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"Worst experience in terms of getting appointment"

About: The Nightingale Practice

I have never experienced an appointment as hard to get as the one I have been experiencing at this practice since signing up to it nearly two years ago when we moved into its vicinity. Despite claims by the practice manager in response to a number of comments here that patients can get advance appointments, my experience is the complete opposite of what is being claimed. For instance, for the last one week I have been trying to talk to a doctor after being texted by the surgery to get in touch to discuss my blood test results, however my attempts so far to do so have been in vain. I have been calling every day, and each time I have had to wait on the telephone for more than 10 minutes to get through to the reception only to be told that no booking is available. If i ask to book an appointment in advance for the next available day, I would be told to call again the next day. Once, I managed to get telephone appointment with a doctor in the afternoon but when they called I was driving my children back home from their school and therefore could not attend. The doctor made two calls in quick succession and when I called back after pulling over to a safe place, I was told by the reception that I had missed my appointment. I was literally about to cry. I am seriously thinking of switching to some new GP surgery.

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Responses

Response from Jill White, Practice Manager, The Nightingale Practice 4 years ago
We have made a change
Jill White
Practice Manager,
The Nightingale Practice
Submitted on 21/05/2019 at 13:11
Published on Care Opinion on 22/05/2019 at 09:34


picture of Jill White


Thank you for taking the time to give us feedback on your experience of trying to arrange a call back and doctors appointment.

A recent MORI survey showed that 78% of patient surveyed described their experience of making an appointment at this practice as good. We understand that no appointment system is perfect and won't suit everyone which is why we allow patients to specify times when they won't be available to take a call back.

So for instance if you know that between 3:30 and 4:00 you will be doing the school run you can tell the receptionist and the message will be added into your call back slot alerting the dr not to call you between the specified times

We also have new on-line service available which will allow you to arrange a call back without having to telephone the practice. Visit our website www.thenightingalepractice.co.uk simply click on the link to let us know about your health query on-line and follow the instructions.

I hope you are happy with my response I would be more than happy to discuss this further in person should you want to.

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