The Leiston Surgery

Service always good and kind

I find that I can get an appointment in a reasonable time and my GP refers me when appropriate to other services.

I find the surgery very good. I think the triage system works very well. I called in at 9.20 am and got an appointment for at 12 today. As long as you don't miss your call back you get to see someone. But it can be that you miss a call. E.G. If have to pop to the shop. This then can take longer.

I have found that staff are ok, and I can get an appointment, but when I feel rushed so no time to explain things properly, and I do not like the call back as I feel that you cannot be assessed properly over the phone. I have always ended up needing to come in as I only ring when I know I am needing a GP. It is frustrating.

The surgery has always been a good standard. You care treated as a person and not just a number. Getting an appointment is much easier since we had the new system start.

There has been many changes on how you get an appointment, and whilst the system takes longer, you do actually get to see your preferred GP, on the day usually.

I find that the new call back system is very efficient

- Unsure about the 'ring back' same day system - impossible to accommodate during the work day, therefore requires taking a whole day off: makes sens for illness but not for more routine appointments.
- Policy of limiting long-term prescriptions to monthly batches; increases cost + very inconvenient. I stopped taking the antihistamine because consistent gap between my monthly pills being available to be picked up.

We moved into the area, and so this is my first appointment. So far all good, as I was able to access easily today, but to see a nurse, not a GP.
I find the system long winded, but understand why they are doing it. I just had not come across a system like that before.

There is a new appointment system here. I called this morning to get to see my GP as I called a month ago to make the 6 monthly check up appointment that my GP likes me to see them for, and was told I now had to call on the day. When I did call this morning I was then told I may not get to see my GP and would have to wait for a call back. I got a bit angry but later another receptionist called me back and I apologised. I know they are just doing their job. I was told I could see my GP and was given an appointment. My GP explained the system in more detail and so now I understand more fully. The GP assured me I can speak to them and just need to ask for the call back from them direct from them and the reception team should be able to accommodate that. We were given a leaflet about it, but I feel that did not explain it as well as the GP did. I would have been more understanding if it had been explained better in the first place.