Meon Health Practice (Highlands)

Rear door access remains a persistent problem

The rear entrance remains in need of repair as of my latest appointment, which creates accessibility challenges when the door is not manually held open. This door requires considerable effort to operate from a wheelchair. This situation reflects my overall experience of how I feel I am regarded by this practice.

Couldn't get through on the phone

Poor overall experience with the service provided.

Impossible to get an appointment through their system

If I could give less than one star, I would. I'm absolutely fed up with the way this surgery operates. Before the recent rebranding, it already had issues but it's gone from bad to worse. I've experienced it myself and seen others go through it too, trying to get an appointment of any kind feels like an impossible task. The reception staff come across more like gatekeepers than people who are there to help. I've been told that my ongoing health concerns which are seriously affecting me mentally, physically, and financially aren't "urgent enough" to even be triaged. I'm directed to use the online appointment system (which crashes frequently) between 11am Monday to Wednesday, only to wait up to two weeks or more for an appointment. And because you've used that route, any sense of urgency seems to disappear entirely because to consent to the wait (but if you don't do this you can't submit your request for an appointment). Even if you do get triaged (which feels like a lottery), there's no guarantee you'll actually be seen or even hear back. On multiple occasions, I've waited anxiously all day for a call that never comes. When I call the surgery to follow up, I'm told "someone will call"... and still, no one does. I've been battling serious health issues for several months, and I still don't have any real answers. In all that time, I can count on one hand how many times I've actually seen a clinician in person or even managed to speak to one on the phone. And when I do get through, the appointments feel rushed, impersonal, and I'm left feeling unheard and dismissed. If I could afford to go private, I would. If I believed another surgery would treat me better, I'd switch in a heartbeat. I know issues like this are becoming far too common in GP practices, but somehow, this one seems to stand out for all the wrong reasons. Ironically, they keep sending out surveys asking for feedback as if they're genuinely listening. But honestly, it feels like a box-ticking exercise, not a real effort to make things better. I feel worn down and angry by this whole experience. The way this surgery treats its patients is not acceptable, and I'm not okay with it. Approach with caution.

Lack of coordination between services concerning

I am still awaiting the results from my recent hospital appointment. I attended for a blood test, but was questioned about the reason for my visit. This experience has left me with some concerns about the efficiency of the system.

Receptionist kindness helped during difficult time

Excellent care once again. The practice had already arranged routine health screening for me. However, a couple of weeks prior, I experienced a significant personal crisis. A member of the reception team was exceptionally kind and supportive, and my usual healthcare provider returned my call within an hour, demonstrating the same compassionate and reassuring approach they always provide when addressing my concerns. My healthcare provider also made a follow-up call a week afterwards, continuing to be reassuring and emphasising that I could reach out again whenever necessary. The care provided was consistently person-centred and tailored to my individual needs, as it has always been. Many thanks

Struggling to book appointments before late morning

This practice has not met my expectations. I have experienced significant difficulty obtaining an appointment over an extended period. Routine non-urgent appointments do not appear to be available before 11am. The appointment booking application frequently experiences technical issues, and I find myself repeatedly attempting to access it at the designated time. I am quite dissatisfied with my experience at this GP practice.

Reception staff unhelpful, but urgent care made difference

I recently contacted the surgery regarding my son's health concern, which has been a recurring issue for him. Unfortunately, I have found that clinical staff sometimes seem dismissive of the condition, and I have experienced difficulties in securing appointments. The reception team can be unhelpful at times, making it challenging to arrange a consultation. They often direct us to the pharmacy, but given the frequency of my son's issue, the pharmacist has been unable to provide the treatment I was seeking. On this occasion, I was able to speak with a member of the urgent care team, and the experience was excellent. This staff member addressed my concerns thoroughly and offered helpful guidance that I had not previously received. Their approachable manner and readiness to arrange a follow-up appointment made a meaningful difference to my experience. It would be beneficial if more staff members at the surgery demonstrated the same level of helpfulness and positive attitude. I am grateful for the support provided during this interaction.

Couldn't get an appointment when needed

Undoubtedly, this has become a disappointing healthcare experience in the area. I would advise reconsidering registration here. Despite being a long-term patient, I have noticed a significant decline from previous standards. Obtaining appointments has become increasingly difficult, and those that are secured often fail to provide meaningful assistance. The overall experience suggests the practice is not meeting patient needs effectively.

