St Leonards Practice

Angii's gentle touch during blood test

Angii Gardner, an excellent nurse, drew my blood on 28/10/20 and was fantastic 👍 The procedure was painless, and she provided great comfort. Dr. Bossano has been my physician for several years, and I have no intention of switching. He is compassionate, understanding, and incredibly supportive. St Leonards medical practice is a wonderful facility with a warm and helpful staff. During my recent visit on 15.2.21 to see Dr. Bossano, even with COVID restrictions in place, he remained professional, kind, and reassuring, giving me the attention I needed. He wore proper protective equipment, and the reception area had hand sanitizer and safe seating arrangements. The surgery is doing an excellent job of maintaining safety during this pandemic.

Cold day, one little cough

I visited the medical practice to receive my flu shot and a heart examination, as I have COPD. Despite breathing difficulties, I wore a mask and approached the entrance, communicating through the intercom with the receptionist about my nurse appointment. The environment was chilly, and momentarily, I lowered my mask to catch some air, briefly coughing before replacing it. When the nurse appeared at the door with a syringe, she informed me she could administer the flu vaccine but not conduct the heart check. Upon questioning why, she explained that my earlier cough had been reported by the receptionist to the doctor. I tried explaining the circumstances of my cough, and the nurse consulted the physician. She returned, stating the doctor's decision remained unchanged, though she still gave me the vaccine. I'm now scheduled to return on the 10th, hoping I won't be turned away again. It's surprising how receptionists seem to relay medical details to doctors, something I'd never considered significant before. Typically, when receptionists inquire about my condition, I've always felt it wasn't their concern. Frustratingly, it seems no one pays attention to patient feedback anyway.

Nurses save the day at struggling practice

I've been with this medical practice for years, and after relocating, my previous physician, Dr. Evans, kindly allowed me to remain registered as an out-of-area patient. Sadly, he has since departed, and the quality of care has noticeably declined. Despite being historically healthy, I've recently experienced persistent health issues. The doctors seem dismissive, providing only the bare minimum of medical attention, which I suspect might be due to my out-of-area status. The receptionists repeatedly question whether I intend to leave, a distressing inquiry when one is already feeling unwell. On the positive side, we can now access test results online and review hospital lab recommendations. However, my current doctor disregards these suggestions, making it clear it's time for me to seek care elsewhere. My advice to the practice: listen to your patients and demonstrate genuine compassion. The saving grace is the nursing staff, who remain consistently professional and caring.

Friendly medical team, but rocky front desk

Medical professionals are excellent, but the front desk personnel have declined, and this facility is not what it once was.

Rushed and uncaring staff ruined my day

Lacking empathy and constantly rushing. Not something I'd suggest to anyone.

Frustrating registration at st leonard's surgery

Relocated to Exeter just before lockdown began. Understandably, St Leonard's initially stated they weren't accepting new registrations. We patiently waited. However, now that we've progressed to stage 3 of Covid-19 recovery, they remain unresponsive to my registration requests. Multiple phone attempts have been futile, with no one answering. The pharmacy staff are equally uninformed about the medical practice, and patients cannot enter without a pre-booked appointment. My partner urgently needs a check-up for her repeat prescription, which is nearly exhausted. Their response? They've suggested we return to our previous surgery. So we should just drive back to London, is that right? I recognize the healthcare system is under immense strain, but the receptionist appears completely disconnected and apathetic. Someone who actually demonstrates compassion should be handling this role.

Terrible wait times and unhelpful staff

Utterly appalling. I've been registered with this medical practice my entire life, and I've never experienced such a dire situation. Scheduling appointments is incredibly difficult. The physicians lack competence. They consistently run behind schedule, with wait times ranging from 30 to 60 minutes. The front desk staff are discourteous and provide zero assistance.

Friendly staff made my day

Exceptional service with meticulous attention to detail and genuine care

Frustrating care after 18 years here

I've been a patient at this surgery for 18 years, since its time on Denmark Rd, and it has become absolutely dreadful. The staff's rudeness is so extreme that I'm discouraged from even calling to book an appointment, and when I do call, I'm made to feel like a nuisance. They persistently push patients towards an online booking system that never shows availability for my specific GP. While they offer alternative appointments with temporary doctors, this is incredibly disruptive for someone with complex medical needs. The constant changing of GPs - four times in three years - means there's no continuity of care. Getting an appointment with your registered GP can take up to six weeks. The reception area is chaotic, with patient confidentiality seemingly disregarded as personal information is loudly shared. The staff are consistently unwelcoming, appearing disinterested and discourteous most of the time. Regarding medical staff, there are barely any competent doctors remaining. Most have departed or are virtually impossible to schedule with. The surgery's leadership is failing patients spectacularly, and the decline is so significant that recovery seems improbable. Consultations feel rushed, and for patients with extensive medical histories, obtaining comprehensive care is nearly impossible. With profound disappointment, I cannot recommend this surgery to anyone and am actively seeking alternative practices. This is particularly heartbreaking, as this surgery was once renowned for exceptional patient care.

Quick and smooth tattoo session

Excellent training session. Delightful experience with prompt service and no unnecessary delays.

