Hedingham Medical Centre
TC
Tamsyn C. 10 months ago • From Google
Poor
This was initially a 4-star review that has been updated after multiple interactions with this medical practice. I previously had an excellent experience with two doctors at Hedingham Medical Centre. They were supportive, compassionate, and highly professional. Their service was impeccable, and I was truly appreciative of the prompt attention I received. However, there is room for improvement in the consistency of listening skills among the receptionist team. I frequently found that some staff members would abruptly interrupt me while I was explaining a situation - both on the phone and in person - which was incredibly frustrating and often led to me having to re-explain and follow up on matters myself. The results I was pursuing were supposedly going to be uploaded to the digital system. We traveled to my previous surgery, obtained a print-out of the blood results, and hand-delivered them to Hedingham Medical Centre, receiving assurances that a doctor would review them. However, these results never appeared in the online record. I was ultimately required to repeat the blood test, which was immensely frustrating after investing significant time in obtaining the original results. The staff appeared indifferent. After multiple attempts to track down the information, I expressed my growing exasperation to the receptionist, who responded with, "So I don't have to bother with this then?" This interaction perfectly encapsulated my two-month experience. I was also told unprofessionally by reception and administrative staff that 'these things take time' when requesting access to historical medical data and my baby's vaccination information online. The wait has been nearly two months, in stark contrast to our previous surgery, which set up the same online system instantaneously. The reception staff at Hedingham Medical Centre are quick to talk over patients and dismiss their concerns. Moreover, the reception staff discuss patients' full names and medical conditions by shouting across the office, allowing the entire waiting room to hear - a practice I've never encountered before. While I understand the challenges of a public-facing role, I remain hopeful that improved listening skills and more graceful patient interactions could benefit everyone. However, based on overheard conversations in the waiting room, I'm not optimistic about significant improvements. The reception and administrative staff significantly undermine the quality of the medical professionals at Hedingham Medical Centre. I am earnestly hoping for meaningful, long-term change.
Dora M.