Richmond Lock Surgery

Very helpful reception staff and friendly nurses. Some doctors are helpful and take time addressing problems but there are very few doctors with good patient communication skills. It is hard to get to see these doctors as certain doctors are in higher demand than others which is evident at time of booking as the same 2 GP’s always show as having lots of spaces and are the last to fill up.

I have been at this practice for almost two years now, and I have always had good treatment. I especially rate Dr Sowden, who strikes a good balance between listening to take in all relevant information and offering advice. However, recently I went to the practice for a follow up appointment for my 10 month old girl who had a chest infection. She had been given antibiotics (amoxicillin) on a Monday night by a doctor at the out of hours clinic at Teddington Memorial Hospital. He recomended that we have a follow up appointment with our GP in two days (i.e. Wednesday). There were no advance appointments available, so we needed to get a same day appointment. We were assigned Dr Michael Mayer. Although my daughter showed signs of getting better, I had some real concerns about the tolerability of the antibiotic. She had vomited several times, each time directly after taking the medicine. I was worried about her developing resistance. We were also instructed to give the antibiotic every 8 hours which meant waking her up in the middle of the night, which is very disturbing for a little one, especially in this case as she vomited. I told him all of this and asked if we could switch to a different antibiotic which would have less nausea and vomiting and would not need to be taken every 8 hours. He said that he recommended staying on the amoxicillin as she seemed to be improving and other medication could have the same side effects. I tried to stress my concern about resistance and also that waking her in the middle of the night was really disturbing her, bit he kept pushing for us to stay on amoxicillin and sent us on our way. Feeling dissatisfied with the situation, my husband looked up information on the timing of the dosing and what to do if the child vomits and found advice on the Mayo Clinic website suggesting that the medicine could be given less than 8 hours apart, e.g. at breakfast lunch and dinner. It also said that if the child vomits within 30 minutes of receiving the medication, he or she should be given the same dose again. Dr Mayer failed to give any of this information to us despite me communicating specific concerns about those two things. This advice would have been very useful and should be given to parents in future.

I've been experiencing pain in my foot. After seeing the doctor I had blood tests and an X-Ray with 48 hrs. Fantastic service

I have recently moved to this area after being with the same GP surgery for over 50 years so I was somewhat anxious about changing my regular health care. However, so far I can not fault the service that I have received at Richmond Lock surgery. The Reception staff are friendly and helpful, and the medical staff (both doctors and health care assistants) are very approachable, helpful and efficient. There is provision for INR blood testing at the surgery which is extremely convenient for any patients on anticoagulants. I would certainly recommend this surgery.

I should like to be able to make appointments sooner, but assume the difficulty is that there is a shortage of doctors. I have nothing but praise for the service that I recieve from this surgery, it is good to feel that you are a person not a patient ( in the best possible way!) I have had several health problems (cancer) and deaths within the family in the last couple of years and have had superb medical care and attention, combined with compassion.

I find my experiences at Richmond Lock Surgery incredibly varied. I've met with absolutely excellent doctors who listen, ask the right questions, offer multiple options for treatment and encourage follow-up if the situation applies. On the other hand, I've had absolutely dreadful and totally unhelpful doctors as well - complete misdiagnoses over several visits, cold and short, offering no helpful suggestions or information. On my most recent visit with my young daughter with chicken pox, the doctor seemed displeased by our mere presence. She offered zero recommendations for products that could help her symptoms, had to check her computer for the recommended "quarantine" time (then contradicted herself), and told me that another issue my daughter was having was unrelated to the pox - turns out it was completely related, won't give you the details but it was a very simple connection. It's so unfortunate that some doctors are so good here and that some are so appallingly bad. I will say that the staff has always been efficient and helpful in my experience.

When I phoned for an appointment on the day after the Easter Bank Holiday I was offered several choices unfortunately I had another commitment so could not accept, however I got a cancellation the next day that suited me.

Doctors great but the support staff (reception) couldn't organise an event in a brewery. They don't communicate with each other or the patients. They told assured me something was ready for collection, I arranged to come in, it wasn't there so they blamed the nurse for lying to them about it! They issue items without any instructions and then ask you 'did you not read the instructions?'! They don't even know when they have initiated something and ask you who began it. Hopeless. Hope it improves soon.

A wonderful practice and surgery - very welcoming with helpful, friendly and efficient staff and thorough, kind and knowledgeable doctors.