The Groves Medical Centre

"As per a previous reviewer, I have been on the books for over 20 years and, since moving to the larger premises, their service level has deteriorated. They have taken on far too many patients and can't provide an adequate service to them. It would help if some of the GPs didn't spend half their time on private work. They do this out of the same room they provide NHS service. I know of people who couldn't get an NHS appointment but when offering to pay got one straight away. This is not acceptable. The GPs get paid very well for their NHS work but certainly aren't earning it. It's very unlikely that you'll be able to get an appointment but if, by some miracle, you're given one it will be 3-4 weeks hence. Unless it's an ongoing issue then it's not worth taking. Save your phone bill as after a 30 minute+ wait you'll just be told to i) ring back ii) call 111 or iii) go to A&E. There was a time you'd see the same Doctor who'd know your history (so miss Dr Sherski) now, if you get to see a GP or speak over the phone, it could be anyone and they usually haven't even bothered to read through your notes before speaking to you. A serious illness, detected by a hospital consultant, has been severely mismanaged and resulted in a prolonged wait for medication to be recommended. I only got it progressed by complaining to the practice manager face to face A year later I still hadn't got the prescription and it took my chasing up to be told they wouldn't do it and that I should get it from the hospital. I asked why they hadn't informed me of this and the (very rude) receptionist told me it "wasn't their job" to do that ! So I suppose we're expected to be telepathic now !! The reception staff has gone through changes too. After many years of the harridans guarding the gates they finally got a team if young men & women who were friendly and helpful - as I often told them. Unfortunately the team has changed again and two of the new ones are quite short with people, rude & unhelpful. Hopefully their manner will improve. This surgery is not the standard it used to be and it's no wonder people are leaving where they are able. And, on the neighborhood Facebook group, they are not being recommended to people new to the area. I certainly can't recommend them."

"I visited The Groves this year and was so impressed by how kind the staff were. Booked my appointment with Val who was so helpful and arranged for me to see Rheanna who was fantastic! I had such a good experience with her. She took her time to talk through my questions and I felt very well cared for. Thank you so much!"

"I would give it zero stars. This GP always manages to lose medical records and never issues repeat prescriptions. It puts patients at risks especially if they are in remission. They never reply to emails. No communication at all regarding medication. CQC need to investigate this"

"Having been at this surgery for the past 33+ years, it has become more and more difficult to book an appointment. You have to wait on hold for 30-40 minutes at a time to then be told all appointments have gone for the day and that you should call back at 2pm when the surgery opens again following lunch to release the afternoon/evening appointments to be told the exact same thing. I am someone that works full time so taking an hour out of my day to sit on hold is not possible. Every time you go, you see a different doctor, the reception staff are beyond rude and are so unhelpful. They pestered me on numerous occasions calling me every few weeks through covid 19 to attend the surgery to get a vaccine. When I told them I would not be having the jab and to stop calling me, the receptionist said that she would mark me down as a 'not for now' and that they would be in touch again. I am now being pestered to have yet another vaccination for the flu jab when my records will show that I've not had one for over 15 + years. I called the surgery last week to ask for a telephone call with a doctor to get antibiotics subscribed for an ingrowing toe nail that had become infected. I was advised to do this by two separate pharmacists. I had to fight to even get a doctor to look at a photo of my toe as again was being told i could not be provided with an appointment. The doctor didnt even call me back the receptionist did, I got told that the doctor was unable to prescribe antibiotics and I was advised to go to a&e?! During a time when covid is back on the rise was this really the most sensible thing to do? Over the next 48 hours my toe got worse and I couldn't walk. I called 111 and they prescribed me antibiotics over the phone within an instance. Why could the doctor at the surgery not have done that in the first place? Absolutely shocking!!!!! I will no longer be using this practise as I have lost patience with them on all aspects. It is over run and they have taken on way too many patients since moving site. Their appointment system is somewhat ridiculous and it is not the same friendly, helpful and pleasant surgery it once was."

"I checked-in early for my appointment and 45 minutes after my appointment time I asked if they're behind schedule? I was told that I missed my appointment, nobody even called out my name and I took a day off work for it too. They couldn't fit me in for the day do my day off was pointless. The receptionist was lovely though"