Western Elms Surgery

Rude receptionist sam made me feel terrible

Steer clear of this medical procedure. The personnel are extremely unprofessional. An employee named Sam displayed shocking insensitivity, casually remarking "you're not going to die" when I was attempting to schedule a doctor's consultation and was instructed to call back during specific morning hours. Her callous response was utterly reprehensible. What appalling customer service.

Doctor finally listened to my back pain

In September 2022, I consulted my GP about persistent back pain, and the female doctor's initial response was to suggest changing my job. She dismissed me, recommending physiotherapy and saying someone would contact me for an appointment. After waiting six excruciating months with no communication, I secured another appointment due to my worsening condition. Fortunately, I was seen the next day by Dr. Jarryd BHAMBHANI, who listened attentively and thoroughly to my symptoms. He professionally recommended an X-Ray of my chest and a scan of my back. I was genuinely moved by his comprehensive approach to diagnosing my back issue. When he outlined the steps to investigate my pain, I was overwhelmed with emotion and felt a surge of hope for the first time in months. Tears of joy welled up as I realized there might be a path to relief. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for encountering such an exceptional doctor who approaches his work with such dedication and compassion. I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Jarryd BHAMBHANI to anyone seeking medical care, and I am profoundly thankful for healthcare professionals like him.

Rude receptionist ruined my call today

I contacted Western Elms surgery this afternoon following an NHS 111 referral. Initially, the receptionist was incredibly pleasant and supportive, but unfortunately, our call was disconnected. When I rang back, I encountered a completely different experience with another staff member who was exceptionally unhelpful and dismissive. Despite the referral being sent, she flatly refused to assist me and abruptly ended the call. She even went out of her way to clearly spell her name when I requested it, but her attitude was shockingly unprofessional. Her rudeness was overwhelming, and she showed zero empathy or willingness to help. Healthcare professionals should understand that patients seek support during vulnerable moments, not additional stress. It's unacceptable to treat patients as emotional punching bags simply because you're having a difficult day. We are human beings with feelings, and we deserve respect and compassion, especially when seeking medical assistance.

Dangerous care from dr miller's practice

How can I even begin to describe this nightmare? Two staff members hung up on me mid-complaint and completely refused service. Dr. Miller consistently denied my request for an ENT referral despite ongoing issues, which has now resulted in severe sinus complications requiring surgical intervention. They prescribed antibiotics I was allergic to, causing violent illness - a potentially fatal mistake due to their failure to check my medical history. During a recent phone consultation, the doctor provided an entirely incorrect diagnosis and openly admitted his own incompetence. When I confronted Dr. Millar about the year-long delay in referring me to an ENT specialist, he was so unprofessional that he couldn't even make eye contact, instead staring at the floor throughout our entire interaction.

Unhelpful staff left me waiting in pain

The reception staff are completely unhelpful and constantly promise to return my call, but they never follow through. They seem oblivious to my suffering and discomfort. I sincerely hope their supervisors will address this unacceptable behavior and take appropriate steps to improve their customer service.

Terrible phone appointment for sick toddler

I've encountered the most incompetent general practitioner ever. On December 28th, I attempted to schedule an appointment for my 18-month-old daughter, who had been unwell since the 25th, but the clinic was closed due to Christmas. I explained that she was struggling to swallow and that her brother had recently completed a course of throat antibiotics. They arranged a phone consultation, which was completely inadequate. Had I known no one would physically examine her, I would have gone directly to the hospital. These medical professionals are absolutely useless! Other GP practices are conducting in-person examinations, particularly for young children. This situation is utterly unacceptable and shocking.

Terrible support and broken website

Absolutely terrible customer support and a completely ineffective website that provides zero value.

Tonsillitis drama at late evening appointment

1 star, and I wish I could give zero! Booked an urgent consultation around 5:30 PM for excruciating tonsillitis. The physician was cordial but neglected to confirm my prescription's destination, inadvertently sending it to a pharmacy that was shuttered. The administrative team at this practice is completely incompetent! Surely they can't all be newcomers? I've squandered over an hour standing in the pharmacy, receiving conflicting information through multiple phone calls, only to discover that the issue was easily solvable. By then, the doctor had departed, and I was informed I must wait until morning for resolution. The 'receptionist' actually chuckled while informing me nothing could be done, despite this being an emergency appointment for a genuine urgent medical need. Absolutely worthless from beginning to end!

Friendly dentist made my checkup painless

Dr. and staff consistently provide top-notch care, delivering the high-quality service I've come to expect with each visit.

