Maidstone Road Surgery

Quick help when I needed it

Incredibly prompt and effective in handling my initial consultation and patient enrollment. Given my mounting anxiety, I urgently required a same-day appointment, which they readily provided. The reception staff and physician were both exceptionally welcoming and supportive. I wholeheartedly endorse their services!

Awful practice

PLEASE NOTE THIS EMAIL IS NOT MONITORED. IF YOU RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL YOU WILL NOT GET A RESPONSE. Dear Mr W W Howe  Re Maidstone Road Surgery,262 Maidstone Road,Chatham,Kent I posted a review on the NHS review site a short time ago regarding the attitude of staff and the inability to get an appointment. The surgery have replied saying they are caring and that the staff are fully trained. Well, I beg to differ. Patients should no have to start world war 3 to get an appointment and they should not be fobbed off with travelling to other practices especially if they do not have transport or cannot afford bus or taxi fares. For some odd reason,this surgery does not open on Saturdays, why on earth not! Your only chance of getting an appointment is to ring at 8am so if you work, taking kids to school and so on you stand no chance. They say 80% of appointments are face to face, my family and I have not found this to be the case. The rudeness does not end with the reception staff, one doctor who saw one member of my family over mental health issues was told to "get a grip " Finally if you get passed to the practice manager, expect to be patronised and spoken to in a condescending manner. Sadly this person is deluded, thinking that this practice does a good job. Frankly, they need to stop hiding behind the spectre of the COVID pandemic and returning to a right and proper service .

Worst healthcare experience with dismissive staff

Absolutely terrible healthcare experience. The personnel are cold and dismissive, with a particularly condescending practice manager. Scheduling an appointment is incredibly difficult. They're closed on weekends and demonstrate a completely unhelpful approach. Anyone struggling with mental health should definitely avoid this practice. The unprofessional nature of their care was highlighted when a family member was callously told by a doctor to simply "pull themselves together."

Terrible medical practice with lost files

Steer clear of this practice. Absolutely zero stars. The receptionists and practice manager display an incredibly unprofessional demeanor, with the manager exhibiting a condescending attitude and complete lack of managerial skills, empathy, or basic understanding. Her 'Karen-like' approach was evident from the moment I attempted to communicate with her. Throughout my 18-month experience, the practice has been nothing short of frustrating. Critical issues include misplaced blood files, failing to notify me about urgent tests for over three months, neglecting to follow up on blood results, and repeatedly botching prescription requests despite my meticulous written and verbal instructions. The list of incompetencies seems endless. When I tried to address my concerns, I was dismissively told to send an email - despite the practice manager being unable to locate a prescription email I sent just last Tuesday. For context, I submitted a complaint email last year and am still awaiting any response.

Nurse practitioner who truly listened

Drawing from my most recent interactions - which previously were rather unremarkable - there's been a notable improvement in recent months. The nursing staff who administered injections and conducted tests for myself and my child were exceptional, as was the physician who consulted with my son on two occasions. I was initially hesitant about consulting a nurse practitioner instead of a general practitioner for my recent health concerns, but she was outstanding - she genuinely listened, collaborated on a treatment approach that was both prudent and comprehensive, leaving me reassured that every aspect of my health was carefully considered. The consultation felt unhurried and thorough. It's truly encouraging to witness such a positive transformation in this healthcare setting!

Rude receptionist made my medical visit awful

Steer clear of this medical practice at all costs. There's an absolutely terrible woman employed there who is pure malevolence incarnate, and she happens to be in a leadership position. I sincerely wish that when she eventually requires medical attention, she experiences the same complete lack of compassion and support that my nephew endured.

Caring doctors who follow up with patients

Our family has consistently received excellent care from this medical practice, with staff even proactively scheduling follow-up consultations to check on the effectiveness of their guidance. I'm truly impressed by their attentiveness and commitment to patient care.

Long wait during morning phone call

I phoned early in the morning at 8:30, positioned as the fifth caller in line, and they're taking an excessively long time—over 49 minutes—to handle just five calls, leaving me still waiting to speak with a representative.

