Werneth Medical Practice

Impossible to reach the practice by phone

I attempted to respond to a message from the practice requesting contact, but found it extremely difficult to reach them. I made multiple calls at various times during the day, yet the line either went unanswered or disconnected automatically. This appears to be an ongoing problem rather than an isolated incident—attempting to call in the morning to arrange an appointment proved equally unsuccessful. By early afternoon, I still had not been able to connect with anyone. If the practice expects patients to respond to their requests promptly, they should ensure they are reachable. The situation has become quite frustrating and feels unacceptable. How is one supposed to make contact? I am grateful for the clarification provided regarding staffing constraints and the previous issue with callbacks. That said, I would like to emphasise that my frustration was not about expecting immediate answers during peak morning hours. Rather, my concern centred on the inability to reach the practice despite trying multiple times throughout the day, including afternoon hours, when calls consistently went unanswered or were cut off automatically. Being asked to get in touch with the practice and subsequently being unable to do so understandably creates frustration. Patients are not seeking preferential treatment—simply reasonable access to the service, particularly when the practice has initiated contact. I trust that future efforts will prioritise improving accessibility rather than reconsidering what patients reasonably require. Best regards

Long phone queue made appointment impossible

This practice does not merit a positive rating. I called early in the morning and found myself eighth in the queue, only to wait for an hour and a half before being seen. The experience was extremely disappointing, and I feel the service standards need significant improvement.

Professional and welcoming reception staff

The visit went well, with everything conducted in a professional manner.

Phone lines consistently fail to answer calls

When I call to book an appointment at 8:00am, it feels like a frustrating exercise in self-punishment because I seem to enjoy putting myself through difficulty. I called at 8:00am and found myself 8th in the queue. Inexplicably, it took well over 30 minutes before the call was disconnected without being answered, and this is not an isolated incident. Alternatively, when I opt for the call back service, I do not receive a return call. I am uncertain whether the call answering system operates on a random basis or follows another pattern, but the overall experience has been disappointing.

Poor practice

Hi Was originally borne in Oldham been registered at the GP coppice what moved to Werneth Medical Practice going there since its been opened up moved out of the area 20 years ago i have just been advised after asking for an update on my records ref to an appointment i had just to be told that i need to find a another GP in 3 weeks with no explanation to way

Impossible to get through on the phone

The practice is difficult to access. Attempting to book appointments by calling in the morning is frustrating, as the phone lines are rarely answered and when they are, there are no available slots. This makes it challenging to see the value in having a registered practice.

Impossible to reach, appointments always full

The service quality falls significantly short of expectations. The appointment system appears inefficient, with repeated unhelpful responses received over a week-long period. Attempting to contact the practice early in the morning proved unsuccessful, as calls were only acknowledged at the standard opening time when the schedule was already fully booked. This approach to managing patient access seems problematic and frustrating.

Impossible to get through on the phone

I feel this practice deserves a lower rating due to difficulties accessing appointments through telephone booking. When calling at opening time, the lines become congested very quickly, resulting in lengthy queues. It appears that appointment slots may be allocated to existing patients before new callers have an opportunity to book. This experience has left me quite dissatisfied with the appointment system compared to how other healthcare services operate.

Getting through on the phone takes persistence

I am somewhat disheartened by the number of negative reviews for this practice. However, my own experience has been largely positive. It is somewhat challenging to secure an appointment at short notice, though this appears to be a common issue across many practices. At my most recent visit just over a week ago, I made several attempts to book an appointment over approximately 20 minutes, and I was able to obtain a same-day slot in the afternoon. One minor concern during that visit was that the reception staff member was unavailable, which meant that another patient and I were left waiting for approximately 5 minutes without anyone attending to us. Throughout my appointments over the past year (4 visits in total, which is quite frequent for me), the clinical staff have consistently demonstrated respect, professionalism, courtesy, and understanding, whilst providing clear information about my health matters. The clinical team also informed me about a helpful programme, which I have since joined and found to be very beneficial. I would also be very grateful if the practice were able to offer work experience opportunities through shadowing. However, when I last enquired, I was informed that they are not currently accepting applications for such placements.

Reception staff were dismissive and rude

The service at this practice was extremely disappointing. The reception staff displayed poor attitudes and a lack of courtesy throughout my interactions. I would have preferred if the previous location had remained operational.

Couldn't get through for an appointment all week

Attempting to secure an appointment throughout the week proved to be an unproductive experience.

Felt genuinely listened to and accepted

I attended my appointment today and was seen by a member of the clinical team. They were a lovely person and I wish more healthcare professionals could be like them. I have autism and can find doctor appointments quite challenging, but they were kind to me throughout my visit and I never once felt judged. I think this staff member deserves recognition because they really are a great clinician and a valuable member of the team.

Reception staff made ordering prescriptions straightforward

Over the past few weeks I've received several vaccinations, so I'm hopeful I have good protection now. I visited today to arrange prescriptions for myself, my spouse, and my child, and the receptionist was extremely helpful and courteous.

Couldn't get through after many call attempts

Over 170 attempts were needed to secure an appointment for my elderly relative, with the process taking several weeks and remaining unresolved. The experience was deeply frustrating, and it appeared the telephone line was unavailable for much of this time.

Staff were dismissive and unhelpful throughout

The staff members were unhelpful and displayed poor attitudes during my visit. Their manner of interaction felt unnecessarily stern and unwelcoming.

Reception was kind but concerns weren't taken seriously

I have serious concerns about the standard of care being provided at this practice. My mother has experienced ongoing health issues over an extended period, and I feel these concerns have not been taken seriously and her needs have been dismissed. During a recent appointment, I became aware of a conversation that left me feeling her symptoms were not being properly acknowledged. This experience has prompted me to lodge a formal complaint with the practice regarding the quality of care, and we have decided to register with a different surgery. I would encourage others to carefully consider whether this practice meets their healthcare needs. I should note that the reception team have consistently been courteous and supportive throughout our interactions.

Receptionist was dismissive and unhelpful

I had a disappointing experience with the service provided. The reception staff were not welcoming or courteous during my visit.

Reception staff were dismissive and unhelpful

I would rate this experience much lower if possible. The reception staff displayed unhelpful attitudes throughout my visit. I arrived for my appointment on time but spent twenty minutes waiting at reception with no staff member present at the desk. When a receptionist eventually appeared, they assisted one patient and then left. Two other receptionists subsequently arrived and, after exchanging glances with each other, informed me that I was late for my appointment, despite my having taken a seat without any prior notification or instruction. There was no bell or call system available to alert staff to my presence, and when I questioned how I could have informed them, I was simply told I could either go back or wait. I then waited for approximately two hours without being seen. Before leaving, I was given a contact number to use, which proved to be non-functional. This reflects my overall experience at the practice.

Couldn't get through on the phone

I'm disappointed with this experience.

Impossible to book an appointment here

Is there medical staff available? No, obtaining an appointment is extremely difficult.