Gosforth Memorial Medical Centre

Supportive care through difficult health challenges

I have been attending this practice for six years. The team has consistently provided excellent care, and when I experienced a serious health issue following hospital discharge, they were particularly supportive throughout my recovery period. There have been some adjustments following the practice merger, but they continue to prioritise appointments for my daughter when clinically appropriate. All practitioners have demonstrated gentleness, thoughtfulness and dedication in her care. The service I and my family have received has been consistently high quality, and I have no concerns about the standard of care and support provided. Like all healthcare services, the practice operates under considerable pressure, yet they maintain a high standard of service delivery. I am very grateful for their ongoing commitment.

Repeat prescription process feels unclear and stressful

I have found the process for obtaining repeat medications through both online and telephone methods to be more complicated than it needs to be. There have been instances where the communication has lacked clarity, and decisions regarding my ongoing treatment have appeared vague or variable, which causes concern when dealing with persistent health issues. In a recent situation, there was uncertainty about whether I wished to stop taking an important medication following a supply problem, and I had to take action to seek urgent clarification to prevent a gap in my care. While this was eventually sorted out quickly once I had explained the situation, the incident demonstrated how anxious the current system can be for patients who depend on uninterrupted treatment. I would welcome the practice considering how its prescription management and communication systems could be improved to be clearer and more focused on what patients need.

Practice kept pushing unwanted vaccination advice

The practice contacted me repeatedly by phone and post to encourage me to receive a particular vaccination. I have concerns about potential side effects of this vaccine in relation to an existing condition I have. Additionally, I had an unpleasant interaction with a housing officer that left me feeling uncomfortable and scrutinised, and I noticed they shared a surname with someone at the practice.

Online appointments made straight away when needed

This practice operates with impressive efficiency. The online appointment system has genuinely improved my ability to manage my own wellbeing. Whenever I've accessed this service, the turnaround has been remarkably swift. Appointments are arranged promptly when required. I have found nothing to criticise. My prescriptions are authorised within a day and dispatched by the pharmacy with excellent speed. Referrals are processed the same day. Clinical staff respond immediately and engage in direct conversation with patients. I initially had reservations about the recent organisational changes, but from a patient perspective it has proven very successful. I have experienced no problems whatsoever. The practice is excellent. The team clearly demonstrates commitment and dedication to their work.

Vaccines out of date on appointment day

I would rate this practice lower if possible. It was previously a reliable facility, but following a merger with another practice, the standard of service has significantly declined. I attended with my child for a routine immunisation appointment, only to discover upon arrival that the vaccines available were expired.

Practice quality declined after the merger

I have been a patient at this practice for many years and it was excellent, but since the recent merger the quality of care has declined significantly.

Automated systems causing repeated administrative errors

The service has deteriorated since the recent management changes. There appears to be a stretched workforce covering multiple locations, which has contributed to extended waiting times and occasional system coordination issues. When raising concerns, the response felt dismissive, with explanations that staffing constraints limit what can be addressed. The increased reliance on automated processes seems to have led to inefficiencies, such as duplicate communications. Overall, the experience has been unsatisfactory, and consideration is being given to registering elsewhere, though there is little confidence this feedback will be taken seriously.

Prescription delays despite helpful reception staff

Well done by carrier pigeon🙄I requested a prescription in mid-August and after checking with the pharmacy to confirm receipt, I contacted the surgery only to be informed it was still awaiting authorisation. Upon calling back, a particularly attentive receptionist acknowledged our previous conversation and offered to follow it up. After nine days and considerable sleep disruption, the prescription finally arrived. Quite the turnaround time🙄I previously spoke highly of the clinical team at this practice, but since the merger I've become increasingly disappointed. It feels as though a great deal has been lost in the process.

