Markfield Medical Centre,

Chitterman Way, Markfield LE67 9WU

"Always been able to get an appointment in a reasonable timeframe. Never had a problem with cancellations and have always felt like my issues have been dealt with promptly and in a caring manner. I am grateful to live in a village that has such a great surgery and amazing staff that work there."

"I wish you can give no stars. I'm writing to make a complaint about the treatment I received from Gemma R. at Markfield medical centre. On 15th September 2022 I had an appointment for a blood test, after I had entered the room number 9, the nurse was very unpleasant from the start, abrupt and surly. Without respect or patience for the situation she pointed to the chair for me to sit on and angrily told me to put on a face mask. When I explained to her that I cannot wear it due to breathing difficulties, she got even more angry. As she was rude from the start, I didn't realise it was in relation to the mask. I tried to diffuse this situation asking politely about the reason for her behaviour towards me and she stated she does not like people who cannot put on a face mask for 30 seconds and that in her opinion everyone can do it. Clearly not as I am one of those people. I've pointed out that I have absolutely no symptoms of any viral infection including covid 19. My breathing problems started shortly after I had had pneumonia bilateralis in 2017, which was two years BEFORE the covid-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, the side effect of the late correct diagnosis and prescription of correct medication has caused me breathing problems, getting tired, stressed or covering my face doesn’t help the situation. My original reason for coming to the doctors was completely unrelated to respiratory disease. I've had for the past three months, having to wait and be passed from doctor to doctor to then be treated in such a way by a nurse taking a blood sample is beyond stressful, after another weeks wait, I'm now told that these results are unusable and I'll have to come in to get more blood taken, delaying an already lengthy wait into an even longer one. After having to ask Gemma to use gloves to take the sample there was insufficient blood taken by Gemma in what can only be described as a spiteful way. I was kind and courteous to all members of staff, but as I've tried to contact Markfield medical centre, it’s a long wait on the phone, to be told no one can see you, or the wait time will far exceed any urgency. It feels as if there is no true care. No passion or empathy, just another cog in the wheel. I would like the matter looking into regarding Gemma and her duty of care as I wish nobody else to receive the same experience I've had. Agnieszka O."

"I sympathise with all NHS medical Dr's and nurses (not admin' staff), including GP's. However, the service provided by the MMC is and was before Covid, very poor. It is almost impossible to see a Dr. You call and are told that no appointments are available and to call again at 8am the next day. when you do that, you may have to call at least 10 times to be answered, if at all. if you are answered a seemingley untrained receptionist asks you why you want to see a Dr, which mostly results in a telephone call within an hour or so. on a number of occasions, when I eventually got through, sometimes 5 mins or so after 8am, I was told that the telephone appointments were all "gone" and to call again the next day at 8am. Some of the receptionists are very good and some are very poor, unhelpfull and rude/questioning as to the severity of my medical issue. They would never survive in customer services in commerce. When the Dr calls you, they seem to have little empathy and want to terminate the call asap. I my experience, the response is normally (not always to be fair) to prescribe a medication or to "see how it is in a week or so and if it still persists to call again" . Great service! If I ask for an additional script' as I have run out or want one urgently, I sometimes ( not always) the receptionists (not all), say "I will ask the Dr and see what he says but try not to do it again"!!! Almost every month, my repeat prescriptions have a problem, with an item or more not dispensed, particuarly if a consultant has prescribed a medication and has writen to the MMC: most are ignored and I have to call to have it prescribed. The pharmacy next door is no better. They frequently have "no stock" of medications: like almost every month. (why are we restricted to a month's supply only?) Also after 3 working days (why does it take that much time when I can get items the next day from Amazon?) I have to wait 20 mins or so to collect it? Sometimes the queue is outside of the door with only one person on the front desk. Also, I get 6 copies of my monthly prescription, one to use and 5 to throw away. I have mentioned this to the pharmacy who told me to take this up with the surgery: I did, but still the same. If anyone from the MMC wants to discuss this with me, please call. I apologise for any spelling errors but the website is very basic and does not have spellcheck."

"Very poor service. Phone at 8am to book a time slot to speak to a doctor over the phone, not in person. You will then need to book another appointment to go in person. If you can’t phone at 8am, then you’ll have to use the “Engage Consult” system to describe your symptoms. A doctor will review this and then get the receptionist to call you back. Then you can book a time slot to come in. I keep having appointments cancelled for one reason or another and rebooking can take another week. An issue that first started nearly 3 weeks ago and I’ve still not actually managed to see an actual doctor. If Markfield Medical stopped messing about with this silly “double booking” system, then they’d have twice as many slots available and people could get in sighing days instead of within weeks. I’ve never known a medical centre be this unorganised that it takes a week to book to speak to someone on the phone, then a further week to book to see someone in person."

"Phoned centre 10am, only wanted advice on pain under ribs. Told abruptly appointments full for the day ring up Monday 8am for appointment. I said I'd get advice on Internet. I'm in a bit of pain and got to wait all weekend for ade. No way am I going to A&E to put them under more pressure."