St Leonards Practice

Appalling

A very large sign at the entrance to this practice gives a CQC rating of 'Outstanding'. Why? Time restricted appointments that do not allow sufficient time to discuss serious ongoing health issues. Barely concealed disinterest by the GP and an ignorant attitude that indicated to me that he was reluctant to be there. I suggest he gives 'caring' up and finds a job more suited to his uncaring/unhelpful attitude. It's time that the CQC paid another visit to this practice and, more importantly, consulted with some of the unfortunate patients that try to receive treatment. Sooner rather than later.

Ogilvie's cold shoulder amid cancer chaos

Just became a patient here, and their incompetence and arrogance are immediately apparent. Dr. Ogilvie demonstrates zero compassion and expects patients to resolve administrative mistakes instead of taking responsibility. Their online medication refill service is completely dysfunctional; you place an order, get a pickup confirmation, but then find yourself waiting endlessly because the duty doctor hasn't signed off. You're left standing around with other frustrated patients. My spouse has just been diagnosed with advanced cancer and needs their first chemotherapy injection. The consultant sent a letter to the practice, but they haven't even read it, so absolutely nothing has been done. The receptionist's response was utterly unhelpful: "we can't prioritize until someone reads the letter"! After researching online and discovering numerous terrible reviews, I've realized how truly awful this practice is. I'm definitely switching providers to escape this nightmare. Honestly, any other medical practice would be an improvement.

Frustrating phone calls instead of real care

This medical practice is absolutely abysmal. Getting an appointment is a nightmare, and when you do "see" a doctor, it's always via phone or text, never in person. Since registering, I haven't met my GP even once, and they've repeatedly redirected me to the emergency room for issues that should be handled by a general practitioner. I'm completely worn down and frustrated by the sheer impossibility of receiving any meaningful medical assistance! Interestingly, the only helpful person I encountered was a former nurse working at the reception (whose name escapes me) who finally agreed to order a blood test for me.

Confusing hours during my medical visit

It would be incredibly helpful if the system could accurately reflect that the surgery is not currently open, rather than incorrectly marking it as such.

Mixed care from local surgery staff

The medical practice's performance is inconsistent. In a previous instance, my GP prescribed incorrect medication for an acute condition, causing a frustrating delay of over a week before resolution. Conversely, another time I received a swift same-day phone consultation with accurate prescription. The quality of care heavily depends on which staff member you encounter. I've observed some unprofessional conduct from certain employees who can be dismissive and disrespectful, particularly towards patients seeking thorough explanations. It seems some staff members lack the necessary patience and empathy when dealing with patients who require detailed information.

Helpful gp on a sunday evening

I utilized their after-hours medical service this afternoon following a 111 referral and was truly impressed by the quality of care provided. The front desk staff member was courteous, friendly, and extremely competent. Even with a waiting room full of other patients, I was seen promptly and efficiently. The physician who treated me, Dr. David (I apologize for not remembering his last name), was exceptional—demonstrating professionalism, providing reassurance, and maintaining careful attention throughout my consultation. In summary, I am deeply appreciative of the superb service and their availability during weekend evening hours. My sincere thanks to the entire team.

Prescription nightmare at this clinic

As a recent patient, I've been struggling to obtain my prescription renewal for over a month, and my medication has already run out. I've made two in-person visits to the clinic, but the receptionist was completely unhelpful and seemed irritated by my attempts to resolve the issue. This level of service is unacceptable for a public healthcare facility. Disappointing experience.

Impossible to get an appointment here

After thoroughly examining other reviews, I can confirm they accurately depict the situation. Scheduling an appointment at this practice is an arduous process that can stretch beyond a month. Throughout my three-year experience, I have consistently been unable to consult with my assigned physician. My recommendation is to seek medical care elsewhere. As a final note, when I attempted to address my frustrations in person and explain my reasons for departing, I found no staff member available to discuss my concerns. Consequently, I transferred to a different medical practice and strongly urge others to do the same.

Frustrating healthcare mess at this clinic

Abysmal patient care. Endless waiting for a phone appointment, complete chaos trying to process basic medication requests, referrals mishandled and completely ignored... We're definitely switching healthcare providers, and I strongly advise others to steer clear of this practice.

Monday morning admin roadblock

At 10:15 on a Monday morning, I was informed that the surgery had already hit its daily ceiling for administrative tasks. This prompts me to wonder: how can there be a cap on handling essential administrative needs? Either a request is necessary or it isn't — postponing it doesn't resolve anything. It seems like the system is deliberately structured to deter patients from seeking assistance. The whole experience is profoundly exasperating, and I'm genuinely baffled how a healthcare provider operating with such an obstructive approach can still be considered competent to deliver primary medical care.

