bad

Reception

32.50 %
Bad

Cleanliness

72.00 %
Great

Care

35.20 %
Poor

Respect

31.40 %
Bad

Seen on time

25.60 %
Bad

Filter

HP

Heddy P. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Inconvenient blood test process frustrates local patient

Getting a blood test now requires a trip to the hospital, as they no longer offer this service at the local medical practice!

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MA

Markmy A. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer service that wastes your time

Terrible service - it's nearly impossible to reach a representative, and even if you manage to get through, they have no available appointments, leaving you completely frustrated and wasting precious time. Completely worthless experience! 😡

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MT

Marie T. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Surgery falls short of patient expectations

I previously held this medical practice in high regard, but regrettably, its quality has significantly declined. While the practice manager is always responsive to complaints, these issues remain unaddressed. Recently, I've encountered several problematic interactions. A few receptionists have been discourteous (though most are pleasant), and I've been scheduled for phone consultations despite requesting in-person appointments due to my hearing impairment. This has forced me to either bring a support person or struggle to understand the limited information provided. During a recent appointment, I was allocated merely 30 seconds, received no eye contact, and felt completely dehumanized while under considerable stress. Upon complaining, the nurse fabricated notes that were entirely fictitious - claiming I was offered therapy and medication which I supposedly refused, noting I was 'crying', and even stating I left happy and smiling. The notes also mentioned sleep struggles, a topic I never discussed. I'm genuinely concerned about the potential treatment of vulnerable patients, particularly those experiencing severe mental health challenges. Consequently, I am transferring to a different surgery. It's disheartening that a handful of staff members can so thoroughly undermine what was once an excellent medical practice.

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DC

Dajon C. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Nightmare at the doctor's office reception desk

Absolutely dreadful medical practice, the front desk staff are incredibly discourteous. They desperately need to hire more professional employees who don't make patients feel like they're being interrogated when calling late in the day. These receptionists should understand that responding to phone calls is a fundamental part of their professional responsibilities.

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KR

Katie R. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Exceptional care at a top-notch medical practice

I've been a patient at this medical practice for a few years, registering my twins right after their birth. They've had several visits for immunizations and their initial health check. Throughout my time here, I've encountered zero problems with the reception staff or scheduling appointments. The entire team is incredibly welcoming, and I've never experienced long wait times since the doctors and nurses consistently run punctual clinics. I'm truly puzzled by the negative feedback circulating about this practice, as I consider it to be among the finest healthcare providers I've ever encountered. I want to extend a heartfelt appreciation to Nurse Pat and Nurse Jacquie, who have been exceptional with my twins - they're wonderfully engaging with the children and remarkably efficient when administering vaccinations.

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KD

Katherine D. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Great!

Frustrating wait times mar otherwise good healthcare service

When I've successfully booked an appointment, the staff have been professional and supportive. However, being placed on hold for 30 to 60 minutes is frustrating, clearly stemming from insufficient staffing - an issue the practice manager needs to resolve. Their current appointment booking system, which restricts scheduling to 8:30am daily, appears counterproductive and generates a surge of simultaneous phone calls. Additionally, the daily two-hour closure of phone lines compounds the service's challenges, revealing significant operational weaknesses.

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PD

Paula D. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Compassionate care beyond expectations at medical practice

Contrary to the critical feedback from prior reviews, my personal experience with this medical practice has been entirely positive. Every interaction I've had with the surgery's team has been marked by politeness and professionalism. Without exception, all staff members have consistently demonstrated a helpful and courteous approach, leaving me thoroughly satisfied with their service.

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RH

Rachel H. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Great!

Exceptional service with quick medical attention

The staff at the front desk were incredibly welcoming, and they quickly scheduled me for a face-to-face consultation the following day. As a bonus, I was able to have my blood work done right at the same location.

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MJ

M J. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible medical service that wastes patient time

I scheduled a phone consultation for 11:20 AM today, and it's now 12:47 PM with absolutely no call received. This medical practice is hands-down the most unprofessional I've ever encountered. The physicians are negligent, irresponsible, and completely disrespectful of patients' time. The front desk staff are equally incompetent. People seem to accept poor service because healthcare is supposedly "free" - are you serious? We contribute massive tax dollars to this system. Where exactly is that money going? This is NOT free healthcare; we are paying for it through our taxes. They need to dramatically improve their service standards, or I'll be escalating this directly to my Member of Parliament.

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JR

Jodie R. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Incompetent doctors fail patients with negligent care

The medical professionals at this clinic are consumed by their own self-importance, demonstrating a complete lack of basic medical competence and desperately requiring instruction on patient care. Following my husband's hospital discharge and specialist diagnosis of a permanent medical condition, the doctor here arbitrarily declared him "fine" without even reviewing any diagnostic imaging, declined to develop any treatment strategy, and essentially abandoned him, allowing his health to progressively worsen with zero medical guidance or support. Their track record of assistance is nonexistent across the board. Anyone genuinely concerned about their well-being should absolutely avoid this practice at all costs. This surgery will unquestionably disregard your medical needs and potentially cause significant psychological distress in the process.

