Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals a practice with significant operational challenges that overshadow some positive staff interactions. Appointment access emerges as the most persistent concern, with patients reporting lengthy phone queues, difficulty securing consultations, and a booking system that requires calling at precise times with no guarantee of availability. Multiple reviewers describe waiting over an hour on hold, only to be told all slots are full, creating frustration particularly for working individuals. Reception staff receive consistent praise for courtesy and professionalism, and vaccination services are noted as efficient and smooth. However, these positive interactions are undermined by broader service issues including poor communication, lack of continuity of care with inconsistent access to named doctors, and responsiveness gaps when patients seek follow-up or support.

Concerns extend beyond appointment access to care coordination and information management. Patients report communication breakdowns, unclear care pathways, and instances where promised callbacks or test result follow-ups did not materialise. The practice's digital systems and online information are described as outdated or unhelpful, with some patients noting the booking platform is dysfunctional. Several reviewers express frustration with being redirected to pharmacies or emergency services rather than receiving direct medical assessment, and some report concerns about continuity when seeing different practitioners rather than a named doctor.

While some long-standing patients report satisfaction with care quality and staff professionalism, the overall pattern suggests systemic organisational challenges affecting appointment availability, care coordination, and responsiveness that create barriers to accessing timely medical attention.

Appointment

35.80 %
Poor

Reception

38.50 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

40.25 %
Poor

Respect

44.30 %
Poor

Seen on time

38.90 %
Poor

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AW

Andrew W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service and zero patient care

Complete disappointment of a medical clinic! I've thrown in the towel and am now just hoping for a miracle

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RJ

Rex J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Friendly care at medical center

Friendly medical team and skilled physicians

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JB

Joe B. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Great!

Friendly staff saved the day despite challenges

Enjoyed my recent experience, staff were incredibly supportive and resolved my concerns effectively. The employees aren't at fault; the real problem lies with the ineffective governmental policies causing service disruptions.

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MG

Mark G. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Great!

Friendly staff make healthcare experience smooth

Dr. Green and the front desk team at this medical practice are truly outstanding. The surgical services and Lloyds pharmacy associated with this clinic are also top-notch.

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CC

Caroline C. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Great!

Great service with a smile

The employees were welcoming and went out of their way to assist me.

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CK

Charlie K. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible doctor practice that fails patients completely

Absolute worst general practitioner in the area - AVOID AT ALL COSTS. It's impossible to secure a timely consultation when you're unwell. They simply redirect you to call 111 or visit the walk-in clinic in Norwich. Entirely ineffective and unhelpful.

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MM

Michael M. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer service wastes precious time

Spent more than 60 minutes waiting in line, only to be informed I need to call back the next day... they should simply disable their phone lines when they're overwhelmed and spare customers from pointlessly squandering their time.

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BG

Bridgid G. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Mediocre product with good intentions

Performs adequately within its limitations

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AH

Andrew H. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Lifelong care with compassion and quality service

Every interaction I've had here has been top-notch. I've been a patient since childhood. The staff consistently demonstrates professionalism and courtesy. Sure, scheduling can be challenging at times, but name me a medical practice where that isn't the case.

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TB

Tm B. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Disappointing medical practice with poor patient care

Regret switching medical practices. Staff seem friendly, but the overall management appears questionable. The poor CQC assessment speaks volumes. When I called about a health concern, I was denied a doctor's consultation. Instead, I was offered a physiotherapy slot three weeks down the line. Completely unacceptable. STEER CLEAR.

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LA

Lucy A. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical experience of my life

A completely unacceptable medical practice with shockingly poor standards of care and professionalism. The entire experience was frustrating and deeply disappointing from start to finish.

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CB

Chris B. Google 3 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical experience ever terrible service

Complete chaos at this medical practice. Spent over sixty minutes on hold trying to reach the front desk during what should have been a relatively calm period on a Thursday morning, according to online information.

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MM

Mrathehun M. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service from a useless customer support team

After enduring a frustrating 40-minute phone queue, you're abruptly dismissed with a curt directive to use the website instead. Following their online process, you receive an absurd automated 'diagnosis' via email. And then they simply abandon you, offering nothing more than a dismissive farewell, despite your years of loyal tax contributions and national insurance payments.

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RR

Redrobo R. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Average!

Frustrating phone race to book a gp appointment

Ok, medical practices are undeniably swamped, which I understand. That's precisely why I proactively obtained my flu and Covid vaccinations elsewhere to minimize their workload. However, their appointment scheduling mechanism feels like a competitive sport where patients must frantically dial at a precise moment to secure a slot. Missing that window means enduring an interminable phone queue, politely informed of your position and perpetually told someone will "be right with you". Eventually, when contact is made, you're curtly informed all appointments are exhausted, necessitating a repeat performance the following day! I propose a straightforward improvement benefiting everyone: when appointments are depleted, update the message to transparently state "despite your prolonged wait, all available slots have been claimed" - eliminating needless conversation and preventing futile call attempts that waste both patient and staff time. Effective process management could generate efficiency and potentially create resources for expanded services. I genuinely sympathize with the call handlers, who undoubtedly absorb significant frustration from disappointed callers - a situation entirely resolvable through thoughtful system redesign. Full disclosure: I've never actually consulted a physician at this practice, so cannot comment on clinical quality. My three-star rating reflects a balanced perspective acknowledging the inherent challenges of managing a medical practice while acknowledging the booking system's significant limitations. If this phone-based allocation method doesn't suit you, I recommend exploring alternative providers.

