Mill Road Surgery

Smooth vaccine rollout with caring and efficient staff

The vaccination process was absolutely wonderful. The personnel were incredibly compassionate and efficient. I was truly amazed by the entire encounter.

Great medical care from start to finish

Top-notch surgical procedure. Welcoming and personable front desk team and healthcare professionals. The general practitioners are incredibly meticulous, providing crystal-clear explanations, and the post-operative care is absolutely exceptional.

Exceptional healthcare with compassionate medical team

A top-notch medical practice! Incredibly streamlined and consistently compassionate. They genuinely prioritize patient well-being and show true dedication to care.

Nightmare medical experience with terrible service

Absolutely dreadful medical practice! These are hands down the most incompetent doctors imaginable, and I wouldn't suggest them to my worst enemy. The front desk staff are incredibly discourteous and display a shocking lack of empathy towards patients' concerns. Their appointment system is a complete nightmare - you're instructed to call precisely at 8am, and after enduring a grueling 40-minute wait on hold, you're ultimately informed that no slots are available, forcing you to restart the entire frustrating process the following day! If there were a rating lower than zero stars, I'd enthusiastically choose it! This entire facility is so fundamentally broken that it should be completely demolished and rebuilt from the ground up!

Great gp with tricky appointment system

I've been registered with this GP practice since 2013, attending various examinations, blood tests, and receiving prescriptions. The staff are exceptionally welcoming and courteous, and the surgery maintains a spotless and organized environment. The reception team is genuinely doing their best. Similar to other critical reviews, the appointment booking system is undoubtedly the most significant drawback (deducting one star). However, this issue is common across many medical practices, not just Mill Road. -- Appointments / Front Office: (on a Wednesday morning during Covid) I called precisely at 8:00, found the line closed, redialed, and entered a queue of 29 people at 08:01. By 08:14, I was first in line, and by 08:21, I secured a GP appointment/consultation. A 20-minute wait during Covid is still impressively efficient. You absolutely must call exactly on time, as they consistently emphasize! I've previously called at 08:20, waited 45 minutes, only to find all slots filled. Calling after 08:15 is essentially futile; better to try again tomorrow. For urgent situations, a walk-in service near Colchester General hospital remains an option. Pre-covid, an 8am call would typically place you around 15-20 in the queue. I'd always celebrate landing in the top 10. --- General Practitioners: Gone are the days of guaranteed specific GP assignments. Requesting a particular doctor significantly reduces your chances of being seen. Consultations are strictly limited to 10-minute slots. I've encountered numerous GPs over the years and cannot recall any notably negative experiences. Regarding specific doctors: > Dr. De Silva is direct and might seem brusque, but is genuinely skilled and efficient, providing precise test recommendations and specialist referrals. > Dr. Senthil offers an incredibly compassionate telephone manner, resembling a kind, understanding aunt who comprehensively addresses questions, explains results, and communicates effectively with specialists. Avoid being an overly anxious patient who tries to dictate medical procedures. Allow professionals to conduct necessary tests to eliminate potential diagnoses. Seeking multiple opinions is always acceptable. -- For prescription needs, paramedics and certain nurses can prescribe medications, often via telephone, with collection possible at local pharmacies within 1-2 days. I personally had mine processed through Asda Pharmacy.

Terrible nhs service with rude and unhelpful staff

I shelled out 1,200 pounds for the NHS on a visa, so you'd anticipate superior treatment, especially considering that's the price of a compact vehicle - a car that might actually provide better service than the staff, particularly at reception. Last Friday, I was instructed by a nurse to submit a urine sample to reception. Upon ringing the bell and explaining my purpose, I was met with a dismissive "ummm, did we ask?" Apparently, no one had bothered to document my required sample. I was abruptly dismissed and felt utterly humiliated. Well... okay, I understand, COVID has everyone stressed and we all have challenging days. It's fine. So I attempt to reschedule an appointment, waiting by the phone all day and unfortunately stepping away to use the restroom. Consequently, I missed the call. When trying to reschedule, the receptionist seemed to believe it was appropriate to reprimand me for missing the initial call, claiming "this is why we tell you not to miss the call, the doctor called multiple times" - which was categorically untrue, and I could provide evidence if necessary. I apologized repeatedly, only to receive the response: "it's not our problem, you're the one who won't get the issue resolved." While I acknowledge missing the call was my mistake, being scolded like a child by staff is unacceptable. Perhaps if they provided specific time slots instead of "wait all day," people would be less likely to miss calls. At this point, returning to my home country for healthcare seems more appealing. It's disheartening, as I previously had positive experiences, especially with the nurses.

Compassionate care makes flu jab a breeze

I accompanied my aging parents to their influenza vaccination appointment, and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate their needs. A considerate staff member in the parking area coordinated with a physician to administer the shots directly in our vehicle, which was incredibly helpful since helping my parents navigate out of the car can be challenging. I am deeply appreciative of the entire team at Mill Road Surgery for their compassionate and practical approach to patient care.

Frustrating wait times ruin patient experience at surgery

The medical care provided meets standard general practice expectations. However, the clinic is severely understaffed in terms of reception and telephone personnel. When the phone lines open at 8am, I've experienced wait times of nearly an hour even when calling just minutes after opening. This persistent problem has occurred multiple times. If you attempt to contact the surgery after 8:04am, be prepared for an extended hold time, and you'll likely find no available appointments. Hiring an additional one or two staff members to manage the morning rush seems like a reasonable and straightforward solution to alleviate this ongoing frustration. Regardless of the specific approach, some resolution would be greatly appreciated.

