Saffron and Blue Medical Centre , Clarecastle, County Clare V95 HK50

"Really bad experience had here . Not all of them but most of the receptionist staff here are rude sharp, unfriendly and confrontational especially Veronica Colleran. She is the practise manager and by her attitude you would know she has a position of some power, and by god she shows it.. Speaks to people like she is everyone's mother. Small angry little woman with that head teacher like attitude for some reason. It's a health centre where people are already worried about there health before they ever even enter the building , so please be nice. If you are rude to the public you can only expect the same back. It creates a toxic environment to be in and I'd say to work in. This starts at the top....so if the manager is rude and sharp to the public then the staff will assume that's the way and follow suit. Companies should identify people like this in a work place and move them on for the betterment and development of any business. People like this lady in particular have a role somewhere but it definitely is not engaging with the public in any service role she has the most horrible, angry and confrontational manner."

"Very poor. I am a long term patient in Saffron and Blue. I have never had any issues. I under stand waiting times are part and parcel of most medical practises in ireland. I also understand the pressure they might be be under since covid. But my experience in the past 1.5 years has been terrible. Firstly there is a receptionist with a UK accent I have met a few times who is blunt,abrupt and rude at times, on the phone and to my face. She asked me once when making an appointment over the phone what my issue was.! This is personal and for me and the doctor. The other receptionists are normally very nice and professional and friendly. I also can not normally get through on the phone either it just rings out, and often have to drive to the surgery just to make an appointment. I have also had alarming issues with my own personal medical care. I was on medication for 6 months which I was suppose to gradually ween off, lower the dose monthly. I called to the pharmacy to collect my new script and it was the wrong dosage. The medical centre had sent the a higher dose of medicine than I was due to get. This was alarming, and only that I noticed it myself before I took it I could have cause myself serious issues. I rang the receptionist,who was the lady with the UK accent, she realised the mistake and apologised. Although it was human error this can have huge effects for a patient if their dose was correct. I also had a general medical done last year. I waited for results and they never came. I rang the surgery and asked for them and still nobody called for weeks. I decided to call into the surgery to ask for them and was told a doctor would call me back. It never happened. I ended up getting them approx 3 months after my medical. If I didn't put constant pressure on I might never have gotten them. As tough and busy as medical care in Ireland is at the moment I can only talk about my own experiences in Saffron and Blue. And over the past 1.5 - 2 years it has been very poor. I have not got the basic care here at times. To me they are a surgery that directly reflect the on going HSE issues with care at the moment. Forgetting results and mixing up doses of patients medication all while one receptionist talks to people like she is their mother is not good enough. Weather covid ever happened or not,please do better, or just stop taking on so many patients if that is what's causing this standard low standard of care. Thanks"

"The reception staff are very friendly and helpful. Not sure of the doctors name but he was so friendly and kind and helped me calm down when I was panicking. Overall excellent!"

"I am furious about how easily these people disregarded my life, my time and my money. Short version: they told me they are accepting new patients but I have to come and fill a form so I took a taxi and came to register, and after seeing me they suddenly decided they are not taking new patients. Full version: Moved to Ennis a year ago and wasn’t able to find a GP - all aren’t taking new patients. So when I did my monthly round of calls to clinics to check if they are taking new patients, I was so relieved to hear this clinic does! Didn’t care they insisted I came there face to face to fill an application form. I don’t have a car and am high risk for Covid so had to take a taxi. 28 Euros to go there and back. It’s on the other side of town but I didn’t care - finally I’ll have a GP! I have some serious medical issues - taking a medicine that needs to be monitored regularly by blood tests to see it’s not ruining my kidneys - and haven’t got one done in a year since no GP… I got to the clinic and explained to the receptionist I came to apply for a GP. This antipathetic person measures me with one look up and down and says “we don’t accept new patients!” I insisted I was told over the phone (I called again before I came, to make sure!) that they said they did. Eventually she agreed I fill the form but repeated they do not accept new patients and kind of gave me a feel I shouldn’t expect anything from them. I am not sure what made them discriminate against taking me as a patient - is it that I’m an immigrant? Not young ? Not athletic? Not healthy? In their website they write they are happy to serve ALL the community. My experience shows otherwise. In the application form I explained my situation - not having a GP is a neglect that could cause me some serious health damage - now let’s see if maybe one of their doctors still remembers their Hippocratic oath. I will update if I ever hear from them again."

"Have been going here for years. Always waiting. But I got to deal with that. Until today. Went to get a medical done for driving license Have medical card. And got charged €60. How is that acceptable."