Terrible service at long-standing medical practice

I have been a patient at this medical practice since birth, now 49 years old, and have witnessed a deeply disappointing deterioration in service and quality over the past decade. The surgery was exceptional when Sir Dennis Gray was leading, supported by outstanding physicians like Dr Philip Evans and Dr Russell Steele. Unfortunately, the practice has completely lost its personal approach and genuine patient care understanding. From the initial phone contact, you're confronted with a terrible automated system featuring an uninterested Dr Dickson delivering an excessively long message before providing service options. This immediately makes you feel unwelcome. I've contacted other Devon surgeries with friendly, concise answer messages that at least suggest you'll receive proper care. The list of shortcomings is extensive, and I feel compelled to highlight several critical issues. 1. Selecting staff contact options means potentially waiting 40 minutes for an answer. Calls frequently drop unexpectedly. When connected, you might experience prolonged silence before disconnection. Staff interactions typically involve encountering someone having a bad day, greeted by a monotonous, disinterested, hassled voice. Two administrative staff remain pleasant, but chances of reaching them are minimal, as they've often recently departed. This discourages communication. My wife, suffering severe PTSD, feels too intimidated to call due to staff attitudes. 2. Accessing your assigned GP is nearly impossible. Since Dr Philip Evans' departure, we've cycled through 9 different GPs in just 18 months. Seemingly competent doctors leave within months or take extended sabbaticals before retiring. Patient continuity is non-existent. Each appointment requires rapidly bringing the GP up to speed on medical history, while feeling pressured and watched by a clock-focused physician. You inevitably leave thinking, "I forgot to mention..." Appointment waiting times stretch up to 8 weeks. Most GPs are either new/training or temporary locums. 3. Several staff demonstrate consistently poor attitudes, creating significant discomfort. During our son's asthma review, a nurse damaged our privately purchased medical performance graph, despite repeated requests to stop. She aggressively stated, "just print another one" and continued defacing the document. Her interaction with our son was unprofessional, making him nervous and uncomfortable. The nurse also provided contradictory treatment advice, destroying our confidence in the consultation. 4. The waiting room is large, open, and unwelcoming. Patients can clearly hear others' private medical information. Front desk interactions feel uncomfortable, with staff seemingly unfiltered when discussing personal details. Phone conversations openly reveal patients' birthdates, addresses, and names, violating privacy expectations. This lack of discretion is amplified during in-person interactions. Avoid this practice. Thoroughly unsatisfactory.

Long wait with unhelpful staff

The wait to see Dr. Bullock stretched to a staggering 40 minutes. It's absolutely mind-boggling how disorganized this medical facility is. We contribute substantial funds to the NHS, yet what do we get in return? Practically nothing. The medical staff seem to have remarkably limited expertise, or perhaps they lack proper professional qualifications.

Dropped from gp list after one year

Removed from the patient list due to inactivity over the past year - it's annoying that your primary care physician's office doesn't provide consistent support, and you're penalized for trying to be a low-maintenance patient.

Frustrating communication and ignored test results

Completely dissatisfied with this medical facility. Their communication is terrible - phone lines are perpetually unreachable, and they seem completely indifferent about sharing critical test results with patients.

Frustrating lunch break with useless call

I've spent half an hour waiting on hold, only to have the phone picked up and immediately disconnected; essentially squandering my entire lunch break just to be rudely cut off. Now I'm unable to contact them until tomorrow because the medical practice is closed between 1-2pm, and my work schedule prevents me from calling during their open hours. I'm absolutely livid about this whole situation.

Receptionist killed my morning mood

The front desk staff displayed an incredibly unprofessional demeanor. Despite their supposed role of providing assistance, this particular employee clearly failed to meet even basic customer service expectations.

Helpful staff in wheelchair-friendly surgery

A top-notch medical practice. The staff consistently demonstrate helpfulness and deliver outstanding care to patients. The facility boasts a thoughtfully planned interior with a user-friendly layout that particularly accommodates individuals using wheelchairs. Having a pharmacy in close proximity is a definite advantage. While on-site parking is not available, this is reasonable considering the practice's location.

Waiting weeks for a simple call

Received a letter from the medical practice requesting a consultation about my blood test results. I called to schedule an appointment, but was informed there were no available slots for 6 weeks and advised to call back later. After attempting to contact them again 3 days later and spending an hour trying to get through, I finally reached someone who still provided no appointment and suggested a doctor would call me. This level of service is unacceptable, and I long for the days when the practice showed genuine care and concern for patients. The current approach is completely unacceptable and frustrating.

Clean waiting room and kind doctors

Top-notch care with a compassionate team of skilled medical professionals. The doctors and nurses are knowledgeable and experienced, and the waiting area is spotless and comfortable. I wholeheartedly endorse this healthcare facility for anyone seeking quality medical attention.

Friendly staff helped with our newborn

Exceptional medical care at this Exeter facility. The medical staff are incredibly supportive and accommodating. They go above and beyond to ensure patient comfort. We were particularly delighted by how smoothly and promptly they processed our newborn's registration. Overall, a truly outstanding experience.