"Only a good surgery dependant on who you see."

When I originally registered at Victoria Park, I came to see a GP about my mental health conditions and accessing treatment. Despite being diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety at my previous practice and seeing professionals within the team there, I felt that the GP completely ignored what I was feeling and instead palmed me off to the mental health facilitator within the practice, despite me saying that I did not want this treatment, and that I have found their input at my old surgery not helpful. Upon my appointment with the Mental Health Facilitator, I felt that they did not listen or give me any opportunity to express my feelings, and they rather focused on how I was functioning in my day to day life. They were incredibly rude throughout the entire meeting, continuously commenting on my body language and interupting me when I was trying to explain things which made me feel belittled, and my feelings invalid. They assumed things and did not give me the opportunity to have any say in how I was treated in the future, booking a future appt for me and concluding with that I was fine because I'm able to go to work, and telling me that if I was feeling down to have some warm milk and go to bed - which if they had listened, they would have known that I cannot do that. I cancelled my appointment with them, and recomend that anyone who is referred to the mental health facilitator within the practice should be wary that this person does not seem to care about how their patients are feeling psychologially/emotionally, but more how they are physically functioning.

I am pleased that after trying two GPs in the surgery, I am now seeing a GP who is very empathetic and has tried to understand my thought processes and anxieties, and has helped me greatly in listening to what I have been feeling, and how things effect my day to day life. The nurses, phlembologist and receptionists are very lovely and great at their jobs, I have never had a bad experience with them to date. I am just overall very appauled at my treatment from this surgery as it has now been 7months since being diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety and being assessed as high risk by the local open minds group, that only recently has any referral been sought, and that is only thanks to my own persistence which other people suffering with mental health may not be able to maintain.