Unhelpful staff when my baby's sick

I rarely take the time to write reviews, especially understanding the current challenges faced by the NHS. However, I'm thoroughly appalled by the treatment I've received. Today, I attempted to seek medical attention for my one-year-old daughter who is unwell. When trying to explain her symptoms to the receptionist, I was repeatedly interrupted and dismissed, with the staff member seemingly uninterested in hearing me out and making assumptions about my previous call attempts. Every time I try to contact the office, the phone line disconnects before even ringing. At 3 pm, I was callously told to simply send a picture of my sick child. Furthermore, when I requested an appointment for myself, I was brushed off and instructed to call back tomorrow morning between 8 and 10 if I considered my issue urgent. The irony is that I wouldn't be persistently calling throughout the day if my concern wasn't genuinely pressing. The level of service is utterly unacceptable, and I will definitely be seeking a new GP practice.

Terrible phone support that always drops calls

Zero stars is too generous for this disaster! Attempting to call and get help is futile - the moment you select option 1, the call abruptly terminates. After investigating other reviews, it's clear this isn't a one-time glitch but a persistent issue that's been ongoing for months. Evidently, no one in their organization cares enough to address this fundamental communication breakdown. The service is completely unacceptable!

Waiting forever for test results

Absolutely the most incompetent medical practice I've encountered! Over a month has passed, and I'm still waiting for my test results!!! They scheduled a phone consultation three weeks out, then bizarrely called early and left a message asking me to reschedule because I missed their unexpected call on a day they weren't even supposed to contact me. After confirming their scheduling error and being told the doctor would call on the 20th, I waited the entire day - no call whatsoever. The next morning, someone apologized and promised a call before noon, but again - nothing. When I called back, they had the audacity to claim they didn't understand why someone previously contacted me and insisted I was only scheduled for a call on SATURDAY!!! This entire medical practice is an absolute farce.

Frustrating phone call that went nowhere

Attempting to reach them via telephone is incredibly frustrating, with seemingly endless queues. Upon finally getting through, the receptionist appeared rushed and abruptly ended the call before I could complete my explanation.

Impossible to book a simple checkup

Completely absurd! It's impossible to schedule a direct appointment, and when you do get a doctor's call back, it feels painfully brief and hurried.

Supportive doctors made all the difference

Despite occasional challenges with the front desk staff, the physicians at this practice are truly exceptional. I've been dealing with long-term health concerns, and every single doctor I've consulted has been incredibly compassionate. They've been completely open to conducting any necessary tests and have never made me feel like an inconvenience. My personal highlight was a consultation with Doctor Batiste, who was simply outstanding - he gave me his full attention, listened carefully to my entire story, and made me feel completely at ease. The unhurried, genuine care I receive is precisely why I continue to choose this medical practice.

Unhelpful staff made my mental health worse

Absolutely dreadful. A series of consistently poor interactions. The staff are discourteous. When seeking medical assistance for a non-emergency issue that's impacting my psychological well-being, they could only provide a phone consultation scheduled more than four weeks out. I'm actively seeking to transfer my medical care elsewhere at the earliest opportunity. Completely avoid this practice.

Impossible to reach customer support

I've made countless attempts to contact their customer support, but each time I'm greeted by an automated message instructing me to press 1 for assistance. Ironically, when I follow the prompt, the call abruptly terminates. I'm completely at a loss for how to get in touch with them, and my frustration is mounting rapidly.

First visit went smoothly at clinic

Initial appointment at Western Elms. The front desk staff was outstanding: warm, supportive, and pleasant. The healthcare provider was meticulous and highly competent. Appreciate the experience.

Frustrated by rude reception staff

I recognize the challenges faced by the NHS. Yet, it's incredibly frustrating when the receptionist displays such obvious contempt upon being asked for an appointment that doesn't align with her personal urgency criteria (since when did reception staff gain the authority to pre-screen patient needs?). Hostile front desk staff CHECK Impossible to consistently see the same doctor CHECK Excessive delay in securing appointments CHECK Online GP booking system non-existent CHECK Refusal to communicate blood test outcomes via phone CHECK Misplacing insurance-submitted documentation CHECK Incorrectly claiming patient is not registered with the practice CHECK Perfectly representative of a standard Reading medical practice...

Terrible service putting patients at risk

Completely disorganized medical practice where doctors constantly shift blame onto reception personnel. They advertise services they're incapable of delivering, and securing essential health check-ups is a nightmare. With just one GP specialized in a specific area, thinly spread across two locations in a densely populated region, their approach compromises patient care. They jeopardized my daughter's health by neglecting their professional responsibilities and avoiding accountability. The sole positive aspect is a single compassionate doctor. If transportation is an option for you, I emphatically recommend seeking healthcare elsewhere.