janduplessis886/england-nhs-gp-reviews huggingface dataset:
GP surgery review: eldene-surgery
Title: Not a great practise
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: September 2023
I can never get an appointment. 
Request for information twice - on two different occasions and has taken over couple of weeks -  With no follow up. Poor customer service. This practise needs a review on their procedures and more practicality of situations that occur. Not very customer friendly at all!
GP surgery review: eldene-surgery
Title: Great practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: September 2022
My visit today was nice and smooth. Reception staff helpful and friendly. I was early for my appointment so didn't mind waiting. The nurse who saw me was very professional and had great patient focus and understanding. Completed the test I needed , explained in detail what would happen next. Excellent. 10 out of 10 for the whole experience. Thank you Eldene Surgery.
GP surgery review: eldene-surgery
Title: No treatment
Rating: 2 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
GP is always in a hurry. Willing to be sent for private medical examinations, but not from the NHS. Online visits from the GP are welcome. Physiotherapists reluctant to send for further consultations but willing to encourage you to exercise at home. Where is the professional approach to the patient?
GP surgery review: elm-tree-surgery
Title: Antiquated systems in place
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: October 2023
In my recent dealings/experience with this surgery it is clear they operate an antiquated system especially where repeat prescription requests are concerned - It really needs to get with the times. It is presumed that elderly patients especially, are mobile, without any physical impairments, and/or have access to the internet/smartphones. What about those who are not and do not? They do not operate a pod system for repeat prescriptions, instead the expectation is that requests are either made in person at the surgery (via a box), through online app, by phone or in person (by the patient or friends/family members). Prescriptions must be/are filled within their own pharmacy (surely that’s “profits over patients”?) 
However, if acting on behalf of an elderly, disabled person, you can either request regular/repeat meds through their online service or provide pre-paid stamped addressed envelopes which can then be sent via post to a pharmacy of your choosing. What about providing an email address (which is generally @nhs), as at least it’s quicker, cost free and more reliable - directly from gp surgery to Pharmacy (of choice) and vice-versa. They operate a “no logic” system which does nothing to assist their elderly, infirm or physically impaired patients or their friends/family who can assist, and clearly it is presumed “they” live in close proximity to the surgery, do not lead busy lives etc. This surgery needs to consider their patients, especially the elderly and physically impaired - not all elderly patients have a smartphone or computer/internet access. It should not presume there are friends/family who live nearby to the surgery who can assist them. Equally, it should not presume friends or family are in a position to assist.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: Fantastic practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: July 2023
What kind friendly people. How lucky we are to have a practice in 
Wroughton. It’s a ten from me.
Thank you for time and patience.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: my treatment was on time
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: June 2023
I was very pleased with the attention given and the manner in which I was treated. I would not hesitate to recommend the practice to my friends.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: Great practice with a lovely reception team.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: May 2023
First of all, I would like to thank the reception team for being consistently helpful, friendly and patient, both face to face and on the phone. There is always a queue because it is a busy practice and I imagine it must be quite a challenge when they are dealing with one patient after another without a break. Having lived in different towns over the years, the team is head and shoulders above those at other surgeries I’ve been registered with. 

The GP I saw today was interested, patient and informative. He took time to explain my condition and ensure I understood. The consultation never felt rushed and was reassuringly thorough. 

While there is rather a long wait for routine appointments, if you need to be seen urgently it is possible to get a same day appointment. 

