No appointments No Follow ups. No Doctors not enough staff. Terrible service that's hit rock bottom.
1
Submitted by Anonymous18th April 2024
Blood pressure high 2 years later and no better. Struggle to get appointment and they don't follow anything up have to keep chasing to get things done and still takes forever.
Submitted by Collected by a Healthwatch Norfolk member of staff18th April 2024
I booked an appointment with a specific doctor 8 weeks in advance only to have it cancelled 2 days before as he had to catch up on paperwork. I am a carer for my husband who has lots on ongoing health problems and is disabled. I had booked to see this doctor as he knows him and I don't have to start at the beginning, was offered to see a locum but that really would not work for him so my only option was to go on a waiting list of over 200 people. I now have an appointment for him on Friday (fingers crossed) 10 weeks from the first attempted of booking an appointment.
There just seems to be so many rules now, everyone has to phone at 8.30 there is no sit and wait. It used to be so much better.
The doctors are just not here, we have been told one of the partners is working in Wymondham and for 111, how is this right when he is needed here.
There is an overall lack of staff, and they just don't seem to stay. The diabetic nurse has left.
I will say the front of house staff are nice and helpful, both the pharmacy and reception team are friendly but they are restricted in what they can do.
There is no support for me as a carer.
Submitted by Collected by a Healthwatch Norfolk member of staff18th April 2024
Chance of getting an appointment is nil, phoned yesterday and they said it would be months! Was just referred to the walk in centre.
Asked if there was anyone at all I could see and was told I could see a physio as it was the only person I can see, I don't think it is the right person but it gets me through the door.
It is very hard to get through on the phone.
I was on the PPG but none of the medical staff ever attended meetings and I wasn't even told about the last meeting, think that it has now collapsed.
The partners are never anywhere to be seen and they keep recruiting people but they just don't stay.
Over the last 4 years it has got worse and we are worried about our health as what are minor things which could be symptoms of bigger things are just not being looked at, there is not chance of catching something early. It's scary.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff18th April 2024
I don't feel like we have any primary healthcare here. A few weeks ago I tried to tell my GP the steroids weren't working but I couldn't get a call back as there were no doctors on site. I was directed to the walk-in. I've only seen a GP once in two years and I've got long-term, complex health conditions. You get calls. I'm worried the lack of face-to-face contact is meaning illnesses and abuse is missed. Sometimes people need to talk things through with their doctor which isn't just about the issue they booked in with, it's everything all together. A doctor or nurse could pick up on other illnesses or problems by seeing somebody in-person. It's not holistic and it's quite dangerous, calls don't give that care.
Some of the staff - reception and haematology - try very hard.
Need regular blood tests and injections and struggle to get them booked
1
Submitted by Collected by a Healthwatch Norfolk member of staff18th April 2024
I need to have a blood test every 28 days and an injection every 3 months, this is due to treatment I am having at the hospital. I rang to make the appointment only to be told I couldn't but could be put on a waiting list, after a week on the list and still no contact I have to go in and sort it out as I need them done for my hospital appointments.
You are lucky to see a doctor as one of the partners only does a day in each surgery and my named doctor doesn't see patients and hasn't since Covid! They are taking public money for us being on their books but not seeing us, how is that right.
One my first appointment to have the injections last year there was a nurse but they did not have the injection.
They had a phlebotomist who was very good, she did leave but came back to help out.
One of the receptionist is very good.
I have been first in the phone queue before but it has still taken 25 minutes to get through.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff18th April 2024
Waiting times for prescriptions are not good, the girls work hard but the system doesn't work. The previous practice manager changed it from doing the prescriptions every two days to five. I'm fed up with it so I'm going to use an online pharmacy.
I've had two ECGs at the surgery which indicated a heart condition but when the hospital checked they said there's no problem, the surgery's equipment is rubbish and inaccurate.
My monthly blood tests have been moved to three-monthly but you can't book that in ahead. I have to wait until three weeks before.
The place isn't cared for. There's paint peeling, potholes, out of date notices.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff18th April 2024
I've been waiting three months for an appointment to discuss HRT. I paid privately to see a specialist who recommended the treatment but can't prescribe it. I had to go on a waiting list and meanwhile I'm living a half-life as I don't sleep and I've got other symptoms. It's so frustrating as it only needs two minutes for somebody to agree to it yet I've got to wait all this time. They told me there's only one person who deals with HRT. Well maybe they should train more of them!
The surgery runs on temporary staff, nobody lasts. It's impossible to get an 'on the day' appointment for urgent things as I'm already travelling for work before the phoneline even opens.
Submitted by Collected by a Healthwatch Norfolk member of staff18th April 2024
The practice has problems with people not turning up for their appointments but they say that you can't get through on the phones to cancel them. I have have seen that they can sign up to have a messaging system that lets people message in to cancel appointments which I am sure would make it easier for people and result in less missed appointments. You can message dispensary but not appointments, it just be faster and benefit everyone, it would also mean there was a written record.
There is an endless queue on the phone and the hold music is grim.
I could complain about the surgery but I would rather give solutions.
Submitted by Collected by a Healthwatch Norfolk member of staff18th April 2024
Since Covid all the doctors seemed to have disappeared, one of the partners only does one day a week here.
I actually went private for an operation but it was delayed as there was a long wait for the paperwork to be sent by the doctor. My consultant changed my medication but the Dr gave me the wrong one.
I was in the waiting room the other day and someone came in looking very distressed and unwell and he was just sent away as there were no medical staff on site, how is that right?
I was told to do a sample and take it in, did so only to be told it's the wrong one and needed to be down along side a blood test.
I picked up my prescription, checked it in my car before I left and it was wrong, took it back checked it again and it was still wrong. The dispensary is in chaos, there are bags all over the floor, no order and is a complete mess.
They are hiding behind this waiting list system, over a month for a blood test.
The car park is also dangerous, there is so many deep potholes, I have nearly fallen walking from my car to the surgery.
It's impossible to get through on the phone so I have given up trying and just walk down there.
The reception team go over and above to try and help, but they are at their wits end and it is not their fault.
It feels like the practice is missing someone with their finger on the pulse in on a daily basis who can make changes and see what is going on.
Can not get through on phone.
Never get to see a doctor always palmed off with a non GP.
No continuity of care
It seems like one partner is always away earning Meg a pounds doing private work. The other seen driving around in his Porsche.
Pharmacy absolutely fantastic, do not know how they cope.
Being interrogated by a receptionist in a corridor in full hearing of other patients, totally totally unacceptable!!