Needham Market Country Practice

On Monday the 27th I phoned the Practice to book an appointment with my GP. To be informed that I needed to book an e consultation. I duly completed the e consultation and received a phone call 4 hours later from a Locum Doctor. I explained my position, history, condition and concerns to him at length. He refused to give me an appointment without first having blood tests conducted. He also informed me that my kidneys are defective which was the first that I knew about that condition. I said I would be contacted by a Nurse so I could book an appointment for my blood test. I phoned the surgery again today at lunchtime as I had not been contacted. The receptionist informed me that the Doctor had not processed the request, which was why I hadn’t been contacted.
I am appalled that a Practice that has exemplary full time staff with an outstanding reputation like Needham Market Country Practice should be employing someone like the individual that I spoke to?
I now have a blood test booked for the 11th of August but still no appointment with a GP. I have found this experience very negative and harmful to my health. As a Veteran I am not agitated easily but this is causing me major concern.

Went through the E-Consult for a leg issue. When I hit a 'yes' to one of the answers it told me that I needed to seek urgent medical advice by calling the surgery or 111.There is no option then to still submit the form, you have to either go back and say 'no' to the question so you can then submit it, or you have to click on the statement that says something like 'I will seek my own medical advice' (this has a statement with it that says that if you do that, your GP will not be made aware of it. How ridiculous is that?!)
The issue then was that the surgery only is allowing appointments through using E-Consult, so even if you call the surgery it will then insist you use E-consult or the receptionist will take you through E-consult! It does not make any sense!

I had a text today from the surgery stating that my Asthma review is due. The instructions were to go on to E-Consult, go to the A-Z then Asthma Assessment, then fill out a questionnaire. Well, Asthma is non existent on the A-Z. I have put a query in to their Admin as I called the surgery and they are closed for training this afternoon.
It is very frustrating that you get asked to follow a certain procedure but it does not work. These things should be tested. I cannot be the only patient experiencing this issue if this is now the way of doing things.

Back in October 2019 my GP asked us to bring a joint statement in from SENCO & ourselves. We did this and accompanied it with a letter. January 2020. I contacted the surgery to ask when referral had been done. They couldn’t tell me but said they’d ask GP. I had a telephone call from one of the office team who informed me the GP would now sort it. So I asked ‘so are you telling me that it hasn’t been done? And without my call today it still would not have been done?’ She said ‘Well your GP has been busy’. I understand that my GP is busy but 3 months! What I’d really like to know,is when did my GP actually receive my letter? Did it sit in a tray for weeks? My GP had told me that referrals take a long time to access the service, and he is usually so vigilant so this took me by surprise.

I was told my letter, which I need for my employer, would take "a few days". When I chased it after 10 days, I was promised it the the next day. 18 days later and I am still waiting.

Sometimes it is not easy to get an appointment and I have to wait too long on the phone to get through but it is a good surgery overall.

Can have to wait in the surgery for up to an hour before you are called through, it would be better if they advised you on arrival that they are running late at least you can be prepared then, The Nurse Practitioner and also the practice nurse who has been dealing with my asthma are very good. Car Park is too small.

Sometimes the lady on the phone can be a bit abrasive with her tone, it is only one the others are lovely. I am impressed with this surgery overall. My GP listens well.

All so helpful, I know they are busy but they are so good. Staff very polite and could not be more helpful. Surgery communicates well when doctor or nurse is running late.I have no complaints.

Car Park is too small for the demand. You sometimes do have to wait quite a while to be seen at appointment but this is variable, I have children and they always give me an appointment on the day when I ring up. It is difficult to get through on the phone. It is good to be situated close to the pharmacy.