Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reveals a significantly divided experience at this practice, with substantial concerns about appointment access and booking systems alongside positive feedback about clinical care quality. The most consistent complaint centres on appointment availability, with patients reporting persistent difficulty reaching the practice by phone, congested phone lines during morning hours, and lengthy waiting times between booking and consultation dates. Reception experience is mixed, with some patients describing courteous and helpful staff whilst others report discourteous interactions and poor communication about appointment status and medication availability. Communication gaps appear systemic, including delayed follow-up, missed referral processing, and inconsistent information provision to patients.

Where patients successfully access clinical consultations, feedback becomes notably more positive. Doctors and nurses are frequently described as compassionate, attentive, and professional, with several patients highlighting responsive care and effective treatment guidance. Online consultation services receive particular praise for convenience and efficiency. However, a minority of reviews raise concerns about clinical decision-making and the quality of some consultations. The practice demonstrates capability in delivering timely medical attention and supportive care experiences when appointments are secured, yet the significant barriers to accessing these services create frustration that dominates much of the feedback.

The contrast between access difficulties and clinical quality suggests organisational challenges in appointment management and communication systems rather than fundamental issues with the care provided. Patients express willingness to continue with the practice when they can access it effectively, but many indicate they are actively seeking alternative providers due to the appointment booking experience. Improvements to phone line capacity, appointment availability, and communication protocols appear to be the primary areas requiring attention.

Appointment

35.27 %
Poor

Reception

42.18 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

51.64 %
Average

Respect

46.82 %
Poor

Seen on time

58.91 %
Average

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SP

Stuart P. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Quick response for my health concern

Had a virtual consultation at 1:30 PM. By 2:45 PM, the medical practice reached out with an appointment slot, and by 3:30 PM, I was meeting with the physician. Their responsiveness and efficiency are truly exceptional. Perfect score for service quality. Absolutely impressive.

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NP

Nicola P. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Helpful doctor saved my day after hours

Exceptional assistance. I needed to schedule a consultation and managed to catch this wonderful male physician just as he was leaving. He went above and beyond to accommodate me and secure an appointment. Perfect customer service rating - truly appreciative.

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GC

Gillian C. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Tracy saved my day at this clinic

After examining the numerous critical comments, I completely concur. This establishment is shameful, encompassing both its personnel and administrative leadership. The sole redeeming individual is Tracy, who works at the front desk.

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YJ

Yvee J. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service for student research help

Absolutely useless. I sought crucial details to support my academic preparation and they initially agreed, even accepting payment. However, their representative subsequently reneged on the commitment. I am utterly stunned and profoundly let down by their complete lack of professionalism!!

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EG

Eddie G. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Awesome staff made my day better

I'm puzzled by the critical comments because this place is actually fantastic, with a welcoming atmosphere and helpful staff.

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JF

Julie F. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Friendly staff made surgery smooth

I can't comprehend the negative feedback. The entire staff, from the front desk to the nursing team, are incredibly welcoming and supportive. A truly outstanding surgical experience.

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WS

Warren S. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Prescription nightmare at three different pharmacies

Completely Ineffective. Requested a recurring prescription for my son's antibiotic treatment for a persistent infection, Visited Sainsburys only to be informed the prescription wasn't forwarded by the Doctor. Contacted the medical practice, who claimed Dr Khoo hadn't sent it but would resend the next morning. Returned to Sainsburys to discover it still wasn't available. Called the surgery again, only to learn they'd mistakenly sent it to a different pharmacy. Traveled to Pallion to collect the medication, only to find tablets instead of the required liquid formulation. My wife phoned them once more, and they promised the prescription would be at Sainsburys by 6pm. Returned to Sainsburys yet again, only to be told no prescription had been sent. Utterly abysmal service - they are beyond incompetent and deserve zero recognition. Three separate attempts to process a simple repeat prescription, and they consistently failed. Absolutely disgraceful and unprofessional handling of a critical medical need.

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VA

Victoria A. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Impossible to get flu spray for my daughter

It's utterly appalling that I'm unable to secure a flu vaccination slot for my disabled child. I've been shuffled around endlessly, and still haven't managed to get an appointment. I'm completely bewildered by the current state of this medical practice - in all my 22 years as a patient, I've never before had to struggle like this to get my daughter's injection. This situation is deeply distressing. I've been forced to file an official complaint and reach out to NHS England today. The entire experience is completely unacceptable.

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MS

M S. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible phone service left me hanging

Absolutely terrible customer service - they're completely unresponsive by phone. This is deeply disappointing and incredibly aggravating, especially for patients who need assistance.

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MA

Mohammad A. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Average!

Slow prescription process with no doctor contact

Subpar service. The prescription renewal process is frustratingly slow, and there's a complete lack of in-person consultations with doctors.

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JG

John G. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Quick switch solved my gp frustrations

I've consistently received satisfactory care at this medical practice and was unaware of any issues until recently. However, their appointment scheduling method of cold-calling at 8am and essentially gambling on getting a slot is far from ideal. For those frustrated with this approach, I'd simply recommend switching GP practices. It's actually a straightforward process. I made the change myself, and within 48 hours I was registered and had a doctor's appointment lined up, without needing to waste a whole day hoping to secure a consultation. This system truly highlights some of the systemic inefficiencies plaguing our healthcare services...

