DB

David B. 5 years ago • From Google

Rating

Average

Frustrating phone calls and locked doors at surgery

The medical staff are competent, but calling Grove Road Surgery involves navigating through four different pre-recorded announcements from different individuals before reaching the automated menu. First a Covid-19 alert, then a welcome message, followed by a note from Dr Luke, another suggestion about using the pharmacy or 111, and finally the menu. Regardless, you'll likely be so grateful to actually connect by phone that you'll tolerate the process. This morning required 36 dialing attempts, only to be informed no doctor was available and advised to try the local pharmacy. I explained I'd made an identical call the previous day, been directed to a pharmacy, and discovered all four pharmacies redirected me back to the doctor. Subsequently, I was promised a clinician would return my call. The callback occurred, an appointment was scheduled at the otherwise closed surgery, but then the prescription couldn't be processed due to Boots Pharmacy's system failure. Ultimately, I obtained nothing after significant effort. Today, 30 July: Arrived at the surgery precisely on time. The door was locked. Rang the bell. Waited. Receptionist opened the door: "Name?", "Battaliou", "Wait here". Door closes. I wait outside in Eastbourne's lovely sunshine... Nurse appears and admits me. "Don't touch the door! Did you touch the door?", "Yes", "Now I must disinfect it". "How am I supposed to enter without pushing?", "You should wait. Take your temperature... Follow me"... "Blood pressure slightly elevated", "That might relate to the door stress, shall we recheck?"... "It's decreasing"... "Try again"... "Now it's dropping"... Photographic evidence of the nurse's blood-drawing attempt.

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