janduplessis886/england-nhs-gp-reviews huggingface dataset:
GP surgery review: milman-&-kennet-surgery
Title: It's impossible to get an appointment
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: December 2022
I have been trying to contact the surgery to book an appointment for 2 weeks. If I call between 8am-10am the phone line is busy it doesn't even let me in the queue. When finally getting through later on the day, you are told to call back the next morning as there are no appointments available. I live in constant pain for weeks and can't get any help.
They keep merging with other surgeries, how about doubling the number of receptionists and doctors, not just the number of patients?
GP surgery review: milman-&-kennet-surgery
Title: The worst practice ever
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: December 2022
If I could give zero stars I would. The lady who answered the call doesn't even know how to spell my name. I've been trying to make an appointment face to face for 3 days. but every time it's the same and the doctor calls and tells me to look for help on the internet. and stay home for a week. worst practice ever. They should be closed because they are not helping anyone.  How much money I should spend more for private help????
GP surgery review: milman-&-kennet-surgery
Title: Dr's great
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
The telephone system is broken, doesn't work it's nothing to expect to be on the phone for an hour.
The longest queue I've joined is at sixteen, 40 mins later I am still on 11.  This is ongoing every day the telephone is engaged, if you are able to hold the phone by the time you get through, no appointments. Despite the Dr asking me to make an appointment, it's impossible. Told me to come to the surgery in person at 8am.
I can't do that, 4 taxis back and forth. 1, make appointment, 2 return for appointment. I am 75 years old, in need of a Dr but can't access an appointment.
person rang me with an an appointment, I attended, no appointment booked,
Today I have transferred to another practice.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Getting even worse.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: January 2024
The operation of this surgery has been taken over by another practice. It has taken another step down following on from this. Coincidentally, the other practice has recently improved from its very poor performance. I suspect that they have simply moved resourcing from one to another.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Not walk in
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: November 2023
I went Bupa online doc said I should go to go there immediately for chest pains.

At the urgent care counter 4:20 pm I was told the NHS website is wrong its not a walk in centre and even if it was it has no appointments for urgent care either.

The main signage no longer talks about it being a walk-in centre so I am very confused by the advice on this page.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Was good. Now average at best and getting worse.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Visited: October 2023
Appointments are a nightmare like everywhere now. They've stopped the extremely useful late appointments.

Now they've started putting prescription renewals on automatic with all the problems that's going to end up introducing when it gets messed up. Also makes it awkward to request it to a different Pharmacy as you don't know exactly when it will be sent through. Not that they care, they just want to avoid any work.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: All Round Excellence
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: October 2023
Receptionists, nurses and GP's have been consistently excellent in every possible way.  Today was no exception for my on time appointment at 09.10 with the receptionists and the GP being really helpful as always.  Thank you!
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Burearocracy gone maed
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: July 2023
I went there today at 4.30 pm to be told that I could not been seen today and was asked to return tomorrow.  I tried to book an appointment for tomorrow but this was refused.