Endless runaround for a simple sick note

Attempting to obtain a medical certificate, I was instructed to send an email due to their closure for the bank holiday, with a promise of it being ready by Tuesday. When I called on Tuesday, they claimed they'd only been back one day and that I wouldn't receive the note until Thursday, promising a text notification. I waited all day and eventually gave up. On Friday morning, I managed to secure a phone consultation with a doctor, which felt completely pointless and could have been better used by someone truly requiring medical assistance. I needed the note's date extended for a longer period and was directed to write another email and call back after lunch. Upon calling back, I was once again told I wouldn't receive the document until Monday. This endless cycle is incredibly exasperating, and I feel like I'm making no progress whatsoever.

Terrible first impression at this place

Absolutely deserves no rating at all. The front desk staff were incredibly discourteous and off-putting, and the parking situation was extremely poor and inadequate.

Helpful doctor called late at night

I can typically secure an appointment, particularly for my two young children. Today was another instance where I was truly grateful when the physician reached out to me, despite initially being informed no slots were available. Receiving a call at 8:30 in the evening demonstrates their commitment to patient care and willingness to work extended hours! I felt compelled to share my perspective after reading other reviews, as my experience has been markedly different from the negative accounts.

Worst customer support ever

Calling them is a waste of time; completely ineffective and pointless

Urine sample tossed in the bin

If I could have awarded the lowest possible rating, I absolutely would! The 'assistance' provided to my elderly grandfather is deeply troubling. Their approach is purely bureaucratic, with zero genuine patient care, zero responsiveness, and zero actual help. I was forced to contact an alternative GP surgery just to understand how to guide my grandfather's treatment... a task I can barely attempt due to their impenetrable communication. Utterly abysmal in every conceivable aspect. On the rare occasions I've managed to connect with them, I struggle to fully express how monumentally substandard and discourteous their staff have been. They callously discarded a urine sample simply because my grandfather didn't precisely mark his name. When he initially asked for help, they promised assistance, but after he departed, they discovered the unmarked sample and instead of making any effort to contact him or properly label it, they simply threw it away! It's infuriating that he spent his entire working life contributing to a system that now treats him with such contempt. This practice is an absolute disgrace to the NHS and should be thoroughly ashamed of their incompetence!

Awkward entry and broken sanitizer machine

Terrible encounter. Walked in through the unsecured entrance without buzzing, and was treated like a criminal. Another receptionist with absolutely no courtesy demanded I use hand sanitizer, which would have been fine if their dispenser actually functioned. Meanwhile, the telephone was left unanswered, ringing endlessly.

Long waits and no appointments

The medical facility is critically lacking in resources! Unfriendly and unhelpful front desk personnel Appointment wait times are excessively long Same-day consultations are completely unattainable Significant backlog in processing essential diagnostic imaging referrals Urgent need for additional staff!

Brutal parking situation in scorching heat

Absolutely terrible parking situation! Brought my elderly mother for a medical scan, and the parking was a nightmare. Forced to sit in my vehicle during scorching 32-degree heat while she was inside. They wouldn't even let me accompany her, which was incredibly frustrating. My poor mum hadn't eaten since the previous evening, and it was already past 1:50 pm. We're well past lockdown, so these restrictive policies are completely unacceptable! 😡

Long wait times and rushed service

Scheduling a consultation is nearly impossible, and once you manage to connect with a representative, they're clearly eager to end the conversation quickly. Their approach feels dismissive and suggests a complete lack of genuine concern for their clients' needs.

Impossible to see a doctor when sick

I'm constantly struggling to secure an appointment, which is especially challenging given my daughter's brain cancer and my inability to drive. I'm repeatedly directed to the hub, adding to my stress. My husband, battling heart issues, diabetes, and Osteo Arthritis, was instructed to call at 8:30 AM, only to be informed that no appointments were available anywhere. He's been sleepless for four days due to intense pain, and the doctor insisted on a face-to-face consultation before prescribing additional pain relief—but that seems impossible. Moreover, I'm baffled by their two-hour lunch break. This entire healthcare system is completely ridiculous and utterly unhelpful.

Blood test form nightmare at clinic

Absolutely dreadful encounter getting a blood test form. They forced me to make countless phone calls, and ultimately directed me to their website - complete time-wasters. Regarding my prescription, I'm still waiting after more than a month. Their customer service is utterly useless and discourteous. They completely mishandle customer interactions and treat people with total disrespect. I absolutely would not recommend this service - they're completely unprofessional and make customers feel completely insignificant.

Frustrating wait times at this clinic

The clinic's availability is frustratingly limited, and scheduling a timely consultation seems nearly impossible when you actually require medical attention.