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SS

Stracepipe S. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible phone service ruins healthcare experience

Their phone communication is completely non-existent. The recorded message claims they are resolving telephone system problems, but this excuse has been running for twenty-four months, which is transparently false. I've been compelled to seek medical care through a private general practitioner because securing an appointment at Douglas Grove has become utterly unfeasible.

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MB

Mrs B. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible doctors fail patients time and again

These medical professionals are absolutely terrible. I've never received proper assistance from the physician, and despite being a patient at this practice for several years, I consistently wind up hospitalized because the doctor refuses to provide adequate care for myself or my family members! STEER CLEAR

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MT

Mrs T. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Smooth sailing with douglas grove apartments

During my almost two-year tenure at Douglas Grove, I can genuinely affirm that my experience has been entirely trouble-free. The staff and environment have consistently been welcoming and pleasant.

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AG

Andrew G. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating delays in medical appointment scheduling

We attempted to schedule a consultation for our child, but were only promised a physician's return call, which was supposed to happen by the conclusion of the previous week. We're still in the dark and haven't received any communication yet.......

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AS

Ally S. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare that dismisses patient concerns

This medical practice is utterly useless when dealing with chronic health issues, as they invariably attribute every symptom to pre-existing conditions. As a type 2 diabetic, I've found that they blame all my medical concerns on my diabetes and flatly reject any referral requests. Their policy of prohibiting mobility scooters inside because of a past incident is shameful. Not everyone has alternative transportation methods, and this is supposed to be a healthcare facility that should accommodate patients with mobility challenges. While scheduling appointments is simple, it's ultimately pointless since no meaningful medical investigation or treatment ever occurs.

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MW

Mike W. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare access with endless appointment struggles

Securing a medical appointment has been an ongoing challenge for me over the past six years, forcing me to seek private care on multiple occasions. Regarding my experience: I requested a next-day appointment and was instructed to call on the day of service, then inquired about same-day availability. I made no unreasonable demands and was never informed about the limited morning appointment slots. Naturally, I left when told a next-day appointment was impossible. As a result, I visited a walk-in center in Colchester to receive the necessary treatment. Additional context: On another occasion, my wife attempted to book an appointment for our 11-month-old child who was unwell. She made over 40 calls starting at 8:30 AM but was unable to secure an appointment.

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LP

Lee P. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible healthcare at douglas grove surgery nightmare

After relocating to this neighborhood, I chose Douglas Grove Surgery as my local medical practice. Unfortunately, my experience has been incredibly frustrating. Last week, I couldn't secure an appointment, and when I called today, I was left on hold for almost two hours before finally reaching someone, only to be told no slots were available. I'm currently off work for a fortnight, yet they have no availability until after my return. Their same-day appointment system is completely ineffective - with just one doctor working today and only two on a good day, getting seen is pure chance. Despite registering with them, I haven't been examined once. They seem eager to take on new patients but demonstrate zero commitment to actually caring for them. This surgery is an absolute nightmare, and I strongly advise anyone to seek medical care elsewhere.

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GC

Gary C. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Dangerous healthcare nightmare at this medical practice

Absolutely appalling service. I've been registered here for four months, and not a single prescription has been processed correctly. The medical staff demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge and are entirely uncooperative. Upon voicing my concerns, they promptly removed me from their patient list, which critically endangers my health given my multiple serious medical conditions, forcing me to urgently seek alternative healthcare providers.

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LB

Lorraine B. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Unhelpful surgery turns away sick toddler's worried mom

Called the medical practice concerning my young daughter's health, only to be met with dismissive indifference. When I sought guidance about her illness, they essentially said they didn't want her potentially contaminating their space. I explained I was uncertain about her condition and needed professional assessment. They grudgingly offered a 9:40 slot but with the added inconvenience that we couldn't even wait in the waiting area and must remain at the reception desk.

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JC

Janie C. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating phone call with unhelpful customer service

Phone repair service left me hanging, got disconnected mid-call. Typically, the front desk staff are fantastic, but whoever handles Tuesday morning shifts is unnecessarily curt and dismissive. Their attitude screams bureaucratic indifference, treating customers like an inconvenience rather than a priority.

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Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals significant challenges with appointment access and booking experience. Patients consistently report difficulty reaching the practice by phone, with extended waiting times and frequent disconnections. When contact is achieved, appointment availability is severely limited, forcing many to seek care elsewhere or attend accident and emergency departments. Long hold times, restricted booking windows, and system malfunctions compound these access barriers.

Reception experience presents a mixed picture. While some patients praise welcoming and professional staff, others describe dismissive and discourteous interactions, particularly during peak periods. Communication responsiveness is a concern, with delayed callbacks and unfulfilled promises to contact patients. Prescription processing failures and incomplete care coordination have created serious consequences for patients managing chronic conditions.

Positive feedback highlights professional nursing care, courteous interactions when appointments are secured, and a clean environment. However, these strengths are substantially overshadowed by widespread frustration with the fundamental ability to access timely appointments and reach the practice reliably. The combination of booking system limitations, insufficient staffing, and inconsistent reception courtesy has eroded confidence in the service for many patients.

Appointment

28.75 %
Bad

Reception

32.50 %
Bad

Cleanliness

72.00 %
Great

Care

35.20 %
Poor

Respect

31.40 %
Bad

Seen on time

25.60 %
Bad
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