Constable Country Medical Practice - East Bergholt Surgery

One of my clients had a fall and a and e had bandaged and steri stripped it up, it was still bleeding and leaking on day one we could not get an appointment so my client had to call 111 in the end who had to send an ambulance... I ask reception if we could book a nurse visit for next they said Dr will call you first still awaiting Dr call day two the receptionist sent us to East bergholt and insisted there was no home visits available and this client is extremely vulnerable to covid -19 , I made reception aware of this.when getting to East bergholt nurse was extremely degrading told her she is not allowed to be there because she's vulnerable because she had seen her notes and because she had a cough ( which is on system that she has had for over 6months!!!) And was snappy throughout appointments to the point that when my client left she cried and said even NHS don't want me alive!!!! My next message is to cqc, CCG and Suffolk county council. I'm so upset that she hasn't received necessary care when needed and if she did not have our help to make appointment then I feel she would have gave up at first hurdle they made.

Was very helpful- I had been suffer 3 weeks of bronchitis (I did call in to tell the staff what was going on & they said to come in). They recommended I increase my Easyhaler for a short time so not so heavy on Ventolin and bring breathing under control. This worked. BUT in hindsight, because I've had bronchitis before and this last episode was nothing like it, and because of the severity of the dry cough (every 5 seconds for days- all dry coughing and wheezing) I believe I might have had coronavirus. I came down with bronchitis just 3 days after returning from a trip up north with a stop for a sandwich at Peterborough rest stop- the place was packed I did call and speak to one of the practice doctors who thought I might have had it as well, but I can't get an antibody test at this time. Fortunately I isolated with the bronchitis and have ever since.

I telephoned at 9.30am and was told the doctor would call would I like am or pm I said am which should be before 1pm I got the call at 4.45pm this is not the first time as I called another day for appointment all for the same ongoing problem and was ask am or pm I chose am and I got a call at nearly 3pm. they think you have nothing better to do with your day than sit by the phone all day waiting for them to call whats the point in asking if you want am or pm if the dr does not follow this you cant even go out because you can guarantee as you are driving that's when they will call

They do not have the number of doctors to deal with patients, the telephone appointment service is not suitable for those who work, you do not always have to be bedridden to the ill enough to see a doctor!

Telephoned yesterday 815 am for for my granddaughter to speak to doctor,the dr rang her before 9am and she was given an appointment for 10am .l think the new system works well.( this the 3rd positive experience of this service)

Call back system is a ridiculous time waster for patients and no doubt GP’s - don’t bother with the EConsult took two days over the time “limit” to receive a missed call...
Looks like I’ve lost the postcode health lottery - considering relocating to have a competent doctors surgery....

I have always managed to get an appointment to see the GP or nurse for myself and children. The receptionists are very helpful. I have had to travel to capel for some appointments rather than East Bergholt. Good quality care and treatment have consistently been given.

I feel the administration is more for the patients, the making of appointments can be difficult and they have a script to follow. I would like to see more special approach for certain medical conditions.

This new system for appointments is ridiculous most people have to work and are not allowed phones to be used. However,I requested a phone call from doctor which I finally received after phoning at 8.45 ,at 1.05! This meant having to carry my phone everywhere with me even to the loo. Because it’s a total nightmare if you should miss that doctors call, as you have to start over again with the “sometime in the next 4 hour” phone call. However, finally spoke to doctor who booked me in for appointment later that day. Fine. When I arrived at the surgery to book myself in on the touchpad my appointment was with a nurse! Not the doctor who had arranged the appointment?? Receptionists where nowhere to be seen, as condition is ongoing with no sign of it getting better, I phoned doctor again who just said I’ll send a prescription to the chemist. Had to google it to see what it was for. This whole new system has transformed the Doctors into faceless telephonists. My thoughts were that seeing a caring doctor face to face is the right way as they are trained to spot various signs of illness. This cannot be done through a plastic handset.

I do have to wait for a while before being called in, I have had to wait up to 45 mins and with a small child can be frustrating in the waiting area. But otherwise no concerns about this surgery.