The Ridge Medical Practice
PT
Paul T. 28 days ago • From Google
Bad
I attempted to arrange a straightforward blood test. Initially, an automated system responded followed by a text message indicating I did not meet the criteria for the procedure. A subsequent phone call proved unhelpful as I was unable to reach a person, forcing me to visit the practice in person. Upon arrival, I encountered a receptionist whose manner I found dismissive and unwilling to schedule either an appointment or blood test. Despite explaining my circumstances, mentioning my private healthcare coverage, and noting that my doctor had recommended the test due to potential health concerns, the receptionist refused to assist. I found this response deeply frustrating. Feeling exasperated, I stated that I would not leave without an appointment being booked—an unreasonable position, I acknowledge, but I felt at a loss for alternatives. The receptionist eventually scheduled an appointment, though it was set for two weeks ahead. When I attended this appointment and finally met with a clinician face to face, they declined to perform the test, citing procedural guidelines as the reason. They referred to it as a process. This was deeply troubling. The clinician then suggested I was being aggressive when I outlined my experience, responding by noting I had used 12 minutes of their time. In total, I made two phone calls without speaking to anyone, made one trip to the practice, then a second trip, and still have not received the blood test. I found this experience wholly unsatisfactory. I rarely require medical care, place minimal demand on services, and have contributed through taxation throughout my life, yet felt treated poorly. I had sought private healthcare to circumvent such issues, only to discover that blood tests require NHS involvement through a GP. The entire system has let me down, yet it appears no one is concerned. I feel like an invisible statistic, someone who never appeared on any patient record and therefore simply does not matter. The system appears to be failing patients. No one is receiving adequate care, receiving proper assessment, or achieving better health outcomes.
BEVERLEY T.