Patient Experience Summary

Appointment access remains the most significant challenge at this practice, with patients consistently reporting difficulty reaching the surgery by phone, prolonged waiting times in queues, and limited availability of slots. The same-day calling system creates barriers for those with inflexible work schedules, and when contact is finally achieved, patients are frequently told no appointments are available. Reception experience has been mixed, with some describing staff as unhelpful or unresponsive, though others have noted courteous interactions and appreciation for the callback system when available. In contrast, the clinical and medical staff generally receive positive feedback for their professionalism, compassion, and quality of care. The practice environment is described as clean and well-maintained, and services such as repeat prescriptions and comprehensive offerings including contraception and diagnostic tests are valued. Communication failures extend beyond phone access, with reports of unresponsive online systems and missed follow-ups for patients with ongoing health needs. While some recent feedback highlights improvements in appointment scheduling efficiency and supportive reception interactions, the persistent theme across reviews is that accessing care remains unnecessarily difficult and frustrating for many patients.

Patients have expressed particular concern about the impact of booking difficulties on their health outcomes, with some reporting delayed care following emergency department referrals and others struggling to manage chronic conditions due to lack of continuity. A small number of reviews acknowledge the constraints faced by staff operating within a challenging system, and there is recognition that some team members demonstrate genuine commitment to helping patients despite systemic limitations. The practice would benefit from addressing phone line capacity, implementing advance booking options, and ensuring consistent communication protocols to reduce the gap between the quality of clinical care and the accessibility of that care.

Appointment

18.30 %
Bad

Reception

28.50 %
Bad

Cleanliness

72.00 %
Great

Care

58.75 %
Average

Respect

42.15 %
Poor

Seen on time

35.60 %
Poor

Filter

AL

Atlas L. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer service that left me frustrated

I'm exhausted from repeatedly attempting to contact them with zero response. Moreover, whenever I encounter an issue, the employees display irritability and complete disinterest in providing assistance. This facility deserves to be reported and shut down immediately. Every single staff member is utterly incompetent and worthless.

More Info
DM

Dawn M. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Welcoming medical team with great patient care

As a recent patient at this medical practice, I've been impressed by the welcoming atmosphere. The reception team has consistently demonstrated a warm and supportive approach. I've had consultations with two different general practitioners and a practice nurse, and across all interactions, I've been struck by the staff's expertise, compassion, empathy, and high level of professionalism. I'm grateful for the quality of care I've received.

More Info
CJ

Christine J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Compassionate care from a great physician

The physician provided excellent assistance and was incredibly supportive during my visit.

More Info
LW

Lynne W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Compassionate team facing unfair criticism with grace

Wonderful, compassionate and empathetic team members who unfortunately receive unwarranted criticism, which truly bothers me. They genuinely strive to assist everyone to the best of their abilities, yet it's not always feasible to meet every single request. It's completely unacceptable to verbally attack or mistreat anyone, particularly the front desk personnel.

More Info
CT

Chetna T. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical practice ever terrible service

Absolutely terrible service. Truly frustrating general practice, with an appointment booking process that's completely unacceptable. Phone lines are perpetually unanswered, and you inevitably find yourself stuck waiting endlessly in a queue.

More Info
SM

Steve M. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service from unhelpful and misleading gp practice

Dismissed from medical consultation despite clinic's claim of welcoming patients from outside their catchment area. This experience perfectly captures the current dysfunctional state of general practitioner services in the present day.

More Info
MS

Mike S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical service ever experienced

Absolutely terrible service. Attempted to schedule an appointment by phone three separate times, each call lasting around 20 minutes with no response. When I finally got through, I was informed that phone booking is the sole method of making an appointment... This comes after receiving urgent instructions from the emergency department to see my GP immediately. They deserve zero rating whatsoever.

More Info
DR

Dominika R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical experience ever frustrating wait times

Attempting to contact the clinic at 8:00am results in a constantly engaged phone line. After persistently dialing for an hour, I finally get through around 9am, only to be told, "Sorry, we're fully booked for today." This has to be the most inefficient and frustrating medical practice I've ever encountered.

More Info
CB

Chloe B. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Exceptional service beyond my medical expectations

The operational efficiency of this surgical center is truly impressive. Having recently relocated, I'm amazed by the comprehensive services available in a single facility. There's no requirement to visit multiple healthcare providers for contraception or diagnostic tests, as everything is conveniently provided here. I received not just the services I anticipated, but even more. The entire team is exceptionally warm, compassionate, and supportive.

More Info
KM

Kerry M. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating booking process ruins customer experience

Scheduling an appointment is impossible. The only way to book is by phone at 8am, which doesn't work for those of us with irregular work hours. This booking method is completely impractical. I desperately hope they'll update their system to allow advance bookings that accommodate different work schedules!

More Info
PR

Peter R. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare with poor communication and support

Getting an appointment here is a total nightmare, just like others have complained. They desperately need more phone lines and additional front desk staff. The app is another issue - it should actually function. You're forced to call the same day, but getting through is nearly impossible. This is especially problematic for those struggling with mental health - it just adds more stress to an already challenging situation. To top it off, my last doctor seemed dismissive simply because I'm a smoker, which is completely unacceptable.

More Info
ZK

Zainah K. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Endless waiting for customer support nightmare

Stuck on hold at the moment, number 15 in line. I'll share my experience after finally connecting with a representative.