Service of This level is totally unacceptble and I shall be bringing this to the attention of my MP.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Quick response saves life
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: May 2023
Had spoken to my own GP twice and didn’t get anywhere. The doctor at the walk in centre diagnosed my condition immediately and was sent to RBH. I had an emergency operation that evening. If things had been left the outcome could have been very different. I want to express my and my families gratitude to the staff at the clinic. Thank you.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: The Walk-In Centre provided a Great Service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
I was seen very quickly.
The practitioner was very thorough, explained everything well and gave me re-assurance and advice.
(please note I went as a walk-in patient, so the questions relating to the GP practice do not apply)
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: They do not want anyone to contact them.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: February 2023
You can't contact this walk-in centre on the phone because the lines are always engaged and you are automatically cut off. I have tried on so many different times throughout the day. Decided to email instead but the email address advertised on this NHS site, just bounces back. This is really poor service.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Awful practice
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: January 2023
I am a registered patient, you can never get an appointment, you are told to call at 8am but can’t get though. The surgery, Broad Street Health Centre (formally known as Reading Walk-in Health Centre), for registered patients, and the Reading Urgent Care Centre, are located in the same place. I attempted to access the Urgent Care Centre as a walk-in due to an urgent medical need in pain. I was dismissed, they said as it was a bank holiday, and because I am a registered patient, they wouldn’t see me. The Urgent Care Centre is only for unregistered patients. They turned me away without even asking what was wrong. I then had no choice but to go to A&E at the hospital. How ridiculous that patients from other surgeries can access the Urgent Care Centre but patients at Broad Street Health Centre cannot. I will be looking to change surgeries.
GP surgery review: reading-walk-in-health-centre
Title: Frustrating
Rating: 2 out of 5
Visited: January 2023
I have been a registered patient for number of years but sadly the service has been getting worse over time. It’s impossible to get an urgent appointment, despite of calling during appropriate times and spending almost an hour waiting to get through.
The nursing staff is very friendly and helpful but the GP’s are apathetic and never running on time.
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: A big challenge to be able to get in touch with the GP
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: November 2023
The biggest challenge with this practice is to be able to book an appointment with the GP and that is purely because of the receptionist . Even for a cancer patient they do not allow you an appointment with the GP and you are referred to the paramedic consultant repeatedly . While this can be understandable for an appointment which you are looking to get on the day , it seems they have stopped giving generic appointments as well . Even if I say that I am happy to wait for the next available appointment , they will ask you to give me a call at 8 am the following day and then eventually direct you to the paramedic consultant . While I must say the paramedic consultant here is a great person , but then for serious conditions you ought to be seen by a GP. More than anything else , it’s the first layer of contact who are the receptionists who makes your life miserable.
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: A Kind and Compassionate GP Service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
I've been going to this GP practice for about 8 years now, and I honestly can't say enough for them. I've been to previous GP practices where the service has been borderline unsafe and outright unkind, and I feel like they should all take pointers from this one. From relatively minor afflictions such as ear infections to providing me support when I had a mini-stroke they've been with me every step of the way. 

The treatment is quick and thorough, and standards of professionalism are held at every single level. And most of all: they're just really kind to you when you're having a hard time. Every single doctor has listened to me. The HCAs and nurses are always kind and considerate, and take the time to reassure you as they do the tests. Even the receptionists are kind and helpful under great pressure, one of them even took the time to talk me down when I called them sobbing one time!

I'm truly grateful to them and would not go to another GP surgery. willingly. Truly the best of the NHS!
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Great Practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: January 2023
I had to call the practice on a Friday at 5pm for a UTI . I got through easily and the receptionist kindly put me on the Duty Dr list . The Dr called me an hour later and sorted out a prescription for me , which I am extremely grateful for . This GP surgery helped me out even though it was late on a Friday so five stars to them
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Contacting surgery
Rating: 3 out of 5
Visited: December 2022
I tried many times to speak to a receptionist. There is so much spiel to get through that eventually I was told I was 16 in the queue. This happened several times over 2 days. In the end I suffered damaged ribs after a heavy fall on my own
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Excellent Service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
I received a first class service from the surgery in Headley Road from my initial visit to the reception, to my appointment with the Doctor  and onward referral to hospital within 10 days.
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Great care
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: September 2022
I've had excellent physio and medical care over the last few months, and easy access to both after calling in.  The physio and the doctor listened to me and gave advice, exercises and medication which reduced my symptoms and which are enabling me to lead a far more productive life.
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Kind and compassionate care
Rating: 4 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
I wanted to say thank you to the kind and compassionate nurse who I’ve just seen for a blood test at Green Road Surgery. I was so nervous but she was calm and caring and made me smile. Best blood test I’ve ever had! Thank you
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Fantastic paramedic
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
Phoned for an appointment today and was given a face to face ( which is now a rarity) with a paramedic he was brilliant!! thorough nothing was too much effort and explained everything extremely well!!! Will definitely be asking for him in the future!!!
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Issues highlighted in the reports/ feedback online
Rating: 4 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
There are a number of issues highlighted in the reports/ feedback online that resonate with me as a very long-term patient /customer of the practice.
My constructive observations and comments are detailed below.
The Customer Service delivered by some
receptionists / operators is poor. 
It is clear from the feedback that this has been a cause for concern for quite some time.
Customers continue to experience very long delays getting through on the single telephone number for the practice: many working people simply do not have the time to wait/ hold on for very long periods.
This has been a cause for concern for a long time.

There is no‘call back’ facility on the system to facilitate patients who are continually trying to get through. 
Request for appointments, in person or on the telephone, do not appear to be prioritised.
Telephone calls by GPs not sufficiently spaced in time to facilitate patients needs.
The availability of face-to-face consultations are very limited, with long waits.  
Many conditions simply cannot be diagnosed over the Phone.  Continuity of care can suffer.

