Attleborough Surgeries

I had a pain and I wasn't sure about it. The nurse referred me straight to NNUH. I was very happy with the nurse and how quickly it was dealt with.

We registered during lockdown, but it turned out only my husband was registered at the time. They admitted that they had made the mistake. The next thing is about my arthritis in my knees. My previous practice had told me I could have injections but to wait until the pain was bad. I booked an appointment for my initial "MOT" but they didn't book the right length appointment! Then when it was rebooked, the nurse was at the other surgery so I was very late. I was seen eventually but there was so m ... uch confusion surrounding it. Then I was told that I would be referred to NNUH for x-rays for my knees. I waited six weeks like the surgery said. I waited two months and phoned x-ray and they said it would be much longer! Eventually it turned out the surgery hadn't made the referral anyway.

You can't get an appointment. If you can get past reception then you can get in. Janet on reception is good and will try to help but she's not always there. I've been told I need to do my blood pressure and that I've got to go down to do it myself but I'm 81, I don't have a clue where to start! When you ring you can be 20th in the queue. You can press to ring back which mostly works but it can be at the end of the day so you have to wait until the next day when it could be urgent. I only go in w ... hen I really have to. When you don't rely on them or use them a lot they should understand that you really do need them when you call. Especially when they know my history with my heart and not being able to breathe.

I'm a new patient and I would have expected more courtesy and consideration in face-to-face interactions with the receptionists. I've also not had a new patient check.

The annual wellman checks don't happen every year, sometimes you get an invitation, sometimes you don't. I went this year and the clinician asked about my weight increase. I told her I'm struggling with mobility because of my hip as I've been a similar weight previously but always fit, active and healthy. I was referred to physio who confirmed significant damage to my hip from an x-ray. At the follow-up consultation with the GP she said she wouldn't refer me for a replacement because of my weigh ... t. I asked about the weight loss injection and she said no as the team are inundated with requests. She has prescribed tablets to prevent fat absorption and I have to phone in ahead of each prescription to tell them how much I weigh. She's told me she'll stop the prescription if I'm not losing weight. I have lost 20% of my body weight now but she won't tell me what the target is to be referred for my hip. I have no confidence in this surgery at all. You get asked to do a survey about your experiences but if you're negative about them you don't get asked again.

It has to be one of the worst surgeries I've ever experienced. It's so, so difficult to get interaction with the GPs. You have to wait weeks so people go to A&E and the Walk-In Centre. There's a lack of commitment from this surgery. I had a sore spot on my back and was given a phone consultation. I sent a photo, they said it was infected and prescribed cream. I called back after two weeks to say it wasn't working and had to wait a further three weeks for an appointment as they insisted I saw the ... same doctor. She looked at it and said "you've got cancer" in a shocked voice and told me I had to go to hospital. So by the time I got through to the hospital there'd been a five week delay and it was a very aggressive type of cancer. I completed treatment but I have another spot although I don't have confidence they will deal with it properly. I'm obviously very worried as the hospital told me I have to act quickly. I've contacted them and they didn't want to see me. I insisted that it needed to be looked at and I've been given a phone appointment.

I have Diabetes and I mainly see the nurses for that, at Queen's Square. It's difficult to get appointments.

From the Diabetes side, I have a regular three monthly appointment so that's better, but it's quite difficult to see a GP. The care is pretty reasonable.

It's efficient. I think they're just very short staffed.

Was ignored with a symptom & ended up in A&e, being palmed off again today

I had symptoms of cervical cancer for months and was only put in for an ultrasound to find it after going back repeatedly. Also been at surgery for 6 years and never met my Dr.

Or can get an appointment with a Dr. Get pushed from one surgery to another and never updated as to why or where you will be.

I find the receptionists might need a bit more training. It's easier to go down in person. It's difficult to get an appointment; you sometimes have to wait four or five weeks. The pharmacies are excellent though. My regular doctor is very caring, it's just getting in to them that is the problem.