Forestside Medical Practice

Arrogant GP

Just had the most dreadful consult with Dr who decided that he knew better than my specialists and tried to downgrade a diagnosis that took me 4 years to get. He did this by taking one look at me and without asking any assessment questions. He also thought it was appropriate to ask me the question “are you sure you had that surgery”. It is this sort of GP that is responsible for women in their thousands to be undiagnosed for years and years.

Reception staff ignored ringing phones constantly

The reception team appears to spend considerable time in conversation with one another while telephone calls go unanswered, which is frustrating for patients trying to get through.

Parking tricky but staff make you feel welcome

Finding a parking space on site can occasionally be challenging, particularly in the afternoon hours. However, once inside the surgery, the reception team are excellent and there is a good selection of healthcare professionals available. I attend regularly for ongoing appointments and consistently feel warmly received.

Urgent appointments handled with genuine care

I have consistently had a very favourable experience at this practice, especially when requiring prompt appointments. On a couple of occasions when I needed urgent medication, I was handled with courtesy and consideration, and was promptly referred to the local hospital for same-day care where I could receive treatment without delay. I am grateful to all the staff for their dedication and commitment despite the challenging circumstances they work in.

Reception staff gave conflicting information repeatedly

I found my experience with this practice to be extremely disappointing. The appointment system appears very difficult to access, with availability seeming limited even when calling early. The reception team's handling of my requests felt dismissive and inconsistent, with varying explanations provided on different occasions. I have been waiting an extended period for a clinical review that is required before my medication can be authorised, and despite understanding that practices may experience delays, the length of time I have been unable to progress feels unreasonable. I was frustrated by what seemed like a lack of willingness from staff to help resolve the situation or escalate my concerns appropriately.

Struggling to book an appointment here

I have experienced difficulty obtaining an appointment at this practice, which has been frustrating.

Impossible to get through on the phone queue

I have spent months attempting to secure an appointment. In previous locations where I have lived, accessing same-day appointments was straightforward—you could simply attend in person. Currently, the only option involves repeatedly calling until successfully reaching someone, with no walk-in availability or online booking facility. I suspect many patients like myself end up requiring more extensive care because issues are not addressed promptly. I have now stopped trying. My mother frequently encourages me to visit a doctor, not fully grasping how difficult the process has become, particularly as she still benefits from regular home visits and nurse calls from her long-standing practice. Having lived in multiple regions since leaving home, this current location appears to offer the poorest access to seeing a healthcare professional in person. When I eventually secured an actual appointment, it was scheduled two weeks ahead at a different location. I had transport at that time, so the distance was manageable, but the appointment was cancelled on the day it was due. I subsequently received a feedback request about the appointment with no option to indicate that it had been cancelled on the provider's side, so I was unable to provide accurate feedback. On another occasion, after four months of attempting to arrange an appointment, I attended in person out of desperation. I was unable to obtain an appointment and was instructed to phone instead. This creates a significant barrier for anyone without access to a phone or unable to make calls. Eventually, I managed to get an appointment at a hospital setting, though I am uncertain whether I saw the appropriate professional, as I was simply directed to return to my regular practice. This seemed contradictory given that I was already at a medical appointment. My longer-term undiagnosed health concern now feels beyond my control. Regarding a separate, more straightforward issue, I had been advised by multiple healthcare professionals that I required antibiotics. However, when I consulted about this, I was told antibiotics would not be provided and that they would monitor whether the problem worsened. I was shocked and said nothing in response. There seemed little point in pursuing further medical consultation. Weeks later, a significant deterioration occurred. Nearly two years on, I continue to experience this issue.

Staff were helpful when dealing with relatives

I have recently been managing several matters for an older family member and, with the exception of one unsatisfactory telephone interaction, have found the team at this practice to be supportive and considerate.

Receptionist understood my concerns when booking

Recently registered with this practice. Had concerns about what I'd read in other reviews. Required an appointment and called early in the day, finding the receptionist to be exceptionally understanding and supportive. Excellent experience.

Website down, can't order prescriptions

Attempted to order a prescription online through the practice website, but was unable to do so as the website appeared to be unavailable. The prescription cannot be set up on a recurring basis, so an in-person visit will be necessary to arrange this until the website issue is resolved.

Friendly staff doing their best with urgent care options

The team here is consistently pleasant and welcoming. For urgent matters, there is the option of attending an urgent care centre. The practice appears to be managing as well as can be expected given the widespread challenges faced by general practices.

Couldn't book an appointment when I needed one

Difficulty obtaining an appointment at this practice.

Booking system made everything worse

This review reflects concerns about the appointment booking system on behalf of my spouse. It is frustrating to have health concerns that healthcare professionals acknowledge but are unable to address.