More Info
BF

Brian F. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare experience with zero customer service

Abysmal is the sole descriptor for this establishment. There's zero possibility of even engaging with the front desk. It's reminiscent of the NHS's dysfunction, and despite waiting on hold for 18 minutes, with only 6 minutes of actual ringing, you'd think someone might pick up. Every staff member is

More Info
FM

Fm M. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Booking nightmare at this impossible business

Booking an appointment here is an incredibly frustrating experience. It's utterly absurd that the only way to schedule a visit is by calling on the day of service. Their current scheduling method is completely disorganized and desperately requires a complete overhaul.

More Info
AD

Aaron D. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Great!

Frustrating phone system but decent medical centre

Getting a medical appointment at Lower Medical Centre is a frustrating experience that requires persistent phone dialing right after 8am. Expect to spend around 10 minutes just to connect, only to find yourself as the 14th caller in line. Anticipate dedicating a solid 20-25 minutes before actually speaking with a staff member, so make sure you have ample time to spare. However, there are some positive aspects: the facility is spotlessly maintained, the personnel are welcoming, and the check-in tablet eliminates the hassle of waiting in a crowded reception area.

More Info
JD

James D. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service and endless waiting at lowther medical

It's completely ridiculous how this place operates, watching patients suffer for extended periods before getting any medical attention. When you call at 8 AM, you're stuck in a queue at position 34, only to be disconnected when you finally reach first in line, or have someone tell you all appointments are already gone. It's no wonder A&E is overwhelmed with non-emergency cases when your GP won't see you. Get it together, Lowther Medical! I ended up in A&E because the doctors were closed and I needed medical help, then was simply told to contact my own GP if I needed further assistance. I couldn't help but laugh when the doctor said that, knowing full well the state of my current medical practice. Absolutely not satisfied, I wasted over half an hour on the phone achieving absolutely nothing.

More Info
AM

Anne M. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Average!

Persistent calling finally lands a telephone consultation

I'd first like to emphasize that the personnel at this medical practice are absolutely wonderful, but the administrative system they're compelled to operate within is deeply flawed. Currently, patients can only secure an appointment by phoning precisely at 8am, which is problematic for those with standard work schedules like myself. Fortunately, I happened to be on vacation today, which allowed me to persistently dial 125 times before finally entering a queue at 9am, where I then waited 35 minutes. Ultimately, I was granted a telephone consultation that successfully addressed my medical needs. It's clear the surgery would benefit tremendously from implementing an online advance booking option. While I understand their hesitation stems from patients who inconsiderately fail to attend scheduled appointments, there must be a more efficient solution. My sympathy lies entirely with the hardworking staff who are constrained by this challenging system.

More Info
CB

Colin B. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Frustrating healthcare experience with unhelpful doctor

Utterly frustrating to access and when I eventually managed to connect, the physician rambled about unrelated topics instead of addressing my actual concern.

More Info
LH

Lorna H. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible healthcare experience with zero accessibility

Attempting to contact them via telephone is futile. Their website actively discourages in-person visit scheduling... Essentially, medical assistance is completely non-existent.

More Info
SL

Stanley L. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Average!

Disorganized vaccine process caused unnecessary anxiety

I was close to giving a perfect score, but the vaccine administration at the surgery was poorly organized. Upon early arrival, there was no setup, and a volunteer directed me outside to walk to my second jab location. When I returned, a system was suddenly in place, which was absent during my initial 15-minute early arrival, with no visible signage indicating Lowther medical vaccinations. I was extremely anxious about ensuring both doses were properly recorded, and I suspect other patients experienced similar confusion. When I approached the reception, the staff seemed perplexed and struggled to verify my two doses due to unclear handwriting and stickers. Fortunately, a helpful phone call reassured me that my GP records would be updated when entered into the system. Despite this organizational hiccup, I believe they generally perform well under challenging conditions and have been consistently reliable with other services like repeat prescriptions. Moreover, Tony Walker is an outstanding team member with remarkable compassion and dedication.

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

  • 01946 692241
  • Lowther Medical Centre 1 Castle Meadows Whitehaven Cumbria CA28 7RG

Patient Experience Summary

Appointment access remains the most significant challenge at this practice, with patients consistently reporting difficulty reaching the surgery by phone, prolonged waiting times in queues, and limited availability of slots. The same-day calling system creates barriers for those with inflexible work schedules, and when contact is finally achieved, patients are frequently told no appointments are available. Reception experience has been mixed, with some describing staff as unhelpful or unresponsive, though others have noted courteous interactions and appreciation for the callback system when available. In contrast, the clinical and medical staff generally receive positive feedback for their professionalism, compassion, and quality of care. The practice environment is described as clean and well-maintained, and services such as repeat prescriptions and comprehensive offerings including contraception and diagnostic tests are valued. Communication failures extend beyond phone access, with reports of unresponsive online systems and missed follow-ups for patients with ongoing health needs. While some recent feedback highlights improvements in appointment scheduling efficiency and supportive reception interactions, the persistent theme across reviews is that accessing care remains unnecessarily difficult and frustrating for many patients.

Patients have expressed particular concern about the impact of booking difficulties on their health outcomes, with some reporting delayed care following emergency department referrals and others struggling to manage chronic conditions due to lack of continuity. A small number of reviews acknowledge the constraints faced by staff operating within a challenging system, and there is recognition that some team members demonstrate genuine commitment to helping patients despite systemic limitations. The practice would benefit from addressing phone line capacity, implementing advance booking options, and ensuring consistent communication protocols to reduce the gap between the quality of clinical care and the accessibility of that care.

Appointment

18.30 %
Bad

Reception

28.50 %
Bad

Cleanliness

72.00 %
Great

Care

58.75 %
Average

Respect

42.15 %
Poor

Seen on time

35.60 %
Poor
Filter

Order By

Rating