Forest Hill Group Practice

Sadly after 25 years I have to say that what used to be a good GP surgery it has become completely dysfunctional. It opened again to patients months later after COVID than any others that any of my friends or family use. It still feels abandoned. It's almost impossible to see or speak to a doctor and the reception staff appear to be under instructions to do anything they can to stop you making an appointment. Their pharmacist phoned and told me I can't get a repeat prescription for compression hose without being measured by a nurse, but when I called to make an appointment, was told there is only one nurse and I have to call in 3 weeks time as by then they will have appointments available next month.This is utterly unacceptable. The surgery is deserted, just an odd person waiting for an appointment. It feels as though it's still closed down. I actually think it might be going to close because most of their doctors have left or retired and it has sadly become somewhere I would advise anyone to avoid if you can go somewhere else

After over 30 years of being with FHGP, it is saddening to watch FHGP deteriorate from fantastic to the deteriorating shell of a doctor's surgery it is today. There was a time when you went or contacted FHGP; you knew you would receive the best care, terrific professional service and efficiency, and a friendly face. Today, you’re met with doctors who constantly make errors, inefficiencies from doctors and desk staff, rude attitudes and just an unpleasant environment. After Covid -19, this doctor's surgery went missing from the community and closed; they have returned to the community worse than ever. The feeling that those working there don’t want to be there, help people or do their jobs. You are constantly blocked from getting appointments or sent somewhere for another surgery. The irony. Also the desk staff act as though they have been medically trained, note the “chauffeur knowledge” which is so unhelpful as after one question, then they state “oh, I don’t know you have to speak to a doctor”, which is the initial reason for the call. Usually, I wouldn’t bother with reviews, but FHGP has become the community joke, and it’s sad as all people are looking for is good care. It’s very sad because an excellent doctors surgery is at the heart of a community and FHGP has become broken, with management, staff and doctors continuing to ruin this once thriving practice. I really do hope that FHGP can once revive itself to be the great place it once was, until then I’ll be looking for a new surgery. Hopefully with one where you can actually speak to a doctor and get a prescription that is correct.

Please avoid this practice at all costs as your well-being and health will unduly suffer. They simply don’t seem to care with the doctors prepared to only speak to you via a junior receptionist - I would call it diagnosis through a non trained intermediary. Whoever owns and runs this practice that consistently receives a 2 rating must simply be in it for the money not to uphold the foundational principals of the NHS and the ethics of the Hippocratic Oath?