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RH

Rachel H. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating wait times and poor phone service

Completely unacceptable how impossible it is to secure an appointment, and even when you manage to get through, all slots are taken. Attempting to contact reception for medication refills means enduring a mind-numbing 20-minute phone ordeal, which is utterly frustrating and wholly inadequate.

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DL

Dav L. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Wasted hours on terrible customer support

Can't seem to reach their customer support, and when I finally do, it's always after the problem has escalated. I've been calling daily this entire week with no resolution.

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JJ

Jayjay J. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless wait for zero help

ZERO STARS WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. I wasted half an hour waiting on hold and then another 10 minutes stuck as the next caller in line!! When I finally got through, I was informed that no appointments were available that day, and booking for the upcoming week was impossible due to their "system's" limitations. The staff suggested consulting a pharmacist who might potentially redirect me back to the doctor's office. How utterly ridiculous - if I can't secure an appointment directly, how would involving a pharmacist solve anything!!! This medical practice is completely incompetent and frustratingly inefficient. I strongly advise anyone seeking medical care to avoid this place at all costs. Look for a more responsive and patient-friendly alternative.

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BJ

Bruce J. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer support and zero communication

Their customer support is completely unresponsive, and I can confidently say this is the most abysmal service I've encountered. If there were a way to rate them below the lowest possible score, I absolutely would.

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SA

Sabiha A. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless wait and no doctor appointments

Scheduling a medical consultation here is incredibly challenging, with phone lines constantly congested during morning hours and by the time someone picks up, all available slots have vanished. When they do manage to offer an appointment, it's typically with a practice nurse instead of a doctor. My mother's intricate health condition is causing her significant anxiety, and the consistently subpar service and ineffective communication are pushing us to contemplate finding a different healthcare provider.

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LS

Lynsey S. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless wait and no medication help

I've been attempting to schedule a doctor's appointment for nearly a week, and each call ends with me being disconnected after spending 20 minutes on hold. As a result, I've been without my medication for two days now. Their communication is absolutely terrible, and their scheduling process is completely unacceptable. Despite being a lifelong patient at this practice, I'm now determined to find a new healthcare provider.

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AH

Audrey H. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating wait for copd help

I've been a patient at this medical practice for three decades and am on the verge of switching providers. I called to schedule an appointment due to my COPD symptoms and ongoing respiratory difficulties. My inhalers were ineffective, and I was experiencing persistent coughing. The staff told me a nursing practitioner would contact me, and I was instructed to submit a sputum sample with promised results within 24 hours. However, three days have passed, and I still haven't received the test results. My condition has worsened; I've lost my voice and continue to struggle with breathing, accompanied by constant coughing and wheezing.

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BM

Blue M. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Revenge against cruel doctors soon coming

I'm at my breaking point. Soon, I'll be out of the picture, but Richardson, Khoo, and Peng will face serious consequences for their actions. These supposed medical professionals have deliberately inflicted suffering on me for two full years. This is the final straw... it's over.

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BW

Bartek W. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating wait with no callback

Absolutely terrible experience. I wasted nearly half an hour trying to schedule an appointment, but not a single person picked up the phone.

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Practice Response Rate
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About the GP

  • Accepts all feedback, both positive and negative.

Contact Information

  • 0191 5109393
  • The Old Forge Surgery Pallion Park, Pallion Sunderland Tyne & Wear SR4 6QE

Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reveals a significantly divided experience at this practice, with substantial concerns about appointment access and booking systems alongside positive feedback about clinical care quality. The most consistent complaint centres on appointment availability, with patients reporting persistent difficulty reaching the practice by phone, congested phone lines during morning hours, and lengthy waiting times between booking and consultation dates. Reception experience is mixed, with some patients describing courteous and helpful staff whilst others report discourteous interactions and poor communication about appointment status and medication availability. Communication gaps appear systemic, including delayed follow-up, missed referral processing, and inconsistent information provision to patients.

Where patients successfully access clinical consultations, feedback becomes notably more positive. Doctors and nurses are frequently described as compassionate, attentive, and professional, with several patients highlighting responsive care and effective treatment guidance. Online consultation services receive particular praise for convenience and efficiency. However, a minority of reviews raise concerns about clinical decision-making and the quality of some consultations. The practice demonstrates capability in delivering timely medical attention and supportive care experiences when appointments are secured, yet the significant barriers to accessing these services create frustration that dominates much of the feedback.

The contrast between access difficulties and clinical quality suggests organisational challenges in appointment management and communication systems rather than fundamental issues with the care provided. Patients express willingness to continue with the practice when they can access it effectively, but many indicate they are actively seeking alternative providers due to the appointment booking experience. Improvements to phone line capacity, appointment availability, and communication protocols appear to be the primary areas requiring attention.

Appointment

35.27 %
Poor

Reception

42.18 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

51.64 %
Average

Respect

46.82 %
Poor

Seen on time

58.91 %
Average
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