Granny's scary urine color and poor care

Admittedly, I had encountered numerous critical reviews about this medical practice and its shortcomings, yet I remained hopeful for a different experience. My grandparents and extended family have been long-standing patients here, demonstrating unwavering loyalty. I visited my grandmother (25/03/2025) who recently underwent hip surgery and is battling advanced dementia. We reached out to the surgery with urgent concerns about a urinary tract infection displaying an unprecedented color (having worked as a carer for 9 years). Not only were they utterly ineffective in phone communication regarding urine testing, but the receptionist was also the most unhelpful individual I've ever encountered. She was unable to provide straightforward answers about when the urine would be tested, whether antibiotics would be prescribed that day, or when the district nurse would arrive. Moreover, the surgery wasted valuable district nurse time by failing to inform her that the urine test had been completed, resulting in her arriving the next day completely bewildered about her purpose. The phrase 'Couldn't organize a party in a brewery' perfectly captures their incompetence. I could elaborate on how a doctor refused to assess my grandmother post-hospital discharge for 4 WEEKS, but since that's not directly related to my personal interaction, I'll refrain. Improve your services or continue receiving abysmal ratings. Demonstrating genuine care and maintaining a basic calendar cannot be that challenging.

Caring nurses helped me feel better

Extremely satisfied with the exceptional professional team, particularly the respiratory nurse. On March 24th, 2025. Sincere appreciation to the front desk personnel, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, Kate Venning, and Dr. Briony Tebbutt. Gratitude expressed, and wishing a wonderful Mother's Day weekend ahead.

Dismissive doctor ruined my medical care

I received absolutely substandard care from this medical practice. Dr Stockholm was particularly unprofessional, focusing more on promoting her personal Instagram than addressing my health concerns, and casually suggesting 'gut healthy foods' without even inquiring about my dietary habits. I explained my ongoing chronic pain spanning over a decade, which was currently intensifying. After my mother filed a complaint, I was supposed to have a follow-up appointment, but she repeatedly cancelled (around three times). She eventually contacted me after I reached out to 111 during a mental health crisis. Rather than showing compassion, she attempted to manipulate me by expressing concern about how my complaint might affect her annual review. When I clarified my expectations, she reluctantly agreed to refer me to rheumatology, claiming it was an act of kindness (which is literally her professional responsibility), while dismissing my other concerns and criticizing me instead. Although I'm accustomed to being overlooked, I've never encountered such unprofessional behavior. It's clear she prioritizes her own interests over patient care. She also arbitrarily refused to submit my autism assessment referral. This practice seems riddled with incompetent staff. I'll be seeking alternative medical care and definitely reporting them to PALS. Save yourself the trouble and steer clear of Leonard's. I've experienced poor medical treatment before, but this truly takes the cake.

Devastating wait times broke my heart

I'm utterly shocked by the dramatic decline of what was previously an exceptional medical practice led by Dr Sweeney, Dr Evans, and their exceptional female colleagues. Regrettably, I can't recall their specific names. The current situation is that I'm being asked to endure a four-week delay just for a telephone consultation. The level of anxiety and emotional strain this is causing me is completely unbearable. It's truly devastating to witness how this once-outstanding surgery has deteriorated to such an unacceptable standard of care!

Long wait for urgent blood test

I'm feeling unwell and require a medical examination involving blood work. After completing the entire registration procedure, I discovered the soonest available appointment is on April 17th, which is a staggering 1.5 months away. This wait time is absolutely ridiculous...

Quick and helpful morning support

After dedicating considerable time to working with this service, I'm ultimately satisfied with the experience and results.

Useless doctors with zero personal care

A glorified phone bank, impossible to secure an in-person consultation. Might as well consult an AI, the physicians employed here ought to hang their heads in shame.

Clinic never returns my calls

This medical facility proves consistently untrustworthy and incredibly challenging when attempting to schedule a consultation. The front desk staff perpetually promise to reach out via telephone, yet they invariably fail to follow through with their commitment.

Frustrating walk-in clinic with zero personal care

This medical practice appears to be the sole local GP surgery where securing an in-person consultation is practically impossible. You'd likely have more success researching your health concerns online than attempting to get help from these healthcare providers.

Missed diagnoses and dismissed health concerns

After dedicating eight years to my previous GP practice, I've reluctantly decided to transfer to a new provider due to ongoing care deficiencies. As a healthcare professional with extensive experience in nursing, midwifery, and 111 clinical work, I'm well aware of the NHS's challenging environment. Nevertheless, my personal medical experience has consistently fallen significantly short of acceptable standards. Throughout my tenure, I never once secured a direct consultation with my assigned GP. I repeatedly presented multiple health concerns, and it was only through a duty doctor's intervention that a critical thyroid test was performed, ultimately revealing my hypothyroidism diagnosis. Although medication was prescribed, no follow-up consultation was ever offered to discuss my condition or treatment strategy. In another instance, I recognized impetigo symptoms, but a duty doctor disregarded my assessment and prescribed an ineffective treatment. Subsequently, a nurse sought additional medical opinion, which confirmed my original assessment. The most alarming incident involved classic ectopic pregnancy symptoms. The duty doctor summarily dismissed my concerns and sent me home. Trusting my instincts, I proceeded to the Emergency Department, where a ruptured ectopic pregnancy with internal bleeding was diagnosed and treated. The original doctor later acknowledged his error via text message. Most recently, I've been battling gallstones. Despite marking my case as urgent when contacting the practice on Monday and being escalated by Wednesday, I received no communication. By Friday, I remained in severe pain, with no explanation or follow-up from my GP. These repeated healthcare failures and communication breakdowns have compelled me to seek a new medical practice. This decision was not taken lightly, but I unequivocally deserve superior continuity, responsiveness, and quality of care.