Impossible to book an appointment when needed

Extremely dissatisfied. Difficulty obtaining appointments at times of need. Falls short of expectations. Limited usefulness.

Couldn't get through on the phone

Quite Disappointing

Phone queues make booking nearly impossible

It appears that only urgent appointment slots seem to be accessible, and securing one proves challenging. The telephone wait times are frustratingly long, and routine appointments appear to be unavailable. The automated system frequently experiences issues, and the online booking platform does not integrate properly with the NHS application. When face-to-face appointments are eventually obtained, the physical surgery appears to have limited activity. This raises questions about the overall appointment availability and service operations.

Callback service made same day appointment possible

I had a very positive experience with the nursing staff who helped address my husband's health concern. The service was outstanding from the initial phone contact in the morning, where I was able to use the callback option rather than waiting in a queue, through to obtaining an appointment the same day. I'm genuinely thankful for the dedication shown by the team and feel fortunate that we have access to NHS services.

Difficult to get an appointment here

It appears that significant barriers exist to obtaining appointments, and while I recognise the challenging circumstances, the extended difficulties in accessing care are concerning. The practice should address these issues and ensure that services meet patient needs, as such delays would not be acceptable in other professional settings.

Struggling to book appointments through multiple apps

I don't usually write reviews, but this situation has been affecting me and my family repeatedly. I have been a patient at this practice for many years. The service quality has declined significantly. There are multiple applications required to attempt booking appointments, and even visiting in person has not resulted in obtaining routine face-to-face consultations. This has been frustrating even for younger family members. I find it difficult to understand why we contribute through taxation to a service that appears inadequate. A thorough examination of this practice's operations seems necessary, as it appears to be underserving the local community and placing additional strain on alternative healthcare services while not adequately supporting those who depend on it.

Impossible to book an appointment here

There appears to be limited value in this being a medical practice when it is extremely difficult to secure an appointment with a physician.

Phone queue waits make appointments nearly impossible

Extremely Disappointing Experience Contacting the practice is frustratingly difficult unless you visit in person. Via telephone or the online system, the appointment booking slots become available at 08:00:01, though they appear to fill up rapidly by around 08:15. The guidance suggests calling after 10:00, however realistically you'd need to try much later in the afternoon. Even then, there's no guarantee the lines will still be accepting calls. The online booking system feels quite limited, with very few available options that tend to be quite narrow in scope, making it challenging if your needs don't align precisely with what's offered. Phone queue waiting times typically extend to around 30 minutes. For those who do manage to connect, I should acknowledge that the team members are genuinely pleasant and helpful. It's quite remarkable how the staff maintain such positive attitudes and willingness to assist given these circumstances. My strongest recommendation would be to consider registering with a practice located within the Locks Heath or Sarisbury Green area instead.

Quick appointment and efficient test results

I have no complaints about the standard of care I received following a recent health issue. I was able to attend an in-person consultation within a couple of days, and subsequent laboratory work was arranged shortly after, with findings communicated back to me promptly. I am very grateful to everyone involved in my care.

Booking system leaves you with no options

It has been quite challenging to secure an appointment at this practice. I attempted to use the online booking system in the hope it would streamline the process. Upon logging in at the designated opening time, I found that no slots were available. While the team members are consistently courteous during phone conversations, they are unable to provide alternative options. Based on my experience, I would suggest considering another practice.

Reception phone line difficult to hear clearly

Completely unhelpful experience. The reception staff were difficult to hear during phone calls, with background noise from other conversations making communication challenging, and calls were sometimes disconnected. There seemed to be a lack of consideration for patients who had made the effort to attend appointments during working hours, while other patient groups appeared to receive more attentive service.

Reception ignored repeated appointment requests

I am extremely disappointed with the level of care provided. My young adult son felt his concerns were not adequately addressed, and despite submitting multiple appointment requests through reception and attempting to secure an appointment over a two-week period, he did not receive a response. His condition subsequently deteriorated to the point where he required hospital treatment. I am frustrated that no contact was made to discuss his appointment needs during this time.