I highly recommend the Wroughton surgery.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: Disappointment
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
Having been a patient at this practice for over 60 years, I am very disappointed with the present situation; I am not able to contact them by 'phone (always in a queue) so decided to pop into Chiseldon surgery to make an appointment, only to be told '' we don't take appointment bookings here anymore''!  Time for a change I think.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: No response
Rating: 2 out of 5
Visited: October 2022
After trying to ring the practice for appointment 
and being told you are 7 in a queue  after 8min
you are still 7th say no more. I expect a long wait early morning this was 2pm so disappointing I do hope things improve.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: Exasperating
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: September 2022
Since registering with the practice earlier this year I have found the level of service to be very poor indeed; lost samples, no proactive engagement with issues, and administrative disorganisation have all unfortunately been present.  I have lost count of the number of phone calls and surgery visits made in an effort to obtain a reasonable level of service; these result in promises of escalation and of issues being flagged as urgent for the practice manager, only for a further enquiry a few days later to reveal no action has been taken. Cue more statements on urgent response, with the same result again. Then repeat the experience over and over.  Frustrating, annoying and adds to issues, rather than resolves them. I’m looking to move to another practice as soon as possible; I can’t recommend this one to anybody unfortunately.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: Unable to provide care
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: June 2022
It was always difficult to get a doctor's appointment at this surgery and after covid it is now impossible.  I have been off work for 6 weeks and whilst I can get ab appointment  it would  be in 6 weeks time. God willing I will be well again by then anyway. I guess I'll just have to tough it out for now.
GP surgery review: ridgeway-view-family-practice
Title: An asset to the Wroughton Surgery.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: January 2022
Over the Christmas period I unfortunately developed ear trouble and have since had my ears washed out but that did not solve the problem so I was told to make an appointment with the minor illness nurse as the one ear that was causing me so much pain may have an infection in it. It was my lucky day. The nurse that I saw was so sympathetic and kind and gentle and hopefully with the medication she prescribed we are now winning the battle. After weeks of pain I cannot put into words how grateful I am that I had an appointment with this particular lovely young lady. She is an asset to the Wroughton surgery and I just have to sing her praises so that the surgery will realize that as well. Before I started writing this I read that I should not mention anyone by name, which is a shame as she deserves to be known to the manager of the practice for her lovely caring nature and dedication to her patients problems so I will just add that I last saw her on Friday at Wroughton on 28th January 2022. Mary.
GP surgery review: victoria-cross-surgery
Title: Extremely rude doctor
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
After waiting 1hour and 15 minutes after my appointment time to be seen by GP, she was very rude, patronising and condescending. I was asked why i was seeing her and it was the surgery who contacted me to make the appointment
GP surgery review: victoria-cross-surgery
Title: Great Practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
I have always found it easy to get an appointment, and the doctors, nurses, health care assistant, and paramedic practitioner have all been kind and friendly and caring. The receptionist has also been good. Everyone has been friendly and welcoming and supported me with any concerns or problems I have had, especially explaining any problems and why they may happen rather than just saying this is what it is which I have found helpful. Thank you!
GP surgery review: victoria-cross-surgery
Title: Awful service
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: September 2022
My son has recently come out of hospital with Paediatric wheeze discharge plan. This plan states that he needs a GP review on day 2 of his plan. Trying to book one has been impossible. I must call at either 8:30 am for a morning appointment or 2pm for an afternoon appointment. Both of these times are when I'm working. There is absolutely no way of booking otherwise. This is an awful way to run a health care service.
GP surgery review: victoria-cross-surgery
Title: Would not grant me access to my own data
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
I requested access to my full record over the phone to reception via System online, including Test Results, and was told that I am 'not allowed' access to them. 
These are my own records!

Further more, I was told I would be charged to have a copy of my own vaccination records, due to the time it would take to look through the paperwork? When asked if it wasn't there job to do this, she replied 'well we are very busy'.

Absolute shambles
GP surgery review: victoria-cross-surgery
Title: Poor contact
Rating: 3 out of 5
Visited: January 2022
On the advice of a friend I started using the NHS app a couple of years ago to order repeat prescription due to long waits on the pod, It worked well for a while but then my meds were not showing up so went into the surgery  to find out why, the receptionist was extremely helpful and said she would leave the doctor a note as it appeared he had not authorised my prescription. As I am a diabetic this could cause a problem especially when going on holiday. I have not had my list on the app for so long now. I have left messages on the app for the doctor who obviously doesn't read read them. So what can I do now ?
GP surgery review: sparcells-surgery
Title: Sparcells booking process is very poor.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: June 2023
Wife calls at 08:00 and straight away in a queue of 8. Hung on to 09:30 to get to 'top of queue' but it just rings for 20mins before we give up. I then try at 11:25 and into a queue of 9. Hung on to 12:35 until I decided to stay on my phone, and actually drive to the surgery to see what's going on.  By the time I arrive, my phone is now number 1, and it's just ringing and ringing.  I enter the surgery. No ringing phones. I ask the front desk. Yes, phones are routed to there.  Turns out that the phone ringers are all off. I get that. Constant ringing would drive anyone mad. But here's what I discovered about Sparcells.  The staff there have other things to do besides answering calls. However, the other tasks they do, are not quick tasks. So phone calls can wait a long time before being seen to. That's assuming they task switch regularly between a phone call and their other tasks. That's assuming they're not hampered by whatever computer system issue they may have. That's assuming they're not lost with some missing admin, or trying to figure out a timeline or a chain of events or something. The call queue, they have no sight of from what I can see. They have no idea how long the queue is, to give the impetus to speed up or dedicate more time to the phones.  The call queue also, once you are 'number 1' in the queue, you are actually now in a queue of 2 on the actual desk phone itself!  2 flashing lights on the phone and you are dependent on that person answering the call and not busy handling some other task.  I know this because I looked at the phones, whilst I was on my phone, stood inside the surgery!  I hung up my call and saw one of the green blinking lights on the reception's desk turn blinking red, and then disappear and then a short while comes up again blinking green - which I guess is the person behind me moving up the queue.

