Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reflects a mixed experience with significant operational challenges alongside genuine appreciation for clinical care. Telephone access and appointment booking remain persistent pain points, with patients reporting prolonged waiting times to reach reception, difficulty securing appointments, and website booking systems that are either inaccessible or show no available slots. Reception experience varies considerably, ranging from warm and professional interactions to dismissive and discourteous encounters. Communication breakdowns between departments have resulted in service delays and patient frustration, particularly around prescription management and appointment coordination.

Where the practice receives consistent praise is in the quality of clinical care and staff compassion. Patients highlight attentive medical professionals who listen carefully, supportive nursing staff, and a welcoming environment during appointments. Several reviews note that same-day appointments are available and that the clinical team demonstrates genuine care, particularly during serious health concerns. The practice appears to manage urgent cases effectively when patients can access them.

The gap between clinical excellence and operational efficiency creates a frustrating patient experience. While waiting times in reception and on the phone are acknowledged as common across NHS services, the practice's booking systems and staffing levels appear insufficient to meet demand. Patients express concern about access to urgent care and note that communication failures have occasionally delayed treatment. Improvements to telephone infrastructure, clearer internal communication protocols, and enhanced reception capacity would likely address the most frequent complaints.

Appointment

38.15 %
Poor

Reception

45.20 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

68.40 %
Great

Respect

54.30 %
Average

Seen on time

35.80 %
Poor

Filter

MB

Mary B. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Poor!

Endless waiting and frustration at this surgery

I'm a newcomer to this medical practice and have had to reach out multiple times regarding my 4-month-old infant. Each call requires a minimum 40-minute wait, only to be instructed to ring back at 8am for a same-day appointment, as booking ahead is impossible before three months. When I call at 8am, the queue is already full - so both my spouse and I repeatedly dial for 40 minutes before connecting, then find ourselves 16th in line and facing another 40-60 minute wait!!! Being on maternity leave allows me this time, but how can working individuals possibly manage such delays!!! Having recently relocated from central London, I've never experienced such difficulties with a doctor's surgery. When I finally secured an appointment, the Doctor was wonderful - and truly beyond criticism. However, the receptionist who called to schedule was abrupt and irritated that I couldn't arrive within 20 minutes. I'm currently on hold again, starting at number 12 and after 37 minutes, I'm now number 6!!! I'm absolutely astounded by their service quality - I've squandered hours on the phone and am genuinely concerned about accessing urgent medical care, which explains why A&Es are overwhelmed with patients unable to see their GPs.

More Info
KP

Kumudchandra P. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Caring professionals who truly listen to patients needs

The reception team, nursing staff, and physicians consistently provide excellent support. Scheduling appointments is seamless, and while there can be some waiting time, it's never frustrating. What truly matters to me is how attentively the medical professionals listen to my health background, and in this regard, they excel.

More Info
MR

Michael R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Exceptional service with compassionate medical attention

Exceptional attention and service provided

More Info
BC

Bernadette C. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless waiting on hold for medical help

Attempted to schedule a medical consultation early in the morning by phone, and was initially informed I was first in line. Despite waiting for nearly half an hour, my position in the queue remained unchanged. Ultimately, I was forced to visit the medical office in person to secure an appointment, as the phone system proved entirely ineffective.

More Info
RP

Ruth P. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating wait and unhelpful medical practice

I visited my daughter who was feeling under the weather and required a medical note for her workplace, so I attempted to contact the medical practice by phone. At 11:43am, I was fourth in line, and after waiting an exhausting 1 hour and 40 minutes, I still couldn't reach anyone. Upon arriving in person, I was informed that the surgery was shut for the afternoon. No expression of regret was offered, despite their website clearly stating they're open until 6:30pm. This level of service is completely unacceptable.

More Info
AL

Abigail L. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Friendly doctors help busy parents with urgent care

Successful medical procedure. Parent of two small kids. Can secure urgent appointments without hassle. Phone queue takes time, but that's typical across healthcare providers. Personnel consistently demonstrate warmth and provide excellent assistance.

More Info
IM

Ian M. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Painfully slow customer service from start to finish

During a recent evening call, I was informed I was third in line. After waiting for what felt like an eternity—35 minutes to be precise—I finally got through. Considering there was just a single staff member handling incoming calls, that translates to approximately 10 minutes per caller, which is frankly unacceptable.

More Info
RD

Rob D. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible healthcare service that drove me away

I've been a patient at Kingsway Surgery for over a decade, and their service has dramatically deteriorated. Telephone communication is impossible, with an automated message pushing online booking - a system I previously used but can no longer access. They seem excessively fixated on COVID-19, treating all other medical concerns as completely insignificant. The practice has become so ineffective that I've decided to switch to private healthcare. Congratulations, Kingsway - what a spectacular failure of medical care!

More Info
KA

Keely A. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Awesome service with lightning-fast customer support

I appreciate your prompt assistance and timely resolution.

