Torrington Park Group Practice

Torrington Park Group Practice 2018-03-10 Person 2 5 0

I have been trying to book an appointment using the Patient Access website, but all that comes up is a message "There are no appointments for you to book" - none whatsoever! The ability to send messages to and receive messages from the surgery has also been disabled. What is the point of the Patient Access service?

Torrington Park Group Practice 2018-02-09 Person 1 5 0

For many years my parents, me and my children have been with the surgery - and were happy but over the years it has grown and become more officious and anonymous, Nicola in admin / reception knows almost everyone by first name and is terrific, but can only work with the tools she has, there are now too many patients, not enough doctors or enough appointments, you can hold for 30 minutes to be told all the appointments are gone, you really have to book in advance or go to A+E if its something that will get unmanageable if left for a couple of days, as it can take that many days or more of ringing at 8.30 am and holding on only to be disappointed. At 4 pm today I was told that there is not a single appointment left for next week! so what would be the point of calling on Monday at 8.30 am when i should be walking in the door at work - to hold for 30-40 minutes, this raises the levels of frustration, anxiety and tempers - at that point most patients are not really happy callers when the phone is finally answered - this is definitely not the receptionists fault but no doubt they have to take an enormous amount of flack - every single morning, I dont think this is fair on them or the patients There needs to be more people on the phones and it should be in a room where the telephonists are not visible or audible to those in the waiting room, where every word can be heard, the same with the queue at the desk - there is no privacy the next person is at your shoulder listening to everything. Appointments are wasted with small but crucial items that could be prescribed after a triage - telephone or skype appointment, this could cut the face to face appointments by at least a third. if the system captured the dropped call from patients trying to get an appointment - the phone team could call them back, ascertain if it can be dealt with by phone - if so book a phone appt, or book a genuinely needed face to face. Perhaps the doctors should hand over the organisation of admin and booking to someone like Nicola to delegate and time manage, Now that the surgery has grown to this size it is crucial to step it up and use the technology and tools that are available - send the person down the hall not all the way to Barnet or Finchley hospitals for blood tests, make it one stop and move things along. most of us would be happy to wait in the hall for this - rather than take more time off work for a 3 minute job, there seems to be no understanding that patients today have work pressures, and need to use their time off wisely . Referrals often go off with only half the information and hospital appointments are then wasted, and have to be rebooked - if the surgery was fined for every one of these instances and made to pay the patients wages for the wasted journey and the 2nd visit - it might ensure that a full brief is been enclosed It is easier to get it right the first time, than try to unravel things and put it right, please listen to all the patient has to say, record it accurately and send them to the correct department and hospital with all the info needed to get things done first time. It would also be enormously helpful if the doctor wasn't getting out of the seat and going for the door handle when he should be taking down the accurate details for example why send a patient to barnet maxillofacial asking them to make a mouth guard - for the patient to be asked - "why were you sent here for that, we dont do that here, you need to see your dentist, they deal with bruxism mouth guards the GP prescribes for it?" --- another days annual leave lost!! Perhaps all this sounds a bit harsh, but in all honesty - I feel sad to see how things have changed in the practice, it was so much better and it could be so much better

Torrington Park Group Practice 2018-01-25 Person 4 5 0

I have been lucky enough to have only needed to make a same day appointment once, but when i needed to, i didn't have to wait too long on the phone. Dr. Bartlett was friendly, helpful and most importantly, very diligent. She referred me to have the necessary scans straight away and insisted i return in a couple days for a follow up, which she booked in there and then. Dr. Bezuidenhout is the doctor i usually see and he is also great - very thorough and always puts you at ease. Yes, your phone call may not be answered immediately, but i have never waited longer than 5 minutes and I have always found the reception staff to be polite and helpful.

Torrington Park Group Practice 2018-01-24 Person 5 5 0

This GP surgery is fantastic. I am amazed about how caring and accommodating they are. Whenever my children are ill- they go out of their way to give them an emergency appoinment. Doctors are always thorough checking them etc. As an adult I can easily get an appointment if I ring exactly at 8:30 too. Thank you Torrington Park GP

Torrington Park Group Practice 2017-12-12 Person 4 5 0

The staff are unfailingly helpful - no dragon receptionists here! It is important to find a doctor who suits you and here the group practice is invaluable. Great attempts are made to help you see the doctor you want. The presence of registrars is also refreshing as they can bring a different perspective to treatment. My family has been with the practice for over 30 years and we wouldn’t change. The normal problems with high demand for appointments are present but the early telephone appointment system means it is likely you will get one the same day. There are many different clinics here and good communication with hospitals and outside facilities. Advice is always offered. This is probably one of the best group practices I have experienced.