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BL

Barbara L. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible healthcare service leaves mother frustrated

Forced to allocate a star just to provide feedback, this queuing system is absurd. A desperate mother with an 8-month-old infant seeking medical attention for a rash is left stranded. Redirected to a pharmacy, she receives a prescription inappropriate for children under one year. She remains in a seemingly endless queue, with over 18 calls ahead of her. The entire situation is completely unacceptable and frustrating.

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AW

Aileen W. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Friendly staff made my day better

The front desk staff was incredibly kind and welcoming - I truly appreciate their wonderful service.

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AM

Andy M. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Smooth and speedy flu vaccine experience

My partner recently received his influenza immunization at Orchard surgery, and he was thoroughly impressed by the seamless process and excellent operational efficiency. The entire experience was incredibly smooth and rapid, with the staff deserving significant praise for their professional approach.

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RW

Roanna W. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Poor!

Terrible service from a once-reliable medical practice

I've been a patient at this medical practice for three decades, and regrettably, the quality of service has significantly declined. Nowadays, I'm forced to endure over 60 minutes on hold just to reach a receptionist, and even then, there's no assurance of securing an appointment. It's incredibly frustrating that booking a consultation is so challenging, particularly for working individuals who can't easily take time off. Obtaining a doctor's appointment has become so difficult that I'm increasingly inclined to simply avoid seeking medical attention and hope my health remains stable!

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RL

R L. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Poor!

Orchard surgery struggles with modern healthcare mess

Not sure what's become of this medical practice. The staff turnover seems as unpredictable as the weather. Doctors' details posted on the entrance are no longer accurate. What's happened to their website? They previously had an excellent, comprehensive site with photographs and staff information, but it's now been replaced by a generic NHS template with confusing details. No surgery picture. No practitioner information. Ironically, their Facebook page appears more current (though I don't even use FB), but it's still not particularly helpful. The Google photo isn't even of the surgery - it's a side view of Lloyd's Pharmacy! I recognize I'm getting older (and more critical!) but I fondly recall when visiting the surgery meant a warm welcome and personal greeting. Now it's all impersonal touchscreens and self-check-in. I'm half-expecting a drive-thru medical service soon! Window 1 for consultation, window 2 for blood tests, window 3 for prescriptions - and if you're unlucky, window 4 might be for selecting your coffin! My frustration continues with staff seemingly unaware of patients' purposes. During my last appointment, when I mentioned something wasn't in my notes, they sighed and said the notes were more like "code" than actual documentation. Shocking! To be fair, the staff remain kind and considerate. I've never struggled to get appointments, though others have complained. I'm perpetually puzzled by their claims of being overwhelmingly busy. My visits always show waiting areas with merely a handful of patients, yet wait times remain lengthy. Seeing an actual doctor nowadays seems increasingly rare. Healthcare Professionals, Nurse Practitioners, and even receptionists appear eager to diagnose. I'm uncomfortable explaining intimate medical details to a desk clerk! They've apparently outsourced services like ear irrigation, and anything beyond minor ailments seems to get redirected to A&E. Orchard Surgery: Please restore your original website. Make information straightforward, current, and accessible. Surely updating staff rosters takes minimal effort! (TL:DR - It's a medical practice, but not quite what it used to be...)

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CW

Chris W. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Booking appointments here is pure nightmare fuel

Scheduling an appointment here is an absolute nightmare! The booking process is incredibly frustrating - you're forced to call precisely at 8 am, and I've repeatedly experienced being informed I'm 17th in line. After waiting around for half an hour, finally getting through, you're then told that all appointments are gone and you must try calling back later in the day. It's been ages since I've actually consulted with a proper doctor; I'm perpetually stuck seeing nurse practitioners instead. The situation seems destined to deteriorate even further!

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About the GP

  • Accepts all feedback, both positive and negative.

Contact Information

  • 01362 693029
  • Orchard Surgery Commercial Road East Dereham Norfolk NR19 1AE

Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals a practice with significant operational challenges that overshadow some positive staff interactions. Appointment access emerges as the most persistent concern, with patients reporting lengthy phone queues, difficulty securing consultations, and a booking system that requires calling at precise times with no guarantee of availability. Multiple reviewers describe waiting over an hour on hold, only to be told all slots are full, creating frustration particularly for working individuals. Reception staff receive consistent praise for courtesy and professionalism, and vaccination services are noted as efficient and smooth. However, these positive interactions are undermined by broader service issues including poor communication, lack of continuity of care with inconsistent access to named doctors, and responsiveness gaps when patients seek follow-up or support.

Concerns extend beyond appointment access to care coordination and information management. Patients report communication breakdowns, unclear care pathways, and instances where promised callbacks or test result follow-ups did not materialise. The practice's digital systems and online information are described as outdated or unhelpful, with some patients noting the booking platform is dysfunctional. Several reviewers express frustration with being redirected to pharmacies or emergency services rather than receiving direct medical assessment, and some report concerns about continuity when seeing different practitioners rather than a named doctor.

While some long-standing patients report satisfaction with care quality and staff professionalism, the overall pattern suggests systemic organisational challenges affecting appointment availability, care coordination, and responsiveness that create barriers to accessing timely medical attention.

Appointment

35.80 %
Poor

Reception

38.50 %
Poor

Cleanliness

65.00 %
Great

Care

40.25 %
Poor

Respect

44.30 %
Poor

Seen on time

38.90 %
Poor
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