More Info
DB

Darren B. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Poor!

Frustrating healthcare with endless phone line struggles

Impressive facility, friendly personnel who are approachable if you manage to secure a same-day consultation. Attempting to call at 8am results in perpetual busy signals, and trying again at 1pm yields the same outcome. Even when connection is established, appointment slots are non-existent, forcing you to repeat the entire exhausting cycle of disappointment and anxiety the following day. The service was significantly more efficient before the medical practices were divided, when personalized attention was the norm. Now, NHS administrators have supposedly "improved" the system, but have actually made it considerably more challenging. Their interventions at the Crouch Vale Centre have only complicated the patient experience. Pro tip: Avoid falling ill, or alternatively, head straight to the emergency room. At least there, after a four-hour wait, you'll eventually see a healthcare professional and can even grab a coffee while waiting!

More Info
JB

Jack B. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service from incompetent ear clinic staff

Absolutely worthless! I've never experienced such disappointment. The front desk staff are completely clueless - I had scheduled an ear syringing appointment, but when I called to confirm, they appeared to have no recollection of booking me in. This is incredibly frustrating, especially when you're already struggling with tinnitus and experiencing hearing loss in one ear! My advice: save yourself the trouble and seek medical care elsewhere if you can!

More Info
MT

Mel T. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Caring staff make up for tricky location access

Getting to the facility on foot can be somewhat challenging, but the medical staff more than make up for it with their exceptional compassion and attentiveness towards me and my loved ones. While scheduling and securing an appointment requires some waiting, this is typical across healthcare providers and doesn't detract from the overall quality of care.

More Info
RH

Roger H. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Reliable healthcare with typical nhs challenges

Typical experience at an NHS general practice. Sure, there are extended wait periods and challenging phone access, but for standard care, it meets expectations. If I desired premium service, I'd opt for private healthcare. A solid clinic that provides reliable medical support.

More Info
LS

Lily S. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Great care from start to finish

Visited this medical facility as new patients, and my partner received prompt attention. The staff were incredibly supportive and provided clear information throughout our appointment. We were both impressed by how thoroughly we were treated and how genuinely attentive the team was, making us feel completely comfortable despite not being regular patients. The entire experience was exceptional, and we left with a positive impression.

More Info
AK

Alison K. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Great!

Compassionate care with occasional long wait times

Every time I contact them, they're incredibly supportive. They were exceptional when my daughter was seriously ill. The doctor personally called to follow up on her condition. Their approach is genuinely compassionate and considerate. I consistently manage to secure an appointment without difficulty. The sole drawback is that the waiting period tends to be somewhat extended.

More Info
JS

Jigna S. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating phone service with constant busy signals

Signal constantly blocked, line perpetually unavailable.

More Info
JH

John H. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Incompetent healthcare service fails patient completely

Website malfunctioning, fully booked appointments, overwhelming wait times and overcrowding. They completely overlooked sending a reminder for my critical cancer screening and refused to renew my medications, insisting I must first consult with a nurse first............total disorganization and complete disorder.

More Info

For practice staff

Respond to patient reviews

Monitor satisfaction trends

Generate CQC evidence reports

Claim & Manage Profile
Trusted by GP practices across the UK
Practice Response Rate
0.00%

Shows how often this practice responds to patient reviews and feedback.

About the GP

  • Accepts all feedback, both positive and negative.

Contact Information

  • 01245 321391
  • Crouch Vale Medical Cnt Burnham Road Chelmsford Essex CM3 5QP

Patient Experience Summary

Patient feedback reflects a mixed experience with significant operational challenges alongside genuine appreciation for clinical care. Telephone access and appointment booking remain persistent pain points, with patients reporting prolonged waiting times to reach reception, difficulty securing appointments, and website booking systems that are either inaccessible or show no available slots. Reception experience varies considerably, ranging from warm and professional interactions to dismissive and discourteous encounters. Communication breakdowns between departments have resulted in service delays and patient frustration, particularly around prescription management and appointment coordination.

Where the practice receives consistent praise is in the quality of clinical care and staff compassion. Patients highlight attentive medical professionals who listen carefully, supportive nursing staff, and a welcoming environment during appointments. Several reviews note that same-day appointments are available and that the clinical team demonstrates genuine care, particularly during serious health concerns. The practice appears to manage urgent cases effectively when patients can access them.

The gap between clinical excellence and operational efficiency creates a frustrating patient experience. While waiting times in reception and on the phone are acknowledged as common across NHS services, the practice's booking systems and staffing levels appear insufficient to meet demand. Patients express concern about access to urgent care and note that communication failures have occasionally delayed treatment. Improvements to telephone infrastructure, clearer internal communication protocols, and enhanced reception capacity would likely address the most frequent complaints.

Appointment

38.15 %
Poor

Reception

45.20 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

68.40 %
Great

Respect

54.30 %
Average

Seen on time

35.80 %
Poor
Filter

Order By

Rating