The customer service experienced is entirely dependent who picks up the phone/ you finally get through to.
You can hang on all morning, starting at  0800Hrs as advised, and when you finally get through, having spent a significant amount of time holding on, you are informed that all  the appointments for that day, face to face and telephone appointments are ‘gone’?
There is an insufficient number of Full-time GPs. This can also impact on the continuity of care.
Appointments are made with Physician Associates when and an appointment with a GP is requested and required.
This results in patients having to rebook apointments and introduces further delays.
The information on the web site is not always up to date. 
Parkside used to be an exceptional practice: the Google rating is now 2 Stars only !
GP surgery review: parkside-practice
Title: Made my day
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: March 2022
I owe the nurse who saw me ‘out of turn’ and patiently removed a ‘lost’ piece of a hearing aid, after I expected an assessment and a referral to far away ENT or Audiology at some future date.

This is what Parkside Family Practice does. 😊
GP surgery review: wargrave-practice
Title: Efficient and friendly practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: June 2023
I was given a phone call appointment, and following that had a face to face appointment the same afternoon.  I received a prescription, X-ray forms and a blood test request immediately and was phoned with the results.  How much better can it get!
GP surgery review: wargrave-practice
Title: Sadly healthcare is not available at this practice
Rating: 2 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
Having moved to the area four years ago, i tried today to get an appointment to see a GP without success. They directed me to call again at 9am tomorrow but said it would probably be days before i got an appointment. I have visited the practice once before; it was very small and the equipment visible in the consulting room looked old and squeaked. At the time the doctor commented about the lack of staff available.
I'm sure they do their best with the resources available, but I've put in a transfer request to a larger practice which hopefully will be more modern with more available healthcare professionals.
GP surgery review: wargrave-practice
Title: excellent practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
They are a fantastic practice and always have been. I have been with them decades.
I am very thankful to them all for keeping me going all these years to enable me to write this. I have been through some very concerning health issues, and they brought me though them smiling.
GP surgery review: wargrave-practice
Title: responsive
Rating: 4 out of 5
Visited: October 2022
I had a concern and called the surgery and they were able to give me an appointment with a doctor that same day.
GP surgery review: wargrave-practice
Title: Fantastic Practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: February 2022
I recently moved back in the area and re-registered with Wargrave GP. There is no other doctor's surgery I trust most. The staff are all impecible and make such a great team. They are kind, understanding, extremely patient, knowledgeable and easy to talk to and comforting.
I've met most of the staff now and they look after a few members of my family, in particular, my very elderly grandmother who I am the main carer for. The reception, nurses, doctors all handle her with such kindness and understanding, (she can be grumpy sometimes!) and they are always happy for me to attend her appointments so I can support her and take in the information needed, the staff talk directly to my grandmother to keep her included even though she struggles to hear.
The main reason I wanted to give feedback was because of the level of service I received for my own experience with a particularly low mood I was struggling with. I was able to speak to reception to book an appointment and spoke to the most wonderful doctor the same day. The aftercare I received was second to none. I had regular review calls with this same doctor (I wish I remembered her name!) and, even though we hadn't met face to face, I was still able to receive the best care possible. I have health anxiety too and she was encouraging, positive, informative which helped with my confidence. She was also so welcoming and left the "door open" for me to reach out whenever I felt like I needed it. Since I first phoned, I have improved immensely. It's a great feeling to know this surgery is here for me and genuinely want me to feel better. Thank you!
GP surgery review: woodley-practice
Title: Excellent service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: May 2023
-Didn't wait long to get through to reception
- helpful to have queue countdown
- receptionist efficient, empathic, kind
- prompt GP phone consultation
- face to face appointment within a few hours
- seen before my appointment time
- GP was excellent - her interpersonal skills, knowledge, understanding, reassurance, examination
- told to call again if still worried/not getting better.
At a time of great pressure and stress on NHS, this is exceptional service.
GP surgery review: woodley-practice
Title: No confidence
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: March 2023
My mother recently had a stroke had to call to request doc follow up appointment as not booked from hospital notes. Doc then said would make another appointment for 2 weeks later none made and now cant get one for another 2 weeks! Only seem to do calls on a wed pills missed off prescription and urgent request for missing pills took 4 days. Doc says all the right things but no action taken no confidence or trust that things will happen sadly.
GP surgery review: woodley-practice
