"Medically Great - Administratively variable"

For many years I had little or no contact with this practice, where I have been registered since 1982.

In recent years I have had a nasty fall, requiring hospitalisation, suffer from COPD and have had an aortic valve replacement.

Medically I feel that I have received an outstanding service from Doctors, specialist nurses and for general items.

Administratively, it would appear to depend on personality and ability of staff (who, in fairness are sometimes very stretched) . I will not deal with the in-house pharmacy as I perceive the staff to be mainly unhelpful and frequently rude.

Availability of items is also greater and faster elsewhere.

There have been two issues, administratively, recently.

The first involved my repeat prescription being supplied to the in house pharmacy, despite a note on the repeat form that I should collect a paper script and latterly that I was supplied with unsigned prescriptions requiring a return visit to the surgery.

Additionally,mail from the surgery can arrive two weeks or more after the date on the letter!

I also have agreed a certain action on occasions, directly with reception, only to be chased by letter as, obviously, the agreement was not passed on to other staff.

I do not want to dwell on the administrative failings, whilst annoying they are not life threatening.

I do, however, firmly believe that the medical care that I have received has always been first class - with medical staff going out of their way to empathise and assist.