Lewisham Medical Centre - Ratings and reviews
Reviews
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Review titled You can never get an appointment
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 18 March 2024
Don't get me wrong the doctors and nurses here are fantastic - when you get to see them that is. The process of getting a same day appointment by having to be triaged by a paramedic first is just ridiculous. You can't get a standard appoinment in less than 4 weeks. I have had to use a private GP service instead on so many occasions now so after 8 years here I can't take it anymore!
Visited March 2024
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 18 March 2024
Dear Anonymous - thank you for your feedback, and I am so sorry that you are struggling to get appointments. We are urgently working to increase appointment availability; 1. Hiring additional GPs (not as easy as it sounds) 2. Reducing double bookings - making sure patients are only booked in once for the same reason 3. Removing patients who are persistent non-attenders (a huge number of appointments are wasted each month by patients making appointments and thoughtlessly not attending/not cancelling, so the appointment can be given to another patient in need) If a patient misses three appointments without reason, we may remove them from the practice list Our paramedic triage service operates to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time. Paramedics are trained medical professionals who discuss your symptoms and then make sure you are pathway'd to the correct clinician; self-care/pharmacist (who can also assess you), GP, physiotherapist, practice pharmacist, mental health nurse etc. Not every symptom requires the time of a GP, and our system ensures the right patients see the right medical professional. Unfortunately GP practices provide care to many patients, and have far too many patients make appointments and do not attend them. Please be assured that we are working hard every day to increase patients access to GPs. Please contact me directly if you would like to discuss this further; complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Disappointing service
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 07 February 2024
I want to acknowledge the incredible care and thoughtfulness of the doctors and nurses. However, the process of getting a same-day urgent appointment feels frustratingly difficult. After waiting hours for a callback from a paramedic, I end up at A&E anyway. This whole ordeal feels like a massive waste of time, especially when I'm told I need urgent attention due to my symptoms but can't get an appointment with a doctor for another month.
Visited February 2024
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 13 February 2024
I am really sorry to hear of your difficulty in obtaining an urgent appointment. Please do contact me directly so I can investigate and review your contact with the practice. Sometimes we do advise patients to attend A+E to rule out sinister causes for symptoms that cannot be properly assessed by a GP. Once sinister causes are ruled out, we will then review as requested. I look forward to hearing from you. complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Professional and efficient - grateful to use this practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Laura - Posted on 08 January 2024
A professional and friendly team who always strive to resolve queries asap and offer flexibility in getting an appointment over the phone, in person, or through their pharmacists. I have used several GPs in London and my experience with Lewisham Medical Centre has been excellent, even with the huge pressures being faced across the NHS which are not the fault of individual practices, doctors or receptionists who are doing their best amid many challenges. I'm grateful to be registered at this GP!
Visited January 2024
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 09 January 2024
Hi Laura - thank you so much for your honest, yet really positive feedback! There is huge pressure on NHS services, which our team work so well to cope with every day. We want to help all of our patients to the very best of our ability, and with the resources available to us. We are so grateful to our teams, and to our patients who recognise the difficulties. We sincerely wish that wasn't the case and we could give our patients what they need every time they contact us. So glad to hear of your positive experiences, Laura. Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Appointments
Rated 3 stars out of 5
by Kim May Ward - Posted on 10 January 2024
When your wound dressing appointment is cancelled by the surgery & you are told to rebook & are then told there are no appointments available what advice are u given ? Go to urgent care ...oh and possibly wait for hours. Honestly the last couple of months at this surgery has been soil destroying especially as I'm not able to get a definitive diagnosis...how I'm I supposed to get any kind.of appointment the system does not work
Visited January 2024
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 12 January 2024
Hi Kim - I am really sorry that your wound dressing was cancelled - our nurse must have been unwell and we were unable to find cover. Please contact me directly, so we can ensure you receive the dressing care (and care in general) that you need. complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Always helpful
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by James - Posted on 25 October 2023
My GP took the time hear my concern and asked good questions to get more details. Although I thought a phone call might miss some things, we both spoke clearly and slowly so that the issues were understood. I was satisfied with the answers and sorted my issue. Thanks
Visited October 2023
Lewisham Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Appointment
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 02 June 2023
I deeply regret registering here !! I was there on time for my appointment I asked the receptionist I have appointment, she referred me to some device to check in! Why do you have reservations!! If you check in by yourself!!! On that time I was 4 minute late on the device and asked to see receptionist, Then she told me that you have to book another appointment available next weekend!!! This is a joke!!
