Wideopen Medical Centre

Phone queue blocked urgent breathing concerns

I would rate this experience extremely poorly. I contacted the practice to request an urgent appointment as directed through the online consultation system, only to be informed that my relative, who experiences respiratory difficulties, would need to attempt booking a standard appointment at 8:45. It seems counterintuitive that urgent appointments would not take priority over routine appointment requests. Given the nature of the breathing-related concern, I felt there was considerable risk in the delay to receiving clinical assessment. While I recognise that reception staff have challenging roles managing appointment systems, I felt the situation lacked practical judgment in distinguishing between routine and urgent cases.

Couldn't get through on the phone

After relocating to a different area three years ago and having to leave my previous practice due to the distance, I have found the standard of care at this medical centre to be disappointing. While I understand the NHS has faced challenges in recent years, the approach here seems dismissive of these broader difficulties.

Phone lines constantly busy and unresponsive

This practice is extremely disappointing. The telephone service is consistently unavailable and I would not recommend it.

Receptionists delay prescription collection notifications

Once again it seems the administrative staff are making the decisions rather than the clinical team. The receptionist called me an hour after a prescription was submitted to inform me it would take 48 hours to be ready for collection. I've experienced similar delays on multiple occasions when ordering my husband's medications, and having to provide 72 hours notice feels inadequate for managing multiple prescriptions effectively.

Impossible to get through on the phone

It is very difficult to get through to the surgery by telephone at any time of day. I have attempted to call over several consecutive days at various times throughout the day, but the line has consistently been busy.

Receptionists were genuinely helpful and polite

Recently registered with this surgery after relocating from another part of the UK. I work in healthcare and am adjusting to a new area. The practice has made a positive impression. The reception team have been consistently helpful and courteous, and I recognise they manage a demanding workload. I've appreciated the proactive communication regarding prescriptions and general support in familiarising myself with how the practice operates. During my one consultation, the clinician was friendly and approachable. Overall, a welcoming practice to have joined.

Dismissive approach leaves patients without proper support

I found this practice to be deeply disappointing. It seems they may be more accustomed to working with older patients or those who accept guidance without question. A GP surgery should be somewhere you feel confident placing your trust. A friend attended multiple appointments and received varying assessments that lacked consistency and clarity. She was subsequently given a course of medication despite her symptoms having persisted for considerably longer beforehand. The extended treatment timescales felt designed to discourage follow-up visits rather than address the underlying concern. I also had a negative experience during my own visit when seeking support for personal health matters. The clinician appeared dismissive and unsympathetic, suggesting I pursue online resources as a solution. My situation deteriorated significantly before I eventually received appropriate care elsewhere. The only positive aspect of this practice is the welcoming nature of the reception team. Overall, I found the experience extremely unsatisfactory.

Struggling to get through on the phone

The practice would benefit from having an additional telephone line for routine enquiries such as administrative requests. Apart from this, the service is satisfactory.

Phone lines constantly engaged and unhelpful

This practice is difficult to reach by telephone. Calls result in an automated message followed by disconnection, or the line remains constantly busy. I have been attempting to contact them on behalf of an older family member who requires assistance.

Reception staff dismissive and unhelpful throughout

Disappointing experience. I would recommend seeking care elsewhere with a practice that demonstrates greater commitment to patient care.

Couldn't get through on the phone

The service has been consistently unhelpful in my experience. You need to spell out exactly what you require rather than them understanding your needs. It feels like the practice primarily focuses on certain patient groups while overlooking others. Additionally, it was extremely difficult to reach anyone by telephone, taking several days before I could get through.

Prescription errors and no proper contact

I have been a patient for approximately a year and have found the service to be disappointing. I have not had the opportunity to see or speak with anyone, and there have been multiple issues with my medication management. If you are seeking quality care, I would recommend considering alternative providers.

Not welcoming to families at this practice

If you're seeking a welcoming environment for families, this may not be the right choice for you.

Practice treats patients like numbers, not people

This practice lacks any approach to comprehensive patient care. You feel like just another statistic rather than an individual. I was required to switch practices midway through ongoing treatment for a long-term health condition simply because I relocated slightly across a boundary. The way patients are handled in this situation is deeply disappointing and upsetting. I would recommend looking elsewhere if you value being treated with fundamental respect and compassion.

Doctors need better knowledge on rare conditions

Healthcare professionals would benefit from gaining a deeper understanding of certain nutritional deficiency conditions, as there appears to be limited awareness or recognition of these health issues in clinical practice.

Staff listened and read my history beforehand

I have been a patient at this practice for several years and have consistently found the clinical staff to be efficient and effective, which represents a significant improvement from my previous surgery where appointment availability was limited and initial consultations were often with nursing staff rather than doctors. The team here demonstrates thorough preparation by reviewing my medical background before appointments and delivering appropriate care with proper follow-up support. I am very satisfied with the service provided and pleased with my decision to transfer to this practice.

Appointment cancellations weren't communicated properly

The practice did not communicate cancellations to patients in advance. This resulted in a frustrating experience.

Long waits make appointments hard to get

The primary issue with this practice is the length of time required to secure an appointment. Based on recent visits and conversations with others, the typical waiting period appears to be several weeks, which feels excessive.

Difficult to book appointments here

This practice has significant operational challenges. Obtaining an appointment is difficult, and patients are sometimes required to attend in person for matters that could reasonably be handled remotely. The frequent turnover of temporary staff appears to create continuity issues within the surgery. There are considerable delays in receiving responses to patient enquiries, often spanning multiple days or longer. There have been problems with referral management, including instances where referrals were not submitted or were processed incorrectly. Overall, the experience suggests the practice is struggling with its service delivery and organisation.

Surgery closed early despite posted hours

Called the practice at 1:18 pm and was informed it was closed, despite the advertised opening hours extending until 6pm.