Tanfield View Surgery

Helpful reception staff made booking easy

Supportive and well-organised.

Reception staff were helpful and friendly

They are very skilled at what they do 👌

Dismissed concerns and left without necessary medication

I felt significantly let down by my experience. During a consultation, I was advised that my condition could be managed without prescribed anti-sickness medication, and was instead suggested to try eating small amounts of biscuits and taking antacids. The clinician mentioned having had multiple children without requiring such treatment. Despite this advice, I was admitted to hospital the following day requiring intravenous fluids due to severe dehydration and elevated ketone levels. I had been unable to consume food or drink for three days as my repeat prescription had not been processed. Following my hospital discharge, there was a two-week delay in resolving my medication. When I contacted the practice to check on the status as my supply was running low, I was informed by reception staff that I should have given more advance notice and that this was not considered urgent, with the matter to be addressed when the doctor was available. Given that I was twelve weeks pregnant with a diagnosed condition causing severe nausea and vomiting, I felt that medication management should have been treated as more pressing to prevent further hospitalisation. Overall, I experienced what felt like inadequate support and unhelpful interactions with staff members.

Impossible to book appointments by phone

Poor service with unhelpful front desk staff. Obtaining an appointment feels like chance rather than a reliable process. You might spend considerable time calling repeatedly from early morning onwards, particularly when you're juggling work or school commitments, only to be informed that all available slots are fully booked and to attempt booking the following day instead. While this issue may affect other practices as well, it creates a frustrating experience for patients.

Repeat medication request wasn't sent to chemist

Attended the practice on a weekday morning and requested that my son's repeat medication be forwarded to the pharmacy. Given the standard processing time, I visited the pharmacy to collect it the following day, only to find it had not arrived. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. As the medication is a controlled substance, an emergency prescription cannot be obtained. Additionally, I have struggled to secure appointments with my regular doctor despite having an ongoing health condition. The service has been disappointing, and I intend to lodge a formal complaint. I will need to use personal time to resolve the prescription issue, which is frustrating. I cannot recommend this practice.

Reception staff were genuinely helpful and kind

An excellent medical practice. The team members are genuinely pleasant and supportive, and they clearly make a strong effort to provide good care.

Parking and prescription ordering frustrations

Parking in the vicinity is extremely limited. Prescriptions cannot be requested by telephone and require an in-person visit to request them. Obtaining an appointment within the same week proves challenging. Appointments typically run behind schedule with waits of at least thirty minutes. The reception team's demeanor was disappointing. Overall, a frustrating experience.

Receptionist was rude about hospital query

My partner contacted the practice regarding an ongoing medical matter that involved both the hospital and the GP. Unfortunately, they felt the receptionist's manner was dismissive and lacked sensitivity when addressing their concerns.

Online prescription system needs better Saturday planning

I placed an order for my prescription through the online system. However, when I attempted to collect it on Saturday morning, I was informed that prescriptions are not dispensed on that day. After explaining that this would leave me without my medication for several days, I was advised to visit a pharmacy and ask to borrow one. I found this response unhelpful.

Wound redressing let down by unprepared staff

I attended the surgery on a Sunday morning for a wound dressing appointment. The healthcare professional who saw me mentioned she was unwell with a stomach complaint. After examining my wound, she retrieved a dressing from storage, which took considerable time. When she returned, the initial dressing she brought was too small, so I declined it. She then fetched alternative materials including padding and a net-style bandage. She subsequently asked my husband to wash and dry a crepe bandage and reapply the dressing himself. I felt uncomfortable that someone who was unwell chose to continue working, which seemed unprofessional. I also left the appointment feeling that the care provided lacked competence. Overall, I was very dissatisfied with the experience.

Phone lines constantly busy at opening time

Attempting to secure an appointment presents considerable challenges, particularly during early morning hours when the telephone lines remain consistently engaged for an extended period. The situation tends to be especially difficult at the start of the week. Despite this difficulty, the reception team, nursing staff, and medical practitioners have consistently demonstrated friendliness and helpfulness. There appears to have been a notable turnover in medical staffing following the departure of the founding partners. Nonetheless, the replacement practitioners have generally proven to be of a high standard.

Didn't feel listened to at all

I have found this practice to be less helpful than others I have experienced.

Appointments vanish before you can book one

Accessing appointments at this surgery is extremely challenging. The booking system requires calling at 8:30 in the morning, yet slots are typically fully booked by the time calls are answered. There appears to be no accommodation for those working standard hours who require evening appointments. The practice seems to offer greater flexibility for patients with different daytime availability. A significant number of booked appointments go unused each week, which is frustrating when trying to secure a slot. As a regular contributor to the NHS through taxation, there is an expectation of being able to see a doctor when needed. The appointment booking process feels unnecessarily complicated and could be streamlined. The surgery would benefit from reviewing its scheduling system and availability options.

Long wait for cancelled appointment confusion

I waited approximately an hour and a half only to be informed that my appointment slot was no longer available, despite having arranged it beforehand. The reason given was that it was a staff training day. After thirteen years as a patient at this practice, this was an unusual experience for me, as I had not previously encountered such issues.