Constable Country Medical Practice - East Bergholt Surgery

This surgery has improved, getting through over the phone is much better and more appointments face to face with a medical member of staff are available. I have noticed more doctors, the referals to the hospital are good when needed, this is reassuring. Reception staff are very good too.

100 percent good service. Initially I went for my MOT and they checked my blood pressure, I had a noticable black eye which was some sort of internal bleed, they identified it by just seeing me and they sent me to Ipswich hospital and it was identified as me having had a TIA mini stroke, good job they saw me. I ring East Bergholt and they are on the ball straight away, I can get a face to face appointment nearly always straight away with the GP sometimes with the nurse practitioner. I do think this surgery has improved you can ring up anytime now not just at 8am and its much better, not the mad rush like it used to be.

In 2023 - 2 years ago my husband eventually went to his GP after I had been asking him to go and get checked, to ask for a PA test, the GP said that they wouldnt give him one because he didnt have any symptoms. I saw where CHAPS (a mens health charity) who were holding one of their events where men can go along for a £25 fee to get a PSA test, I sent my husband along and two weeks later it came back showing a medium result, he went back to his own GP and this time the GP did a PSA test for him and then he was referred to Ipswich hospital who then referred him to Addenbrokes hospital where he was given options and he went for having his prostate removed. If that had been left it would have been a very different story for him. He continues to have follow up appointments with Addenbrokes to keep a check on him including a regular PSA test too.

Over the past month l have had a recurrent infection requiring 3 lots of antibiotics ,the reception staff,the phlebotomist the nurse and paramedic were very kind but the doctor who rang me because of abnormal results seemed very uninterested and uncaring and told me to book more blood test.

The problems escalated and necessitated a visit to Riverside,who were brilliant, the doctor l spoke to were very surprised and concerned that l hadn’t had a face to face appointment at CCMP!

Get seen when needed but the busy phones mean you have to wait to get through, however, once through I've been happy with the care provided.

I visited the surgery to enquire about registering but I was told by a member of staff that I would need to do it online but I'm not online. It was just the way it was said that wasn't overly welcoming.

I have a fair few medical issues and this surgery. The most annoying is the repeat prescription service it’s hardly correct with meds missing or they say the have not received the email I sent even though I have proof that I sent it . Doctors come across as though they could not give a monkeys. One or two of the rest of the staff are helpful.

I was a bit frustrated with e-consult as it wouldn't let me go beyond a page (it assumed I had a rash....which I didn't....then proceeded to ask me several questions about my rash, and then said I needed urgent medical help so wouldn't let me go any further). So instead I rang the surgery and spoke to a lovely lady (we had a laugh about the 'rash') who said a paramedic would call me very soon. Within 15 minutes a wonderful paramedic called back, listened, was very sympathetic (as I was in terrible pain) and diagnosed what was wrong. he got me to do some breathing exercises whilst on the phone, told me what he was going to prescribe (and why these particular drugs and not others), how and when to take them (and ran through it twice as there were a few), and ensured I was happy with what he'd said. I couldn't have had better service anywhere.

The reception staff are good but getting appointments isn't easy and for older people having call backs is not always suitable. I book and arrange mum's appointments but then when they give her a call back she struggles to hear or understand what is being said. It does seem to be more efficient here compared to Capel for some reason but I am concerned about all the new housing going up.

It has been difficult to get appointments around work. There is the assumption that everyone can take a call back at any time but some jobs just don't allow it. I tried using econsult but that wouldn't work and crashed. There just needs to be easier access to appointments for people who are already working at 8am or can't receive a call back. Staff when I have had contact with them have been good.