Reception phone lines need urgent improvement

This feedback concerns Reception services rather than the clinical team. Obtaining an appointment proved extremely challenging. After calling repeatedly over several days, both morning and afternoon, with each attempt consuming approximately two hours, no appointment was secured. As someone in full-time employment, dedicating multiple hours across several days to telephone calls seemed unreasonable and impractical. The situation was particularly frustrating because on numerous occasions, despite reaching the front of the queue, the call would be terminated by Reception. Calls frequently disconnected while waiting, necessitating starting the entire process from the beginning. This meant not returning to a position near the front but rather spending another half hour listening to automated messages, navigating menu options, and repeatedly attempting to reconnect. The constant need to interact with the phone made it impossible to do anything else while waiting. It should be recognised that people contact their GP because they are unwell and require medical assistance, not for discretionary reasons. The experience was deeply unsatisfactory. The practice should consider either ceasing to accept new patients or expanding its medical staffing. UPDATE: Since August 2025, the appointment booking system has shown considerable improvement. The medical centre now uses an application allowing patients to describe their symptoms briefly, after which clinical staff can contact them to arrange an appointment if appropriate. This represents a significant step forward from the previous arrangement. However, this system may present challenges for older patients, and appointment times cannot be selected by the user. Additionally, messages from the practice require logging into the app to view; those who do not check the app regularly may miss communications. Despite these limitations, the overall improvement warrants a higher rating. The practice has made positive progress.

Prescription delays and long phone queues since merger

The practice has experienced a noticeable decline following its recent merger. Prescription processing now takes considerably longer than the previous standard of next-day turnaround. The local pharmacy has also noted a deterioration in service quality since the consolidation. Telephone access has become increasingly difficult, with lengthy wait times in the queue frequently resulting in disconnections. The practice was previously regarded highly, though current service levels appear to have been compromised. Those considering registering should explore alternative options. I am actively seeking to transfer to another practice.

Online booking system made things worse

Since the introduction of the online appointment system, the practice has become significantly less effective. The service was considerably better prior to implementing this change.

Online requests closed without proper explanation

This practice was previously reliable, but standards have declined noticeably. Following the integration with another local surgery, services have become predominantly digital-based, making it challenging to reach someone by phone or in person. I recently made an enquiry about a routine immunisation for my child. The online submission was closed without any explanation, and I received a text message declining the request and suggesting private payment instead. When I telephoned to discuss this further, I was informed by reception staff that they needed to investigate eligibility because my child was born abroad, despite my child having been registered with the practice for several years. A child's birthplace should not determine their entitlement to NHS services. It is deeply disappointing that a straightforward healthcare matter for a young person resulted in a case being closed without proper dialogue or consideration. Additionally, I was sent correspondence about a routine screening appointment, but as I preferred not to attend the other branch location, I faced a wait of over two months to secure an appointment at my preferred site. This does not reflect what accessible NHS healthcare should provide. Update: following the lengthy two-month wait for my screening appointment, the practice cancelled it the day before I was due to attend and rescheduled for a later date, which undermines the purpose of preventative care.

Practice seems to lack experienced clinical staff

The practice seems to have a lot of newer clinicians who I felt lacked sufficient experience. I was concerned about the medication dosing prescribed to a family member, and when I discussed this with someone in the medical field, they shared my reservations about the amount given. I would have preferred to see more established practitioners available. I'm disappointed with how the practice has changed.

Receptionist called before leaving the car park

Excellent experience. I used the blood pressure monitoring equipment and received a lower than expected reading. After mentioning this to the reception staff, they informed me that a clinician wished to see me and would arrange an appointment by phone. The call came through almost immediately, and I was seen very quickly. The healthcare professional was extremely helpful and very pleasant throughout. Definitely deserving of top marks.

Online booking made appointments straightforward

Outstanding healthcare provider. The updated digital platform is excellent, with inquiries being addressed promptly. I consistently manage to secure an appointment on the same day when required.

Online booking system made appointments easier

Outstanding experience - swift and efficient, with the updated digital platform representing a significant improvement. I'm genuinely puzzled by some of the critical feedback about this practice that appears elsewhere online - I've consistently found the team to be attentive and thoughtful, with prompt responses to patient needs.

Long waits and poor communication let us down

The service has been disappointing since March, and I would not recommend this practice. This concern extends beyond typical NHS issues. The surgery has become increasingly problematic in recent times, and it appears that some form of official oversight or inspection may be warranted to address the difficulties patients are experiencing.

Fast and efficient appointment booking process

I have found this to be an excellent general practice, delivering a notably swift and well-organised service. I am very grateful for the care provided.

Long waits and no follow-through on requests

Absolutely poor organisational management! Time management appears to be lacking. I have requested my medical documentation and it has been several months with no response. No one appears to prioritise this matter, and I am told it is not urgent despite arranging it privately. I find the approach frustrating - there is soft reassurance offered when what is needed is actual action and tangible progress. Really disappointing experience overall.

Impossible to get through on the phone

Reaching the reception team and subsequently obtaining an appointment with a doctor appears to be an exceptionally difficult task.