Fulwell Medical Centre

Reception staff were dismissive and unhelpful

The service provided fell short of expectations and the manner in which I was treated was not particularly pleasant.

Long-term patient values consistent care quality

We have been attending this practice for nearly 16 years. The service has consistently been excellent throughout our time here. We have found all staff members to be professional and helpful.

Professional staff made me feel heard

I have nothing but positive things to say about this practice. The staff members are professional and the clinicians I have encountered have been understanding and compassionate. Occasionally there can be challenges in securing an appointment at short notice, though this appears to be a common issue throughout the NHS more broadly.

Friendly staff made me feel welcome

The staff are very friendly, the nursing team are very welcoming, and the reception staff are also very approachable and pleasant.

Reception staff made an anxious visit easier

I would just like to say how lovely the reception staff are, they made a very upsetting and anxious situation much easier to deal with. They are both a credit to this practice and there needs to be more people like them. Thank you so much.

Reception was friendly but appointment disappointing

Upon relocating to the area, I attended my initial appointment at the practice. The reception team were welcoming and pleasant, however I found the clinician I consulted to be dismissive and unfriendly, with an unhelpful demeanor. It was a challenging interaction that required considerable patience on my part. I do not feel comfortable returning to see this particular clinician, as the overall experience fell well short of my expectations.

Unhelpful and condescending consultation experience

I would recommend avoiding consultation with this particular clinician, as I found the interaction to be condescending and unhelpful. I did not feel the appointment was worthwhile.

Surgery wouldn't provide blood test form

This surgery declined to issue a blood test form for my sister who has a chronic condition requiring regular monitoring. I was left wondering about the reasoning behind this decision and whether budget considerations may have influenced it.

Receptionists were helpful and polite throughout

I have been attending this practice for a considerable time. The clinical staff have consistently demonstrated a responsive approach, and the administrative team members are notably courteous and supportive. I have no concerns to raise.

Easy to reach and quick appointments

All of the staff members I have interacted with have demonstrated kindness and understanding. The service has been very responsive, with easy access through both telephone and digital channels, and appointments have been readily available when required. A recent referral to hospital services was handled efficiently and without complication by the practice. I appreciate the high standard of care provided.

Quick phone lines and prompt appointments here

I have consistently had positive experiences with the clinical staff at this practice. Appointments have always been prompt and the phone lines are answered efficiently, even during busy morning periods. This is a marked improvement compared to my previous surgery, where I would sometimes wait considerably longer to reach someone on the phone.

Text messages waste time before the queue

Receiving text messages from the surgery that cannot be responded to creates frustration, as this leads to a lengthy series of irrelevant messages for most people before being put on hold for an uncertain duration. It seems the surgery prioritises their own time over that of patients. Rather than having staff call back to handle communication directly, this system feels dismissive. While the practice claims to be busy, many patients are equally occupied, yet this approach comes across as inconsiderate.

Dismissed with serious infection and misdiagnosis

I can understand why these negative reviews resonate with me, as my own experiences have been quite concerning. Around a decade ago, following a surgical procedure at a hospital, I was discharged with a complication affecting one of my surgical sites. The discomfort was significant, and I attended the medical centre in considerable distress. I was informed that an appointment might be available later in the day if I returned. The journey had taken considerably longer than usual due to my condition. As I was leaving, a receptionist approached and offered to arrange for me to be seen by a clinician. Several years later, I attended with throat symptoms following travel. During a telephone consultation, the clinician provided a diagnosis very quickly without fully exploring my symptoms, and I felt unheard. When I called back and requested to see a different clinician, I was able to have a more thorough consultation. This clinician suggested further investigation, which revealed a different underlying cause for my symptoms. Throughout these experiences, I received no acknowledgment of the initial mismanagement. I am left questioning the standard of care and the principles that should guide medical practice.

Phlebotomist put nervous first-timer at ease

I had a blood test today and was quite anxious as it was my first time, but the healthcare professional who assisted me made the experience far less daunting than I had anticipated. They were genuinely warm and reassuring, which helped me feel much more comfortable, and they were very skilled at the procedure itself—I barely felt anything. They were absolutely brilliant.

Long wait times at the surgery

The appointment took longer than expected to be seen.

Pregnant patient left sitting outside without support

A heavily pregnant patient reported being asked to wait outside and was informed of removal from the practice list. The patient described experiencing distressing interactions over a period of weeks leading up to this point.

Receptionist refused urgent pain relief appointment

The surgery notified my relative by telephone about a serious diagnosis. She is now in a critical condition and experiencing significant distress. She contacted the surgery requesting medical assistance as she required pain management. A receptionist responded in a manner she found lacking in compassion, indicating that a GP consultation was unavailable but that an appointment could be arranged for the following week. This response was deeply disappointing given her vulnerable circumstances as an elderly person living independently during a serious health crisis. I feel the surgery provided inadequate support during this difficult time. My relative has since relocated and registered with a different practice, which arranged for a healthcare professional to visit the same day and organised essential equipment within 24 hours. She is now receiving the care she requires.

Surgery failed to notify about vaccine shortage

My mother attended an appointment for a routine vaccination on a Saturday. Upon arrival at the surgery, there were approximately ten to twelve other patients who also had scheduled appointments. However, no staff member appeared to open the facility or provide the vaccinations. It appears the clinic had exhausted their vaccine supply the previous day, but patients were not notified in advance of this situation.

Phlebotomist made needle anxiety disappear

I recently attended an appointment for a blood test. The healthcare professional I saw was immediately reassuring and helped me feel comfortable, despite my anxiety about the procedure. I barely felt anything during the process. The staff member was warm, cheerful, and demonstrated excellent professionalism throughout - a real asset to the practice.

Staff weren't welcoming to older patients

The staff displayed a dismissive manner, and I felt the practice showed little consideration towards elderly patients.