I see the Greenwood Practice has 'not yet replied' to my review pointing out that it is in breach of its GP contract. That tells you how interested they are in what patients have to say. You will notice on here that they mostly reply to positive reviews. If they do reply to a negative review it is to suggest you speak to the practice manager (who can't change anything because the problems are caused by the doctors' policies). In any event, staff will not normally let you speak to her. Having tried several times over a number of years she is either at the other site (whichever site you phone), they will transfer you - but unfortunately they can't get through, you can speak to her deputy (who is any receptionist pretending to be in charge) or she will call you back and doesn't. If they are so overstretched and can't manage why are they accepting new patients? If they can't deal properly with existing urgent cases how can they expand? Oh and the old chestnut below about the phone line not being open because someone 'knocked the button over" or forgot to press the button has been trotted out regularly for 15 years. There isn't a giant red button on the reception desk that people accidentally 'knock' and it's about time they made sure their phone is open when they say it is and they stopped coming up with the 'oops sorry you couldn't get through when you needed to my bad sadly all the appointments are taken' line.
Original Comment Report...

GPs are required to see urgent patients who present at the surgery without an appointment, during the same surgert session. The only time that doesn't apply is if the doctor decides they won't be harmed if they are seen later AND the patient is given another appointment reasonably soon after.I know because I have checked both types of GP contract and the wording is very clear. This practice has decided it can make its own rules and there are notices banning patients without appointments coming to the surgery. The criteria it applies is if it has emergency slots available (ring up and take pot luck at 9 am sharp). If it doesn't you have to make your own appointment with a community service well outside the practice area. How you get there and back is your problem regardless of how ill you are. GPs are supposed to provide services at their designated premises during the core hours 8am to 6pm and you pick a gp near where you live for that reason. This practice will make you travel outside the area when you are desperate for help. Amusingly, there is a little notice at reception trying to stop people leaving bad reviews on NHS choices unless you have spoken to them first. The reason I am posting here is because I rang up the other day and the receptionist just parroted back the same response to me 5 times. That's in spite of the fact that I kept telling her that I knew what she was telling me and I was asking her something different. Little hope they will actually give a response to a specific point about the GP contract requirements so might as well post it here.
Original Comment Report...