Visited June 2023
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 06 June 2023
Please do contact me directly so I can confirm you are registered with Lewisham Medical Centre, and investigate what occurred here. complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Service is not good.
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 25 May 2023
whenever you call them for some illness or issues, you will get an availability of slot after a month or so. On top of this, they would always refer you to a&e. ever since I am in uk I never got appointment with the gp. It’s really very sad.
Visited May 2023
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 25 May 2023
I am sorry you have had a negative experience with our team, and difficulty in booking an appointment. We are urgently working to increase appointment availability; 1. Hiring additional GPs (not as easy as it sounds) 2. Reducing double bookings - making sure patients are only booked in once for the same reason 3. Removing patients who are persistent non-attenders (a huge number of appointments are wasted each month by patients making appointments and thoughtlessly not attending/not cancelling, so the appointment can be given to another patient in need) If a patient misses three appointments without reason, we may remove them from the practice list Please contact me directly so I can investigate and review this in context, and ensure you receive an appropriate appointment. complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled An absolute joke of a service
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 24 March 2023
This establishment is an absolute joke they pretend like their busy yet have the audacity to load of work to other place clearly busier then them selves I'm sure that most of their appointments are just phone appointment because every time I'm inside of that GP there's always seats available you also have 10 rooms indicating there's 10 GPS what sort of institute of health acts like this simply shameless and unacceptable they need new management and they need to step up their game honestly this is a sick imitation of what health care should be.
Visited March 2023
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 29 March 2023
I'm sorry you felt the need to leave this inaccurate and unkind review. We have access to primary care services at external locations - this is used by all local GP practices and ensures quick access to primary care. We have clinical rooms used by GPs, nurses, HCAs, phelbotomist, mental health nurse, paramedic and pharmacist. Please contact me directly if you like to properly discuss any concerns you might have. complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Ridiculous
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 23 March 2023
I called to book an appointment on 23 March and was offered one on 27 April. Yes, over 1 month later. This doesn't work. Sign up if you can actually wait so long for appointment or you can plan and prepare for when you're not feeling well and can book ahead.
Visited March 2023
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 29 March 2023
Hi Anonymous - please contact me directly so I can review your concerns in context. It may have been that you wished an appointment at a particular time of day. I would need to listen to the call recording in order to comment further. We are urgently working to increase appointment availability; 1. Hiring additional GPs (not as easy as it sounds) 2. Reducing double bookings - making sure patients are only booked in once for the same reason 3. Removing patients who are persistent non-attenders (a huge number of appointments are wasted each month by patients making appointments and thoughtlessly not attending/not cancelling, so the appointment can be given to another patient in need) If a patient misses three appointments without reason, we may remove them from the practice list complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager
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Review titled Can't get through
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 27 March 2023
Holding on the phone now for 45 minutes and still the music and the "sorry for inconvenience" goes round and round - just to get through to make an appointment that will no doubt be in several weeks time. I don't blame the individuals concerned and I'm sure they are doing their best but how bad does it have to get until you actually do something? You can't call this a 'slight delay' and it's not an 'inconvenience' - it's an absolute shambles.
Visited March 2023
Review titled Lewisham Medical Centre
Replied on 29 March 2023
We are actively reviewing our telephone system, including providing a call-back service so patients keep their place in the queue and our team call them back in turn. Unfortunately it is not possible to control or change the volume of calls we receive, or the time it will take to assist each patient. Sometimes we receive over 300 calls on any given day, so it will take time to help all patients who need us. We are aware of the frustrations here, and are doing all we can to make our telephone system easier for both patients and our team. complaints.lmc@nhs.net Julie Patient Experience Manager