Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals a deeply divided patient experience with significant challenges in core service areas. Phone communication and booking access emerge as persistent problems, with patients reporting difficulty reaching the surgery, lengthy wait times on calls, frequent disconnections, and appointment availability constraints. Reception experience is frequently cited as problematic, with accounts of discourteous, dismissive, and disorganised staff interactions. Communication failures extend to medication management and referral processes, where patients report unclear instructions and lack of coordination between the practice and pharmacies. The triage system receives mixed responses, with some patients finding it effective while others describe it as ineffective and frustrating.

In contrast, positive feedback highlights compassionate medical professionals, supportive doctors, and efficient prescription services when accessed. Some patients report seamless appointment booking through online systems and prompt clinical care. However, these positive experiences appear less frequent than negative ones, and several patients note inconsistency in service quality across different staff members and visits.

Broader concerns include practice environment issues, with reports of inadequate facilities and poor building maintenance. Patients also describe feeling deprioritised, with some expressing concerns about access to care and the practice's capacity to manage demand. The overall pattern suggests systemic organisational challenges affecting appointment access, communication reliability, and reception courtesy, though individual clinical encounters sometimes receive praise.

Appointment

25.67 %
Bad

Reception

28.92 %
Bad

Cleanliness

35.50 %
Poor

Care

42.18 %
Poor

Respect

32.15 %
Bad

Seen on time

31.42 %
Bad

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RA

Rebecca A. Google one year ago

Rating

Excellent!

Quick and compassionate medical care

Absolutely no complaints about this medical practice. Their updated technology is exceptional. I sent a message with an image on Thursday, and by Saturday I had an appointment. The physician was incredibly personable and attentive. To top it off, I was scheduled for a consultation within just 10 days - truly impressive service. My sincere appreciation!

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MS

Mark S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Friendly staff make medical experience smooth and easy

I consistently experience this medical procedure as exceptionally supportive and responsive to my needs.

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LC

Lynsey C. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Unprofessional service left me frustrated and confused

The front desk staff displayed a complete lack of professionalism. When discussing my blood test results, which showed abnormalities, the receptionist was dismissive and unhelpful, suggesting I research the condition online since she was unfamiliar with it. To make matters worse, there was a scheduling mix-up where I was given an in-person appointment confirmation, but upon arrival, I was informed it was supposed to be a telephone consultation. The entire experience was frustrating and poorly managed.

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MJ

Mandy J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Great!

Quick and efficient medical support system

Utilized the triage document today and got a message before midday. Absolutely no complaints about this service. We've employed the triage approach multiple times previously, and I can confidently say it consistently delivers for us.

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MR

Mitchell R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Heartless customer service fails elderly patient

Refuses to provide phone support for an elderly woman who lacks internet skills, leaving her unable to obtain essential eye medication. Absolutely appalling behavior that shows a complete lack of compassion and customer service.

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LB

Lorraine B. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Inefficient healthcare system fails patient completely

Attempted to book an online consultation, yet received a text notification for an in-person appointment despite being informed the patient was bedridden. Spent an excruciating 64 minutes on hold trying to contact the medical practice, ultimately requiring a family member to drive over and resolve the confusion. The entire experience was utterly unacceptable.

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HR

Henry R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible product waste of money

Complete garbage!

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KJ

Kim J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service saved by new doctors who care

I've been with this medical practice for 6 years, and as my health declined, I became disabled and homebound. After breaking my femur and spending weeks in Broomfield Hospital, which was excellent, I called my doctors to inquire about a district nurse removing my staples. The assistant said she'd investigate. Two days later, she called back and surprisingly informed me that I wasn't registered as a home-based patient, leaving me with a broken leg, on oxygen, and relying on carers, yet unable to access a district nurse. I switched medical practices, and they immediately visited me at home to examine my leg - definitely the best decision I've made. Now, phone wait times are minimal, and I'm usually next in the queue. Making a doctor's appointment is now straightforward, and I can actually see a doctor quickly. I'm thoroughly satisfied now.

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BT

Becca T. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Average!

Unprofessional nurse ruins mental health support experience

I sincerely hope they haven't retained the same mental health nurse from the previous year! Her performance was abysmal, and she was completely unfit to provide counseling or support. An incredibly unsympathetic individual who seemed entirely unsuited to her role. While the rest of the staff are welcoming and compassionate, this particular nurse stood out as a glaring exception—truly disheartening.

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RW

Roman W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer service ruined my entire experience

The customer service representative on the phone was incredibly dismissive, making me feel like a nuisance for simply trying to reschedule my appointment.

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LS

Linda S. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Disappointing service after breast surgery support

My recent experiences following breast surgery have been mixed. While initially receiving top-notch care, my latest interaction was disappointing. Today, on December 28th, I was advised by my open access nurse to consult a physician, yet the earliest available appointment they could offer was January 3rd. This delay has significantly diminished my previously positive perception of their service.

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VB

Veggie B. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Nightmare healthcare experience at local medical practice

I truly sympathize with patients who are stuck dealing with this medical practice. I sincerely hope your experience differs from mine and numerous other individuals who have encountered similar challenges.