Maybe dedicate one person to answering the calls.
Maybe get a booking system, like when we had to book covid test centre appointments.
I don't know but whatever, something needs to happen.  This was a truly dreadful and stressful experience, especially when it's a child's health I wanted advice on. They've been off school all this morning.

It's now 2pm.  We've been trying since 8am.  and the best solution was - call again at 8am tomorrow, and try your luck again.

Luckily one of the ladies at Sparcells has tried to help me, as I was on the verge of tears. So we hope to speak to the pharmacist next door soon.

Don't blame the players, blame the system. It's truly broken. (although two of the players sat there listening to my conversation with the lady trying to help me, could have just got on with answering the phone calls, to be brutally frank).
GP surgery review: sparcells-surgery
Title: No appointments available
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: March 2022
After being on the phone for an hour to get through from 8am when the lines open, I am told there are no appointments left and to try again tomorrow. This happens the majority of the time and is unsuitable for when I am trying to look after my daughter and investigate her illness, let alone any appointments I need to make for myself. 

I also received the letter for cervical screening and to book in at the GP. Upon ringing the surgery I am told there is nothing available for the foreseeable and not sure when the clinics will be open again. How can this system work? When expressing my concern that our health isn’t being taken seriously and that there seems to be no access to the services it is met with defensive and a “tough that is the situation” message. 

