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"New patient unable to get appointment to get GP..."

About: New Pond Row Surgery

I contacted New Pond Surgery yesterday and was requested to contact the surgery on Wednesday as I am off work all day and need an appointment with a GP to review my medications as per the surgery directives before they will then allow me medications, This morning it took over 20 minutes to get to the doctors recording requesting who to contact, I was put through to reception who took over a minute to answer and after explaining why I had called as a new patient and requested to see a GP who could review my medication I was told no appointments as only 2 GP's on duty out of 7 that relisted on their web site, I was told that my old surgery had duty of care for 28 days to prescribe repeat prescriptions, I've never heard of this before. I also asked over getting an appointment for Flu jab as I got a message from that surgery, the receptionist was willing to book me in, however on second thoughts I said I'd go else where after been treated like I was on a different planet.I spoke to my wife who at the same time as I went to a different surgery, had her blood pressure taken and was immediately booked to see a GP, all this with obtaining her records from our previous surgery. No I would not recommend Pond Surgery and am now thinking of going to my wife's surgery instead. Please do not register at this surgery, Oh by the way you need photo ID t register at Pond surgery, this was not mentioned on their web site so those without any ID tough you won't be able to.

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Responses

Response from New Pond Row Surgery 5 years ago
New Pond Row Surgery
Submitted on 21/09/2018 at 11:47
Published on nhs.uk at 13:06


Dear Patient

I am sorry you have had a problem getting through on the phone and getting an appointment for Wednesday. We have had an extraordinary demand on our services recently which has caused a knock on effect. The GMS contract that most surgeries work too states we are responsible for 28 days post new registration fora ll medication so the information supplied by the member of staff was correct. This means we have 28 days to book the appointment to review your medication reducing the need for a swift appointment.

Our website does state we need to do identity checks when registering and whilst i cannot comment on your wife's surgery I am very surprised they did not do checks as it is requirement of NHS England that checks are completed to make sure you are who you say you are as it involves movement of confidential medical records and whether you are entitled to services.

I do hope if you decide to stay with us that your experience getting through on the phone improves significantly as we have increased our staffing level recently to help.

Yours sincerely

Debbie Lawton

Practice Manager

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