"Excellent Staff... When you get to see / speak..."

I think many people forget just how tight resources are within the NHS not just here in Tiptree but nationally and I truly believe the surgery are doing their best and care for their patients. There are 11,500 patients and just 3 permanent GPs (two partners and one staff GP) despite the surgery advertising for further GPs. In the current climate it is a challenging time for General Practice with reduced numbers of GPs training and those experienced GPs often preferring to locum due to the pressures of partnership / substantive posts.

Having said this my family and I have found the 3 permanent GPs and their locum colleagues to be extremely professional, empathetic and knowledgeable and I have to commend them for the care and treatment I have experienced since moving to Tiptree almost 5 years ago.

I thought my previous GP was amazing as I would phone for an appointment any time in the day and get one that day... after work or I could book in advance at my convenience which I miss. However this GP advised me that I was too young to have arthritis, despite having strong family history, swollen and crunching joints and he also missed that I had a connective tissue disorder; despite having arthritic symptoms, raynaulds phenomenon, severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms for which he just prescribed medication for forever increasing the dose or changing the medication and not referring me for an endoscopy.

Since attending TMC I was immediately referred to a top knee surgeon, had surgery and was diagnosed with oesteoarthritis - I was not made to feel like a hyperchondriac!

One excellent regular locum GP spotted my raynaulds without me even mentioning it and looked through my records at my other symptoms and immediately advised rheumatic blood tests which returned positive therefore he referred me to my choice of rheumatologist and I am now being treated appropriately, managing my reflux which over the years has caused significant damage to my oesophagus. I am very thankful to the surgery for these interventions.

I have to admit that my husband hasn't been so pleased with the surgery - not so much the professionals but the system and I do think this is what lets the surgery down but I believe they are doing their best with their limited resources and the system should improve with more staff employed and better telephone systems.

I know what I prefer - first class GPs and nurses but difficulties with the booking service rather then an efficient booking system but poor standards of care which I have previously had. Having said this, both staff and system efficiency would give the surgery 5 stars from me but I do not believe there are many surgeries in the country with the best of both worlds.

Also just a mention to the reception and administrative staff who are working very hard doing their best and facing the frustrations of patients - I have had a very positive experience with the reception manager when I have required her assistance.