Wigmore Medical Centre

Responsive but inconsistent care for young children

Since relocating to this practice, our experiences have been varied. We have been pleasantly surprised by how quickly the surgery responds to enquiries, which compares favourably to our former practice. We were also satisfied with how our toddler's seasonal vaccination was administered. However, we felt that our infant's routine immunisations could have been managed with greater care and sensitivity, and my partner felt that the approach taken showed insufficient attentiveness to our baby's needs.

Impossible to get appointments when you need them

I felt let down by the standard of care at this practice. Getting appointments to see or speak with a clinician is extremely challenging. When I noticed some concerning symptoms, I reached out to the practice requesting tests. An initial blood test was arranged, but when I reviewed the results, I queried whether certain conditions had been investigated, as this wasn't addressed. It became apparent that incorrect tests had been ordered, necessitating the process to be repeated. Once the second set of results came back, I attempted to book an appointment to discuss them. I was offered a slot three to four weeks ahead and informed this was the soonest available. I made further calls to emphasise the urgency of reviewing my results, only to be told that any serious findings would have prompted the doctor to contact me already. Eventually, I secured an appointment two weeks later. During that call, I was informed my results were concerning and needed to attend urgently to provide additional samples. The extended waiting period felt potentially risky for my wellbeing. We also experienced significant difficulties with the practice regarding my young child who had difficulty tolerating a particular food group and was experiencing considerable discomfort alongside weight loss. The clinical team were unable to provide useful guidance. It was only through speaking with another parent that we identified the likely cause of the symptoms, and we began using a supplement to help manage the issue. This relatively common problem appeared to be overlooked, and we were simply advised that young children often cry and fuss. When we reported that the supplement was proving effective, the practice declined to issue a prescription for the equivalent medication. I should acknowledge that the nursing staff at the practice are genuinely kind and demonstrate real commitment to their patients. It is unfortunate that this level of care does not extend throughout the wider team. I am planning to register with a different practice at the earliest opportunity.

Reception made booking straightforward and easy

The clinician at this practice is absolutely brilliant and very passionate about patient wellbeing. I have only recently moved to the local area and have had to seek medical support for a sensitive matter, and the experience has been extremely helpful and caring throughout. The clinician has completed very thorough examinations and provided well-informed explanations and advice. The service was excellent, and I would highly recommend this practice.

Phone lines constantly jammed for appointments

Disappointing experience at this practice - obtaining an appointment proves to be quite challenging as you must call on the day itself. The phone lines tend to be heavily congested with incoming calls. I attempted to reach the surgery multiple times this morning and only managed to get through after approximately 20 minutes of persistent trying, only to learn that no appointments were available. It shouldn't require such effort and frustration just to book a routine appointment with your healthcare provider. This has been an ongoing issue rather than an isolated incident. I am considering registering with a different practice as a result.

Friendly staff who've always been helpful

The team at reception and the clinical staff have consistently provided excellent service over an extended period. A five-star rating is well deserved. Thank you to everyone involved!

Thorough examination and genuine care for children

The clinician I see is fantastic! I've always had a really positive experience and will continue to request them when I have concerns about my family's health. They are very, very thorough in their examinations.

Appointment forms repeatedly lost or mislaid

I genuinely believe this practice deserves less than one star. On two separate occasions over the past year, I attended scheduled appointments specifically to have a form completed. Both times, it appeared the form had either not been passed to the clinical staff or had been misplaced. This was extremely frustrating.

Chronic delays and impossible booking system

I found the service to be quite disappointing. On two occasions when I booked the first appointment of the day to accommodate my work schedule, the clinician arrived approximately 20 minutes after the scheduled start time, which resulted in a backlog of several patients waiting. This delay seemed to contribute to the appointment schedule falling behind from the outset of the day. The booking system itself is frustrating, as appointments cannot be reserved in advance or even for the following day—you must call on the morning you need to be seen. When I rang at opening time, I was informed that all slots were already full for that day, which seems inconsistent with the fact that bookings weren't being taken the previous day. When I have managed to secure an appointment, the advice offered has been fairly basic and something I could have reasonably worked out myself. I've been dealing with ongoing health concerns for an extended period, and I feel that more could have been done to address them.