The Vine Medical Centre
TR
Tony R. 4 years ago • From Google
Poor
The Vine Medical Centre was previously a family practice located on the Tonbridge road, where patients could develop an ongoing relationship with their GP, and appointments were readily accessible. You could attend without a prior booking and see the next available clinician, or request your preferred doctor. By 2021, the practice had relocated to a corporate-style facility further into Maidstone, and appeared to have significantly expanded its patient registration criteria. The current state of this practice is concerning. The majority of the experienced medical staff have departed. During a consultation with one of the newer doctors, when I eventually managed to arrange a discussion, I was asked "What do you want me to do about it" regarding a health concern that subsequently required referral to a hospital specialist. It seems reasonable to expect that a GP consultation should involve the clinician helping to determine an appropriate course of action. Obtaining an appointment by telephone at The Vine is increasingly difficult, with typical waiting times of around a month for remote consultations. This is frustrating, and the appointments offered may not be with a doctor but instead with an advanced nurse practitioner. Additionally, patients are required to discuss sensitive health matters with reception staff, many of whom come across as dismissive, curt, lacking in knowledge, and unhelpful.
Małgorzata S.