Quarry Bank Medical Centre 165 High Street, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill DY5 2AE

"I have always had faith in this surgery but my recent experience has been very disappointing, On arrival the staff we re laughing giggling joking about there evening ahead in childish manner whilst patients ahead of me we re waiting , there is a time and a place in staff rooms for this . .I was seen by a friendly practitioner ,how ever the consultation did not help at all it seemed to be a on screen tick box affair ,I was spoken to by a inexperienced receptionist, referred to as “she “ by the other member of staff who had “ other things to do first “ before helping her colleague with printing a form which she couldn’t do ( why I do not know surely click of a button??!) I was made to feel a pest ,I do not expect to be treated special in any way just common manners . I left without having form and I will not bother the surgery again unless my life depends on it So sad that NHS has come to this ."

"This doctors surgery is awful. Apart from Dr P (who you have to book a month in advance to see) everything else is awful. The receptionists are rude and think they know it all. Rang today at 9.30 for an appointment for my son for them to say very rude ‘if you would of rang at 8 you’d have got an appointment’ not everyone is free at 8am to ring up! They always take over a week to approve my partners insulin so he constantly has to go to the pharmacy for emergency prescription who when we tell which doctors surgery we are with say they are not surprised. They need another doctor then and also to hire receptionists with manners who actually know what they are doing."

"QB surgery is in desperate need of at least one more Doctor. Getting even a telephone appointment with Doctor is almost laughable, months for a face to face appt and weeks for a phone call. Its not unfair to say that by the time the actual appt comes round you have probably recovered or you have had to visit emergency care at Russells hall , sad but true. In the real world the notion is that when youre ill and need advice there and then, the doctors at hand to help more or less right away, having to wait any length of time is plain ridiculous. I am a diabetic who currently has Covid, Ive had to wait 4 days for an emergency telephone appt, I didnt speak to a Doctor however , Im not quite sure who I spoke to but the diabetic/covid issue should, in my opinion have easilly got me ( and people with similar issues) an appt right away . When the spearhead of Doctor Penumaka and Doctor Maher were there it was so much better and much easier to speak to , or to see someone. Dr. P is fantastic, the best doctor in QB since Dr. Fair but she needs help in my humble opinion , and lots of it."

"When Dr Penumaka started at the surgery it was a breath of fresh air, she is a Dr that truly cares about her patients and listens. However, since Covid it has become impossible for me to get a face to face appointment with an actual Dr. Even more difficult to see the Dr I actually trust, Dr P. I appreciate that they have a Higher Level Nurse who can prescribe etc. But that is not the same as seeing the Dr. When I asked about having an appointment with Dr Penumaka I was told no appointments were available for over a month and new dates after that have not been added yet, with no idea when they would be. When I did speak over the phone with a Dr, recently, it was a student Dr, which lead to several calls throughout the day while I was at work (as a teacher) and I learned absolutely nothing from these interactions, other than she needed to ask me the same questions over and over and could not answer any of my medical questions. (Literally calls started at 8.50am and last call was about 3.10pm). She kept having to go back to Dr Penumaka, surely it would have been easier for Dr Penumaka to speak to me in the end. When I called to get a routine B12 Injection I was told I would have to wait over 2 weeks, for a 5 min injection, by that time my symptoms would be unbearable, as I can't absorb B12 naturally and need the regular injection. When I asked the receptionist what alternatives there are, she said none. I found the receptionist that I spoke to dismissive and rude, with no sympathy for the situation. Whe I was diagnosed with a new condition in April, the only information I got was a text saying a prescription has been sent to the Chemist you have Hypothyroidism. When I went into the surgery to see about getting an appointment to discuss this new diagnosis the receptionist told me no need, just come back in 2 months to get a new blood test form. No concern or help on what this condition now meant for me. I have had to rely in the Internet, books and support groups. I am very disappointed that such a great Dr is operating within a surgery that can not provide the help needed for many patients, previously I have always recommended them, but now I would be reluctant to do so. I still think Dr Penumaka is the best Dr around which is the only reason I have stayed, I am questioning this decision as I never speak or see a Dr anymore. They are currently stating they are taking on new patients, but they can't accommodate their existing patients."

"This surgery with Dr Penumakk struggle to get appointments was the best around until COVID. Now you can't get appointments for face to face, or on phone most of time. Saying two or three week wait. Most people phone for an appointment when they are I'll.. not on a planned schedule. And today (2June) been hanging on phone for 48 minutes to make appointment. Drove to surgery to find it closed for holiday. So why doesn't answering machine say that !"