Terrible care and zero empathy from this practice

This establishment operates on depleted energy reserves. Treat individuals as complete beings, not just as the symptoms they exhibit in the moment. Try to understand their perspective, delve into their entire narrative. Regrettably, empathy is not something that can be acquired, and you will perpetually lack it. This medical procedure lacks any semblance of comprehensive, ongoing patient care.

Incompetent doctor fails to help with injury

Dr De Silva - AVOID requesting to see or get a call back from him. Extremely discourteous and completely unhelpful! Appears to lack fundamental knowledge about medical systems, so if you receive results, do not consult him because he is incompetent and shifts blame onto you for not providing a comprehensive medical history, making assistance virtually impossible. I've been waiting over a year to resolve a simple injury that won't heal independently. Practitioners like him are severely undermining the NHS - I strongly advise steering clear of him. My MRI results arrived 5 days ago, and the front desk instructed me to arrive at 7:50am to request an appointment or callback. When Dr De Silva eventually rang back, he claimed he couldn't comprehend the results. Upon politely asking what I should do, he aggressively mumbled through the medical terminology, knowing full well I lack medical expertise. When I asked for clarification, he irritably suggested I contact the original MRI requestor - which was his own surgery?! After more than 13 doctors' appointments and a year of waiting, my shoulder injury remains unresolved. He's absolutely useless, and I'm baffled why the surgery continues to employ such an unprofessional individual. This is the second time he's been incredibly rude during a callback. Update, Dr Morant was fantastic! While I didn't get complete answers, she was genuinely helpful and compassionate. I'd gladly give her 5 stars.

Worst doctor ever rude and completely unprofessional

I had consistently enjoyed positive interactions with this medical practice until my encounter with Dr Morant, who struck me as incredibly discourteous and lacking in professional conduct. The appointment was so distressing that I left feeling emotionally devastated, and I'm bewildered by how someone with such abysmal interpersonal abilities could have chosen a career in general practice.

Frustrating medical office with terrible scheduling service

Scheduling here is a nightmare. It consistently takes an incredibly long time to secure an appointment, with weeks of waiting being the norm.

Terrible doctor with zero compassion for patient needs

Typically, I've had smooth experiences until encountering Dr. Leonhart, who is undoubtedly the most unprofessional medical professional I've ever interacted with. He comes across as spiteful, cruel, inconsiderate, and downright abusive. Due to my back condition, I require specific medications at a precise daily dosage. When my regular doctor was unavailable for surgery, Dr. Leonhart was extremely unhelpful and obstinate. He arbitrarily reduced my medication, providing only 3 days' worth to cover a 5-day period. Despite my explicit warnings that this would likely result in hospitalization, he callously declared he didn't care about my concerns or those of other medical professionals. Such behavior is absolutely unacceptable and demonstrates a complete disregard for patient welfare. A healthcare provider with such a blatant lack of compassion and professional ethics should not be practicing medicine. I am determined to pursue formal complaints and ensure his conduct is thoroughly investigated!

Compassionate doctor makes healing journey easier

Incredible medical practice, consistently supportive and attentive, as someone who regularly seeks treatment for my ongoing health issue, Dr. Carpenter stands out as an exceptional general practitioner. Her compassionate approach and dedication are truly remarkable. I feel incredibly fortunate to be under her care, and I sincerely hope the surgery appreciates her as much as I do. The entire team at Mill Road is outstanding - please continue your excellent work.

Fantastic product that exceeded my expectations

Outstanding

Amazing healthcare with exceptional patient care

The personnel here consistently demonstrate warmth, support, attentiveness, and genuine care, even during peak hours. Having experienced numerous medical practices throughout my life, I can confidently say this is absolutely the most exceptional general practice clinic I've encountered.

Unhelpful nurse ruins routine blood test experience

I underwent a fasting blood test early in the day. I inquired with the nurse about additional tests for Cholesterol, kidney, and liver functions. She declined, stating that my doctor had specifically requested only a sugar level test. She also refused to check my blood pressure when I asked. The appointment letter indicated a 30-minute slot. A week later, when consulting my GP about the results, she mentioned that the nurse could have easily performed the additional blood tests without requiring me to repeat the test. It was truly a pointless waste of my time. Some nurses can be incredibly unhelpful and inflexible.

Compassionate doctor transforms our family's challenging journey

Raising a child with autism presents significant challenges for both the child and their devoted parents, but I am incredibly grateful for this surgical procedure and Dr. Carpenter. Her compassionate demeanor, empathy, deep understanding, and unwavering support have been remarkable. She genuinely stands out as one of the most exceptional general practitioners I've ever encountered. Heartfelt congratulations and our most sincere appreciation to her.

Friendly staff made my day awesome

I must express my sincere gratitude to the entire team for their incredible assistance. Their support has been truly remarkable.

Frustrated with unavailable evening medical appointment

I found myself deeply frustrated by the inability to secure an urgent consultation, especially given my work commitments that restrict me to evening time slots. The staff informed me I would need to endure a two-week waiting period. It seems contradictory that you advertise a late-hour service yet cannot actually deliver on that promise.