The Allum Medical Centre

New Doctor Listened and Truly Cared

The recently joined Asian female doctor (I believe her name is Dr. Chana) has been incredibly supportive, patient in listening to my concerns, and demonstrates a comprehensive and compassionate approach to healthcare.

Smooth Holiday Jabs at Allum Medical

visited allum medical recently in late february and noticed significant improvements in both the facility and staff. the overall atmosphere has become more streamlined, welcoming, and professional, with reception staff demonstrating particularly exceptional interpersonal and service skills. my purpose for visiting was to receive travel vaccinations, and the entire process was remarkably seamless. nurse sherry, who administered my immunizations, was outstanding - meticulous in her approach and clearly dedicated to her professional responsibilities. she went above and beyond by proactively ensuring comprehensive coverage of my vaccination requirements, even when not strictly obligated to do so. her commitment and thoroughness were truly impressive. the current environment is highly satisfactory, and i'm genuinely pleased with the experience. tremendous credit goes to the national health service for these positive developments.

Rude Receptionists Made My Doctor Visit Miserable

The front desk staff at this medical facility display an incredibly disrespectful and patronizing demeanor. While I recognize that their job can undoubtedly be stressful, their communication style and overall conduct is completely unacceptable. There is a clear need for improved patient interaction and communication training. Furthermore, it is deeply concerning that they appear to be dispensing medical guidance, which could potentially lead to serious and dangerous outcomes for patients.

Frustrating booking call with unhelpful staff

The management of this facility urgently needs to overhaul their scheduling process and, critically, invest in comprehensive customer service training for their front desk personnel, whose interpersonal skills are shockingly inadequate. Given the absence of online reservation capabilities, I attempted to schedule an appointment via telephone, only to be instructed to call back in a week to potentially secure a slot two weeks later, with no assurance of success. The sole alternative was an early morning "lottery call" involving extensive waiting. When I courteously raised concerns about the inefficiency of their booking approach, the receptionist became aggressive, escalated her tone, and ominously declared "we do not tolerate abuse and are recording this call" - simply because I was articulating constructive feedback about their system. The interaction demonstrated a complete absence of compassion and was fundamentally discourteous.

Long Wait for a Simple Phone Appointment

The Medical centre's operations are extremely inefficient. Previously, they offered online booking, but now patients must arrive at unreasonable hours before surgery opens just to secure a TELEPHONE APPOINTMENT from reception. Despite arriving early, I was still forced to wait while they handled other patients before addressing my test results! Their lack of staffing meant they were unable to promptly manage my inquiry! Absolutely unacceptable!

Terrible Phone Lines and Unhelpful Staff

Since switching GP practices over two years ago, I've barely learned the name of my doctor. My experiences have been consistently negative from the start. No assessment was conducted upon my registration. I've been unable to consult with an actual GP from the surgery, not even through a phone conversation. The phone reception staff (with a few exceptions) are incompetent, unsympathetic, rude, possess poor communication skills, and frequently appear deliberately unhelpful. One young receptionist seemed better suited to debt collection or prison work than a caring profession. The phone lines are so poor that I struggle to hear or be understood, despite having no hearing difficulties. My most basic requirements have remained unmet. Despite minimal interactions, numerous clerical errors have caused significant inconvenience and frustration. When I've been told to await follow-up contact, nothing happens. I'm forced to restart inquiries from scratch as no records exist of previous communications. Administrative staff have provided false information, causing treatment delays that potentially jeopardize my health. Compared to my previous local GP, the Allum Practice seems dramatically worse. The sole doctor I've spoken with was an out-of-hours physician unfamiliar with my case and seemingly unable to access my medical records. I'm perplexed why they accepted me as a patient when they're clearly overwhelmed and cannot manage their current patient load. "Patient-centered care" appears replaced by a dismissive "computer says no" approach. I suspect their poor performance has caused significant distress to vulnerable patients, potentially leading to inadequate treatment and compounded health issues. While I've heard the GPs themselves are professional, their systems prevent any meaningful interaction. If possible, I'd give zero stars. My advice: avoid registering here.

Dr Chana's Compassionate Care Helped Us

Dr. Chana, whom we consulted on 28/03/24, exemplifies the highest standard of medical care. Her compassionate approach and genuine warmth make patients feel truly heard and supported. She carefully navigates through different diagnostic and treatment strategies to address health concerns effectively. My wife Linda and I feel incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptional healthcare professional as our general practitioner. The medical community would undoubtedly benefit from more physicians who demonstrate her level of empathy and dedication.

Dr Chana's Thoughtful Care Helped Me Tons

Dr. Chana once again provided exceptional care, attentively hearing my health concerns with genuine compassion. The consultation felt unhurried and thorough, with the doctor carefully listening to my symptom description. They efficiently arranged necessary blood tests and a scan, while also offering insightful guidance for managing my blood pressure issue. The entire interaction was professionally handled and deeply reassuring. I left the appointment feeling fully supported and grateful for such outstanding medical attention.

Terrible service with staff goofing off

Customers are waiting in line while a single staff member is loudly gossiping and joking around, completely ignoring their service responsibilities 😡😡

Compassionate Care from Dr Rattan and Team

Dr Rattan has been an absolute blessing in my healthcare journey, consistently demonstrating remarkable compassion and attentiveness to both my mental and emotional well-being. I deeply appreciate how thoroughly he listens and validates my experiences. Moreover, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the entire staff who show up daily, dedicated to supporting patients like myself in our paths toward healing and wellness. My heartfelt thanks go out to Dr Rattan and his wonderful team.

