The Practice Albert Road

Disastrous decline of a once-trusted surgery

This medical facility is undoubtedly one of the poorest managed in the nation. Having been a patient for over a decade and a half, I've witnessed a steady decline in service quality. Securing an appointment is nigh impossible; the phone lines open at 8 AM, but by 9 AM, when you finally get through, all slots are filled. Any competent physicians they've had over the years quickly depart. Upon inquiry, several doctors squarely blamed the new proprietors and administration. Services have been systematically stripped away, and permanent doctors are a rarity, with locums constituting 95% of the staff. My mother, suffering from chronic kidney disease, has seen her condition worsen significantly due to this surgery's incompetence. The revolving door of temporary doctors prescribe conflicting medications without reviewing her extensive medical history, directly contributing to her kidney function deterioration. Recently, they've even removed themselves from the list of practices able to access out-of-hours services, forcing patients to endure hour-long, pointless interrogations via the 111 service. It's evident that profit is their sole motivation. During an inspection, I witnessed the owner and registrar practically begging for a positive review. When I attempted to convey the abysmal state of affairs to the inspector, my concerns were dismissively brushed aside. It's astounding that medical authorities haven't taken severe action against this practice. They should face hefty fines, closure, or forced change in ownership and management. A survey of patients whose conditions have worsened due to inadequate GP care would undoubtedly place this surgery at the top. On the rare occasion you secure an appointment, you're often met with nurses masquerading as doctors. The level of care provided is utterly appalling, and I fervently hope this review prompts stringent action against the surgery's owners and management.