Will be looking at leaving the surgery, luckily we have access to a car to reach another surgery if we are able to register.
GP surgery review: sparcells-surgery
Title: Absolutely useless
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: March 2022
You cannot get through to anyone, the phone is either constantly engaged, or its put down on you or it just rings forever. I cannot believe they are still hiding behind Covid, I know that others who belong to different surgeries manage to get an appointment.  The most shocking thing to believe is the amount of bad reviews on this NHS site and still nothing is done about it. Shame on you.
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Hurdles to accessing HRT
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: October 2023
This practice is making it virtually impossible to access HRT.  Spoke to Receptionist yesterday and told to call on the day which means 8 am in the morning but I have to commute to work at this time and cannot/do not want to make personal calls at work. I cannot spend 1 hour trying to get through at this time or when I am at work.  Called the next day and got through at 930 and was then given a phone call appointment two weeks later.  Now all colleagues know my business. Why couldn't phone call appointment be booked in the first place? Also when the doctor calls I will be at work and again no privacy confidentiality.  As a working women in my 50s I am being discriminated against and barred from getting HRT.  No repeat prescription to cover these two weeks was possible so now HRT has lapsed.
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Trying to get a face to face appointment
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: August 2023
I was told that I needed a face to face appointment, so rang the surgery, the telephone line was constantly engaged so tried later in the day, got through to an automated service which kept me on hold for 35 minutes saying I was in a queue and they would get to me as soon as they could.  At no time did they say where I was in the queue, so in the end gave up.  What a service !!!
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Good practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: August 2023
I used the practice on the 7th and 8th of August for blood tests and a ECG on both occasions the ladies were friendly  and very helpful I thought they both gave excellent service .
The surgery is also working in conjunction with North Swindon Pharmacy which I also thought worked well together I have no problem with using this surgery
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Listening GP
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: August 2023
When in great need to talk to a medical professional, I found the medical receptionist a great help, followed up within an hour by a GP, and the start of my care process within 6hrs by a nurse. 
What more can anyone expect with an overstretched health care system. Thank you.
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Really helpful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: August 2023
After a yearly blood test, a very engaged and friendly doctor called me to discuss results. She explained everything very clearly and unhurriedly and then went the extra mile by sending some supplementary information. That was impressive. I'd also had a very helpful telephone consultation with another doctor some time before on another matter, and he was just as helpful. Yes, it can be frustrating post-Covid trying to get through to make appointments, but the reception team are pleasant and helpful, and that makes a big difference. I would definitely recommend this practice.
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Good customer care
Rating: 4 out of 5
Visited: June 2023
After being unable to get a prebookable appointment to fit around my work the practice manager was able to help with this and has offered appointments when I needed them . Always very helpful and accommodating
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: What an improvement!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: May 2023
I have attended Ashington House Surgery twice this month, the last time was a year ago. What a pleasant surprise!! The receptionist was so nice and understanding, the Nurse was brilliant with a great sense of humour, the Doctor who was called in by the Nurse to see me was so pleasant and understanding! Thank you.
I am now looking forward to being called in again!
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Great local GP practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
After 40 minutes phoning again and again, trying to speak to a receptionist for an appointment, I got through and she was calm, friendly and helpful. I'd been advised I needed to see a GP within a week, I was given an appointment the same day. 
The appointment was all I hoped it would be, GP thorough and he listened. Everyone I witnessed arriving at the surgery was treated in the same helpful, friendly manner.
GP surgery review: ashington-house-surgery
Title: Horrible
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: January 2023
Been trying to book a routine gp appointment for my son since thursday, today its monday, every time I call, the line is busy, by the time the phone rings (been trying since 8 am, 10 am now) and they eventually pick up the phone they are fully booked. As they now only make routine appointments a week before and for next monday you can only book the monday before, you can not book for tuesday on a monday a week before, for that you need to ring a week before on a tuesday only. Ridiculous! Some receptionists are very rude, its not my fault they hate their  job, look for something else, dont take it out on patients! Shame as I really liked two of the doctors, they were very nice, not sure if I can mention their names so I rather not. Now I am looking for another surgery!
GP surgery review: north-swindon-practice
Title: Empathetic and caring service
Rating: 4 out of 5
Visited: December 2023
I've had several contacts with this practice over the past year on behalf of my elderly Father. Everyone I've spoken to or seen; GP reception and support staff, have taken time to understand his needs and have demonstrated care and empathy in their approach. 
I'm not allowed to give names but this review is prompted by a call I received this morning from a lovely lady concerned that Dad had missed an appointment on Monday and that they hadn't been able to contact him. Understanding how stretched all GP services are,  this level of care and follow up went beyond my expectations. I hope you know who you are when you read this and know how much I appreciated it.
Yes,  the booking system is initially hard to understand ..  I had to ask someone to explain it as it doesn't make sense based on any other GP service I've ever used ...and it can be difficult to get an appointment. However,  once you're able to access the service the staff providing it are excellent.
GP surgery review: north-swindon-practice
Title: Appallingly practice
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: July 2023
This practice is taking on new patients, it cannot come even close to providing basic care for those it already has. It is impossible to obtain an appointment even when they have actually asked you to make one. You need to present yourself at 8am at the door and hope to get ‘something’ for the following week !!! Maybe. 
Of course none of us work we just sit in bed waiting for the privilege of going down to the surgery to try and get an appointment. 
The practice is unfit for purpose and certainly cannot manage any new patients. They can’t care for the ones they have
GP surgery review: north-swindon-practice
Title: Home Ground Excellent service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: January 2023
From the phone call to booking the appointment , reception and prompt and excellent service from the Doctor .
GP surgery review: north-swindon-practice
Title: Speed of treatment
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: June 2022
My son is profoundly deaf and had fallen onto his shoulder 2 weeks ago. Presumed he had bruising and last night complained of severe pain. Managed to see a doctor this morning. Sent fir xray. Results this afternoon and within the hour a steroid injection given. Very impressed with both doctors involved and the deed of everything. My son is very grateful for your help in what can be a very painful condition.
GP surgery review: park-lane-practice
Title: Terrible practice
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
If you want to be made to feel like you are an inconvenience this is the practice to join. 

Impossible to a fit note for my employer. I've been waiting over 3 weeks now. You call & get told you're 1 of 8000 patients, and they make you feel like a burden. I submitted the request online & was told it'd he ready within 7 days. I called after 7 days to be told I had to await a call on the 19th Nov! I had my phone next to me all day & no phone call. I called the 14th Nov to query this & explain I only needed the note, I was told the Dr had called my landline number a number that hasnt been used for 10 years!! A number that has never been called before as my preferred number has always been my mobile number. Now I'm told I must call at 8.30am each morning in the hope that I can speak with a g.p?  One simple request for a fit note confirming I was off work with covid and they have made it so difficult.  They expected my employer to call to confirm my absence was due to covid as per my notes on my medial file, how ridiculous. 

I've been a patient with them almost 30 years and the practice has gotten worse and worse. 

I've stayed due to having had gynea issues and one g.p is very helpful. But I'm now looking elsewhere.
GP surgery review: park-lane-practice
Title: No answer
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
I call every day to make an appointment for my son, he has allergies and needs medication, I call at 8:30 every day I ate they ask for it, but I am always number 20 or 25 in line, when it comes to me instead they say it's full, and they call again or go to the hospital emergency, going to the emergency room for an allergy doesn't seem right, children should have priorities!!