Impossible to Book an Appointment

I've been struggling to make contact with them for three consecutive weeks without success. Completely ineffective. Their phone system is a barrier, constantly claiming all appointments are fully booked, yet providing no mechanism to schedule future slots. Anyone considering using their services should steer clear. In contrast, their competitors (like the green company) offer a much smoother experience.

Friendly help managing my diabetes care

Exceptional care during my consultation about diabetes management. The wait was brief and insignificant, and I was then provided with insightful and motivational guidance by a Clinical Pharmacist. The reception staff were equally welcoming and supportive.

Impossible to Book a Doctor's Appointment

The new triage phone system is completely dysfunctional. Patients must endure a minimum 30-minute wait to reach reception, who then schedule a future callback from a doctor. There's no set time for this callback, forcing you to remain constantly alert for a potential call. The doctor unilaterally decides whether a face-to-face consultation is warranted, disregarding patient preferences for detailed discussions. For full-time workers, this unpredictable system is incredibly inconvenient. You're left in limbo, unable to plan your day since you don't know if an in-person appointment will be required. Getting through to reception and securing any kind of booking feels like winning a lottery. Calling after 8:00 am virtually guarantees missing the extremely limited same-day appointment slots, compelling you to retry the next day. Booking a face-to-face doctor appointment has become nearly impossible. The practice is clearly overwhelmed, with patient registration numbers far exceeding healthcare capacity. It's unacceptable to continue accepting new patients when existing patients receive substandard care. While financial incentives might benefit the practice, they're meaningless to patients not receiving adequate service. I recognize the NHS and healthcare staff are under immense pressure, but patient needs must be prioritized. The current system requires fundamental restructuring to ensure patients can be heard and effectively treated. [February 2024 Update] Absolutely nothing has changed. Booking a future appointment is only possible by calling precisely at 8am, and even then, available slots are microscopically rare. Each call results in the same frustrating instruction: "Call back tomorrow at 8am!" It's completely ridiculous. The surgery continues registering new patients despite being unable to manage their existing patient load. This should be prohibited. I'm desperate to know the patient-to-doctor ratio, which I'm certain is unsustainably high, explaining the systemic appointment booking failures.

Terrible communication at front desk

The front desk staff demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism and courtesy. During my initial phone call, I carefully noted down the appointment details, only to arrive and be informed that I had been given incorrect information. Additionally, a second appointment I had scheduled during the same conversation was apparently not recorded in their system. When I attempted to reschedule in person, the receptionist insisted on repeatedly making me disclose sensitive personal information about my medical needs in a public setting. Their behavior was shockingly inconsiderate and inappropriate, and this medical practice urgently needs to address their customer service standards.

Quick response from Dr. Ravinder

I just received a call from Clinical Technician Dr. Ravinder following my morning e-Consult submission. The quick response time was remarkable. During our conversation, Ravinder thoroughly inquired about my symptoms, provided professional guidance, and offered to prescribe medication while transparently explaining potential side effects. I'm thoroughly satisfied with the exceptional care and communication I experienced today.

Dr Channa's Compassionate Care Helped My Mum

Dr Channa at this medical center is truly exceptional. My mother consistently feels at ease knowing she'll be seeing Dr Channa, who consistently demonstrates remarkable professionalism through her courteous demeanor, attentive listening, forward-thinking approach, and authentic compassion.

Dr Chana's compassionate and thorough care

Throughout my interactions with Dr. Chana, whether via phone or in-person meetings, I have consistently experienced top-notch medical care. Her approach is comprehensive and highly professional, complemented by a warm, compassionate demeanor that provides genuine comfort and reassurance.

Ravinder Helped Me Feel Heard Today

I've been a patient at The Allum for nearly a quarter-century. Throughout this time, I've consistently been satisfied with the medical attention provided by both doctors and nursing staff. My recent interaction with Ravinder during a telephone consultation was especially noteworthy - she genuinely listened, comprehended my concerns, and delivered outstanding healthcare support. Admittedly, I've experienced frustrating moments when securing an appointment seemed challenging, and I've spent time waiting on hold to speak with someone. However, my advice is to remain persistent and patient, and ultimately, you will receive the medical care you require.

Dr Channa's Warm, Attentive Care

Hi, I consulted Dr. Channa today, 24th JAN 2024, and previously in December 2023. It was truly uplifting to encounter a physician who genuinely prioritized listening to my concerns and recalled our previous interaction. Her consultation room was comfortably spacious and well-lit, which contributed to a pleasant atmosphere. Unlike typical rushed medical appointments, I felt unhurried and valued. Each of my concerns was handled with genuine compassion and understanding. I'm a satisfied patient who feels incredibly reassured that she is collaboratively invested in my healthcare journey. Overall, it was a serene and thoroughly informative consultation.

Nurses Made Me Feel Comfortable Here

Fantastic medical center! The team is incredibly welcoming, and scheduling and attending appointments is always smooth and direct. The nursing staff is exceptional - they're highly competent professionals who truly help patients feel comfortable and relaxed.