Rainbow Practice

Long-term patient with occasionally grumpy reception

I have been a patient at this practice for many years and have consistently had a positive experience. The clinical staff have always been excellent. While the reception team can occasionally seem a bit curt, I recognise that they manage a demanding role.

Friendly local surgery with helpful reception staff

The practice in this area is currently providing a good service.

Struggling to get appointments and proper referrals

I have been experiencing upper abdominal discomfort and digestive issues for more than half a year and have struggled to obtain a clear diagnosis. Securing appointments has proven difficult, and during the consultations I have managed to arrange, the approach has primarily involved blood work, which has consistently returned normal results. Despite my concerns that my symptoms are worsening, I have requested further investigations such as imaging, but these have not been pursued. I feel uncertain about the reasoning behind this decision and would appreciate greater clarity on the next steps in my care.

Receptionist was dismissive and unhelpful

Omg the receptionist was so rude, acting like they owned the GP surgery

Prepared notes helped me feel properly heard

We recently relocated to the Edmonton Green area and were searching for a suitable practice nearby. Although we were initially discouraged by some negative reviews we had read, we decided to follow our instincts and register with this clinic due to its convenient location to our home. We are very glad we did, and this is our genuine feedback. We found the clinic to be like most NHS practices. There were slightly longer waiting times and a few follow-up appointments needed. However, this seems fairly typical in any healthcare system where many people access free government services. We suspect we would have been less inclined to comment on wait times at a private clinic, as that would have felt different. To be frank, there is nothing problematic about registering here. We received excellent care from the moment we walked through reception to our consultation. Our child's initial appointment was with a clinician at the practice. Having read some previous reviews, we had some reservations before our child's first check-up. However, our experience was quite the opposite and we were very satisfied with the care provided. One thing other reviews mentioned accurately is that the clinician was personable and approachable. In our case, they listened carefully to our concerns and provided treatment that exceeded what we had anticipated. Our child was born prematurely, and a previous practice had prescribed something that did not work well for our child's health. The previous practice had prescribed medication that was never given during our child's earlier hospital care. Despite multiple follow-up visits with the previous practice, the issue was not resolved. However, this clinician addressed it successfully. What proved helpful was preparing a written list of all the points and questions we needed assistance with. This enabled us to communicate our concerns clearly and prevented us from becoming confused during the appointment itself. Our second appointment was with another clinician at the practice, and they too provided excellent care. We are very satisfied with our experience at this practice so far and wanted to share our positive feedback.

Long waits and frustrating phone queues

Attempting to book an appointment resulted in a wait of approximately five weeks, which felt excessive. The same-day emergency appointment system also proved frustrating, as calling just before the official opening time showed the system as unavailable, and moments later upon calling again, there was a substantial queue ahead. This made securing an urgent appointment feel nearly impossible.

Called too early, then marked appointment missed

I previously had a wonderful experience with my former GP who was exceptionally professional, kind, and caring—someone every practice would benefit from having. However, my recent appointment was quite different. I received a call 45 minutes before my scheduled time, and was subsequently told I had missed my appointment and would need to reschedule. This was frustrating given how long I had already waited to secure this slot. I had arranged my availability around the confirmed appointment time, allowing 25 minutes beforehand, as I am currently receiving hospital care. The early call meant I was unavailable at that moment. I found it concerning that the clinician appeared too busy to speak with me at my actual appointment time, yet was calling significantly earlier. This felt unprofessional and unfair, particularly when patients often wait weeks or months for appointments. I would appreciate this feedback being passed on, as I believe awareness of this experience would be valuable.

Impossible to book appointments here

It is extremely difficult to obtain appointment slots at this practice. The reception staff were unhelpful and displayed poor customer service. I would recommend considering alternative options.

Friendly staff who actually listen and explain things

I recently transferred to this practice from my previous surgery and have consistently received excellent service from all staff members. They follow through on their commitments to contact me, and they are always willing to clarify anything I'm uncertain about. More medical practices would benefit from adopting the approach demonstrated here.

Impossible to get through on the phone queue

The practice I attend is located upstairs. I have been attempting to book an appointment by phone for two weeks without success. I am instructed to call at a specific time in the morning, but when I do so shortly beforehand, the automated system indicates that all slots are already full. On one occasion, I waited for over an hour on hold only to have the call disconnected just as I was about to speak to someone. I find it very difficult to get through to reception staff, let alone arrange to see a clinician.

Impossible to book appointments with reception staff

I would not suggest this practice to others. Accessing appointments is consistently challenging and frustrating. It is difficult to secure an appointment with a preferred clinician. The reception team appears to lack clarity in their role, frequently providing inaccurate guidance or making administrative errors. Some reception staff members come across as unwelcoming and seem disengaged from their work. One of the clinical staff members has a manner that feels dismissive and condescending, making patients feel uncomfortable about seeking care. When raising concerns or health matters, these issues tend to be minimised rather than properly addressed, with frequent referrals to the pharmacy instead. This pattern has occurred multiple times during my visits. I feel anxious about the prospect of future appointments at this practice, particularly when attending with family members.

Staff listened and made me feel valued

The team at Rainbow Practice have been wonderful. I really appreciate their support.

Reception booking errors caused repeated frustration

The reception team appeared disorganised, with multiple instances of booking errors and last-minute cancellations occurring on separate visits. There were also issues with incorrect items being provided.

Helpful staff but receptionist created barriers

One member of the reception team was very helpful, sympathetic and demonstrated understanding of my concerns. However, I found another receptionist's approach less satisfactory. When I requested to speak with a clinician, I felt barriers were created to this request. Additionally, when I preferred not to disclose the nature of my query, I perceived the attitude became dismissive. I felt this response was disproportionate given their role in reception.

Helpful receptionist made the call easy

I spoke to a young lady when calling the GP surgery for the first time in a long while on behalf of my partner, and she was very nice and patient. Thank you for the helpful assistance.

Helpful reception despite long phone queues

The reception team demonstrated genuine helpfulness and made considerable efforts to arrange an appointment, though there were some delays in reaching them by phone.

Friendly staff got me in on time

Excellent service with a professional and friendly approach. All staff members were punctual and helpful, delivering a first-class experience throughout the visit.

Stop asking for surveys at every visit

Excellent practice with caring staff, though it does become somewhat repetitive to be asked to complete a survey on every visit or following phone contact from the surgery.

Felt listened to and well treated

Very good healthcare professional.

Long-term patient with consistent care

Have been a patient for a decade and everything has gone smoothly!