Alexandra Road Surgery

I asked for an appointment in June, when suffering from stress-related issues and was told that I could not see my doctor until the beginning of August. Few questions were asked when I phoned and I was concerned about this at the time. I would politely suggest that the staff taking appointments could be trained to demonstrate a better understanding of mental health needs.

After having my appointment, which involved having a blood test (which was carried out with a great degree of care), I was unsure about how I would be informed of the results. To be fair, I was informed by the nurse to ring the surgery if I hadn't heard by the Monday of the following week. However, I didn't do this and I have had no contact from anyone regarding the results. I tried to look up 'blood test results' in your Search facility on your website but it gave no information and I could find nothing about this topic anywhere obvious on your site. I shall phone to ask for my results now but I feel the information you provide could be better.

Finally, I feel that you should put some general information about mental health issues and how to refer mental health issues on your website. There's currently an empty web page under the hyperlinked topic on the site. Mental health services are an area of the NHS that is clearly under a lot of strain but some of the issues could be helped by the provision of better information and better handling of mental health concerns.

Thank you for all your help, as always.

Trying to get an appointment is very difficult and can take up to 4 weeks. On the day (at 8am) I can be ringing for 1/2 an hour and once through there are no appointments left. However, once you do see the GP/Nurse, they are very lovely and so I cannot fault them.

Never had any problem getting an appointment.
I always have been able to get my blood test done in time.

From my annual check in April, I had a blood test and it took a month to then see the Nurse who then said I needed to see a GP and that also took a month. It is just a long wait between the starting point to the end point.
I have also noted that you do not seem to have a designated doctor any more which I would like.

With GP's leaving here recently, I have been moved about between a couple since December. With my hearing being bad I find it difficult to hear a GP that usually doesn't see that I am wearing a hearing aid. They do not always speak clearly. Takes a month to get an appointment with the GP I am with and I got told I am now not seeing them as they have also left.

Getting an appointment is a challenge on the day. When I checked in the system said the GP is running 3 minutes late, but it is now more than 10 minutes (Which turned into 20 minutes)

Booking an appointment 'on the day' - you can forget that! i get 4 to 5 weeks delay for an appointment. Surgery runs 15 - 20 mins late, which is ok, I guess.

I had to go to A&E today due to calling into surgery and being fobbed off. Receptionist was very rude. I like the online system for advanced appointments but on the day ones are very difficult to get. We are unable to get to Crestview due to transport issues.

Prescriptions - some pick up here and find have to get other prescriptions from crestview too. We pick up the medication in High Street Pharmacy. We do not use the online system as so many times, the medication can be the wrong type. With allergies to some, I need consistency in the tablets. if they change the make of the tablet, I often have a reaction. We have sorted most of it out now, but it does still happen occasionally where some of the paper prescriptions are between the two surgeries. We go through it meticulously to ensure all is correct on the prescription and at the pharmacy before leaving with it so to ensure there is no wastage.

Surgery is really good. I've experienced trouble getting an appointment on the day difficult for my child, which is frustrating.