Three Chequers Medical Practice

Long phone queues and poor communication throughout

This practice has not met my expectations and ranks among the least satisfactory healthcare providers I have experienced in the local area. Accessing reception typically requires waiting 15 to 20 minutes, and staff frequently seem unfamiliar with proper patient assessment procedures. Obtaining an appointment with a clinician while experiencing active symptoms is challenging, often necessitating bookings well in advance. Communication regarding treatment progress is minimal, and responses to concerns raised during calls do not always appear to consider the underlying health issues being reported. I continue attending primarily due to the inconvenience of transferring my medical history elsewhere.

Friendly reception staff made the visit pleasant

Outstanding experience. The front desk team were particularly helpful and welcoming.

Frustrating hoops to jump through for appointments

The service was disappointing, with numerous obstacles that make it extremely difficult to obtain an appointment with a clinician.

Long phone waits and limited appointment availability

I found myself waiting on the phone to be told that unfortunately there were no available appointments for that day. Over the past two years, the triage system has operated in this manner, and it seems the practice would benefit from fully reopening its services.

Long phone queues make booking appointments frustrating

When someone is seeking a routine appointment that does not require urgent assessment and would be satisfied with any available slot within the coming week or fortnight, it seems inefficient to wait on hold for extended periods (with many other callers ahead) only to be informed that no same-day slots remain and to be asked to call back the following day, when this pattern is likely to repeat itself. It would appear more practical if reception staff could reserve an appointment at an upcoming available time during the week, or alternatively, could record a brief summary of the presenting concerns so that the relevant clinician might contact the patient in return.

Appointment times don't work for school run

Appointments become available at 8 in the morning, which coincides with when I need to do the school run. I received no assistance with this scheduling conflict.

Good place to visit for healthcare

It turns out to be a surprisingly good place to visit for medical care.

Inaccessible physio room made situation worse

We have never actually met our healthcare provider during our time as patients here, so we cannot comment on their approach. It appears that access to appointments is extremely limited - you almost need to be in critical condition to be seen. My spouse had a physiotherapy appointment due to severe mobility issues and considerable pain, yet no medical consultation was arranged beforehand. We attended the physiotherapy session only to discover the treatment room was located upstairs with no elevator access. Given my spouse's difficulty walking, the stairs were completely inaccessible. The physiotherapy took place in a cramped room without windows where a proper assessment could not be conducted due to space constraints. When we raised concerns about this, we were told that treatment outcomes would likely be minimal anyway. As a result, no physiotherapy was provided and the pain remained unresolved. It seems questionable to locate a physiotherapy facility upstairs without lift access, particularly when advance notice of a patient's mobility difficulties should have prompted alternative arrangements to avoid unnecessary suffering. We ultimately paid privately for medical consultation, physiotherapy, and specialist assessment. The private specialist identified the underlying issue and prescribed appropriate treatment along with intensive physiotherapy to address muscle weakness. We will need to continue paying privately for physiotherapy as it is essential treatment, making this surgery unhelpful to us overall. I have given two stars because we do receive appointment reminders and vaccination notifications. However, I have had blood tests performed and never received any results, leaving me uncertain about my health status. Telephone access is problematic - there is a lengthy recorded message before the line rings, which then cuts off, followed by silence that makes callers assume the connection has failed, before eventually being answered. The staff members are genuinely pleasant when you finally speak to someone. I recognise the pressures the NHS faces, but a service should function as such. The experience feels like being treated as an administrative task rather than a patient, though I acknowledge this may not be unique to this practice. From what others have mentioned, some surgeries appear to have greater difficulties, though this is secondhand information. How does one actually obtain a doctor's appointment? It remains unclear to us.

Quick response to phone appointment request

My wife contacted the practice for a telephone appointment on a Monday in April and received a prompt response, with an appointment scheduled for the afternoon. Following this initial consultation, a diagnostic test was arranged for the evening, and she was subsequently seen by a clinician who handled the situation with great care and professionalism, as did all the other medical staff involved. She was very pleased and grateful for the quick and efficient support provided throughout the day.

Impressed with the covid safety measures

On my first visit, I was very pleased with the service provided and appreciated the safety measures in place. The approach to health precautions was particularly reassuring. Thank you very much. 10/10

Call back system didn't help my urgent problem

Called today requesting a callback and when the doctor rang back, I found the consultation unhelpful. I'm experiencing significant discomfort and struggling with my situation as consuming food or medication exacerbates my symptoms. This has resulted in me avoiding eating and taking my regular medications for my ongoing health conditions. I feel the practice isn't providing adequate support and appears to be offering even less assistance than before. I'm reluctant to contact them again as previous responses have been of little benefit, making further contact seem pointless. Overall, I'm disappointed that the practice seems to be doing very little and appears unwilling to increase their level of care.

Friendly staff made the appointment quick

Speedy and well-organised welcoming experience

Efficient vaccine appointment with a welcoming atmosphere

Attended the practice for my COVID booster vaccination and the experience was excellent - the staff were highly organised and I felt at ease throughout the appointment.

Fast service with genuinely helpful staff

The appointment was completed promptly and the entire team demonstrated considerable kindness and helpfulness throughout the visit.

Finding the building was harder than the visit itself

The vaccination facility proved difficult to locate initially. There were no directional signs on the roads and the building itself lacked clear signage. After parking, I conducted an online search and discovered information about a new vaccination centre situated in a retail unit. Upon exiting my vehicle to explore the area, I spotted a faint sign in the distance. The confirmation email provided only the retail park location without specifying which building housed the centre. The waiting area had relatively few people - approximately ten individuals. The space was organised in a straightforward manner. The team members were welcoming and communicated effectively. My appointment details failed to appear on the system for some reason, though this presented no practical difficulties. I proceeded through the queue as a walk-in patient and my information was retrieved very promptly. The entire visit lasted under fifteen minutes. Quick and efficient. Commendable service. This proved to be a considerably more positive experience compared to my previous vaccination visit. The addition of more directional signage would be beneficial.

Staff handled busy reception with courtesy

I'm grateful for the efforts being made by the team at the practice. The reception staff have a challenging role managing physical access to the building, and they clearly work hard under pressure. I want to express my thanks for the service provided and for handling patient concerns with patience. I attended for a vaccination appointment, which was efficiently coordinated and the staff were courteous throughout. I'm genuinely appreciative of the dedication shown by everyone there.

Reception staff were helpful and friendly

Outstanding care and support.

Friendly reception made the visit pleasant

Outstanding care provided. The staff were welcoming and courteous throughout. Very impressive performance.

Booster appointment arrived late despite timed slot

The check-in procedure for the vaccination appointment lacked organisation, and there was a considerable delay despite having a scheduled time slot. The appointment was recorded as covering two vaccinations when one had already been administered several weeks earlier through the same practice.

Friendly practice with smooth booking process

Efficiently run and welcoming. Much appreciated.