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MW

Melanie W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Great service at local halstead medical surgery

After relocating to the area, I was apprehensive about finding a suitable medical practice. Previous experiences had been inconsistent, and seeing a two-star rating for the only available surgery in Halstead initially dampened my spirits. However, I am thrilled to share that my experience has been entirely positive. When my son needed medical attention, the online triage application process was seamless - we'd submit the form in the morning, and within an hour of the surgery opening, he would secure a same-day face-to-face appointment. On both occasions, he was seen promptly and even ahead of schedule. The attending physician was exceptionally kind and professional. I genuinely have no criticisms to offer. It seems people are far more inclined to share negative experiences than acknowledge good service, which can unfairly skew perceptions and potentially deter others. I wholeheartedly recommend this surgery and feel fortunate to have such a reliable healthcare facility in our community.

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GR

Gary R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible healthcare experience with nhs triage system

Utterly appalling healthcare experience with a completely dysfunctional triage setup. I've attempted to contact them repeatedly, only to be met with unanswered calls and abrupt disconnections when I'm finally in the queue. The entire process is utterly disgraceful and perfectly illustrates why the National Health Service is gaining such a terrible reputation. It seems that if you're not in a certain category, you're simply left to struggle.

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DW

D W. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible acoustic design hurts ears and privacy

The acoustic design in your waiting area is seriously problematic. That tiny reception window creates terrible sound reverberation and amplification. Privacy is completely compromised, as every sound seems to bounce and carry. I'm certain the noise levels exceed recommended safety standards. The sound was genuinely painful to my ears. Having to involuntarily overhear other people's conversations was extremely uncomfortable. I'm seriously considering involving health and safety authorities to assess the noise situation.

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RR

Rebecca R. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer service that hangs up on clients

I was stuck waiting to speak with a front desk representative, with 8 customers queued before me, when suddenly the system announced there were excessive hold times and abruptly disconnected my call!!!! This is completely unacceptable. Absolutely appalling.

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DJ

David J. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible customer service and zero problem resolution

The "online triage" system is completely useless! Their response of "we have forwarded your message" has led to absolutely zero action. What's the purpose of such a pointless process?

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RM

Rachel M. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible pharmacy service that fails patients completely

The newly implemented triage process seems designed solely to prevent direct communication. They dispatch a text from an unresponsive number instructing you to consult a pharmacist, effectively blocking any chance for further inquiry or context sharing. As a healthcare professional, I am well aware of when medical attention is necessary. Despite experiencing complete hearing loss in one ear and clear infection symptoms, they refuse to examine me, citing a distant hospital appointment in November. Their approach appears focused on systematically avoiding patient interactions. Absolutely ineffective.

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NL

Noman L. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible surgery with rude staff and medical mistakes

Terrible medical practice with incredibly discourteous staff from the very start. The receptionists are universally unpleasant, and the doctors appear dismissive and impatient, acting like patients are an inconvenience. They demonstrate shocking incompetence by altering medications without discussing it with patients and seeming unprofessional. The nursing staff appear poorly trained, delivering substandard care and carelessly mishandling medical specimens, even discarding them without proper consideration. The communication is chaotic and unreliable - I received conflicting information about my blood test results from different staff members, which is deeply concerning. Even more alarming, they apparently erased an entire patient's medical record and attempted to conceal this serious error. The quality of this healthcare facility is abysmal, and the fact that it's the sole medical practice in the area is absolutely unacceptable. Their unprofessionalism extends even to their answering service, which is equally rude and unhelpful to patients seeking medical assistance. Completely unacceptable standard of care.

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KH

Karyn H. Google 2 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Overcrowded surgery fails patients in desperate need

I'm reluctant to post negative feedback about medical practices, but this particular surgery demands it. Having been a lifelong resident of this community, I find myself unable to secure an appointment due to the practice's irresponsible patient intake strategy. They continuously accept new patients far beyond their manageable capacity, resulting in wait times that stretch over weeks. This situation is completely unacceptable and fundamentally undermines the purpose of a healthcare provider.

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About the GP

  • Accepts all feedback, both positive and negative.

Contact Information

  • 01787 475944
  • Elizabeth Courtauld Surg Factory Lane West Halstead Essex CO9 1EX

Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals a deeply divided patient experience with significant challenges in core service areas. Phone communication and booking access emerge as persistent problems, with patients reporting difficulty reaching the surgery, lengthy wait times on calls, frequent disconnections, and appointment availability constraints. Reception experience is frequently cited as problematic, with accounts of discourteous, dismissive, and disorganised staff interactions. Communication failures extend to medication management and referral processes, where patients report unclear instructions and lack of coordination between the practice and pharmacies. The triage system receives mixed responses, with some patients finding it effective while others describe it as ineffective and frustrating.

In contrast, positive feedback highlights compassionate medical professionals, supportive doctors, and efficient prescription services when accessed. Some patients report seamless appointment booking through online systems and prompt clinical care. However, these positive experiences appear less frequent than negative ones, and several patients note inconsistency in service quality across different staff members and visits.

Broader concerns include practice environment issues, with reports of inadequate facilities and poor building maintenance. Patients also describe feeling deprioritised, with some expressing concerns about access to care and the practice's capacity to manage demand. The overall pattern suggests systemic organisational challenges affecting appointment access, communication reliability, and reception courtesy, though individual clinical encounters sometimes receive praise.

Appointment

25.67 %
Bad

Reception

28.92 %
Bad

Cleanliness

35.50 %
Poor

Care

42.18 %
Poor

Respect

32.15 %
Bad

Seen on time

31.42 %
Bad
Filter

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