Title: Rude Unhelpful Receptionists
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: February 2023
I waited over 10 minutes this morning for the receptionist to deal with the person in front of me so I politely said “excuse me please, is there anyone else who can help me “ she scowled at me and said No. when it was my turn I requested a home visit for my husband, she kept asking me what’s happened? My husband is lying in a hospital bed at home with a life limiting illness and I told her that he looks very poorly. Once again she said “what’s happened “ I tried to explain to her that nothing has happened, he just looks very unwell. She then turned to another member of staff and told her that I’ve been really rude. If you’re looking for a practice that has receptionists who have a little compassion steer well clear of this place. I left there feeling very upset as my poor husband looks so ill and all I wanted was to request a home visit but it was more like the Spanish Inquisition, I hope that the receptionist who dealt with me this morning finds another job that she’s more suited to.
GP surgery review: woodley-practice
Title: A very uncaring surgery
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
My husband was let down badly by this surgery yesterday which resulted in him suffering a nasty fall on to concrete. I was promised a call back 3 times but nobody bothered. I then called in at the surgery to find out why no one would help or call me and was assured that the practice manager would look into this and call me the next day. Needless to say, nobody bothered to call me again. I wouldn’t recommend this surgery to my worst enemy. They couldn’t care less about their vulnerable patients.
GP surgery review: woodley-practice
Title: Uncaring and unhalpful
Rating: 1 out of 5
Visited: November 2022
After trying to contact for 2hours and over 2 hundred calls the desk clark was unhelpful and un able to make appointment i would recamendthis practice to anyone.
GP surgery review: woodley-practice
Title: The receptionists here are excellent
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: July 2022
I went to the doctors to pick up my prescription. An error meant it wasn't where it was supposed to be so I had to wait. The receptionist was very helpful and went out of her way to make sure I got my scrip.
Especially when it turned out my medication wasn't available and I had to come back an ask for an alternative. She made sure I got a phone consult and I was able to collect my alternative meds that afternoon!
GP surgery review: finchampstead-practice
Title: Exemplary practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: October 2023
This month has presented us with complex health issues; at every stage - from receptionist to appointments with the doctors and nurses at Finchampstead Surgery, we have been helped promptly, efficiently and compassionately. Many thanks.
GP surgery review: finchampstead-practice
Title: Helpful and Caring Practice
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: December 2022
I have always found the people at this practice extremely professional and helpful.  The Reception staff though busy try to work out what is the best way for you to get the treatment required, whether it is a phone call or an appointment in person.  The doctors, nurses and paramedics are both knowledgeable and caring, up to date and proactive in their treatment.  My parents were with the practice from when it opened and received great care through out their time here.  I have been with the practice for nearly two years and cannot speak highly enough of it.
GP surgery review: finchampstead-practice
Title: Simple blood test
Rating: 3 out of 5
Visited: December 2022
I attended for a what I thought was a doctors appointment which turned out I was there for a blood test wasn’t disappointed just got it a bit wrong the tex message I received just said appointment 
So any how I go in mention oh I thought I was here for a blood test …. Well the nurse lost the plot saying I was aggressive my wife and I couldn’t believe what was happening 
I then when out to make a complaint with reception we’re another lady came out all guns blasting saying she had a very upset nurse totally crazy I did nothing to deserve the total unprovoked unprofessional attitude I received from both members of staff I am very respectful polite at all times and still can’t believe this happened would love to no if anyone else has had a similar experience with one of the nurses that takes your blood thank you
GP surgery review: finchampstead-practice
Title: Simply the Best
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: April 2022
I cannot praise this surgery enough, due to my own incompetence I had left little time to complete some important administration and they could not have been more helpful and understanding. I / We have been with this practice for many years and are always treated with respect and kindness and extremely professionally. 
Our telephone queries are always answered quickly and have always been able to speak to our Dr on the day of call or receive . All the staff are friendly and wonderfully helpful and understanding. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be part of this practice. Thank you.
GP surgery review: swallowfield-medical-practice
Title: Above and beyond Service
Rating: 5 out of 5
Visited: November 2023
My child has recurrent tonsillitis and has been waiting for an appointment to have them removed. We have been waiting 12 months, through which time the Surgery have seen us every time needed for medicine. This last time we went on a Monday and the Dr said she was going to write to the hospital to see if they could find us a date. By Wednesday afternoon we had a phone call with dates. They are just so helpful and supportive. We are so grateful for them.