Bridge Road Surgery
1A Bridge Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 3LJContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Excellent service
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 09 April 2025
I had a blood test with the nurse at 08.30 she was very professional and provided excellent service, I mentioned that I had a pneumonia jab appointment at 11.30, she organised the nurse to come to the room and carry it out to save me returning again later this morning.
Visited April 2025
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 22 April 2025
Dear Patient, Thank you for taking the time to leave such nice feedback. I am pleased we were able to give you an excellent level of service. I shall be sure to pass on your kind comments to my staff. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Getting an appointment is very very difficult
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 24 March 2025
Getting an appointment is quite literally a lottery, you can't book anything in advance so if your boss won't let you have time off or you work shifts you are in trouble. You have to phone at 8 a.m. and pray that you don't get the 'queue is full' message or even worse the 'we don't have any appointments left' message. There is a website where you submit symptoms etc, so i did that, got a message back - you need to see a Dr; but even though someone has decided i need to see a DR, I still have to join the daily lottery for an appointment, that took 10 days of ringing at 8 in the morning, and even then i had to persuade the receptionist that although i have already been told i need to see the Dr that I am deserving of an appointment. Everyone you talk to who is a patient here has the same story, its not just me. Can't believe they are still recruiting for patients when they can't serve the ones they have.
Visited March 2025
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 31 March 2025
Dear Patient, Thank you for your feedback. I apologise you are unhappy with the availability of appointments. Regrettably it is well publicised nationally about the overwhelming demand that all NHS services including GP surgeries receive everyday. Whereas we offer many hundreds of appointments each and every week, we still cannot satisfy every request which is equally frustrating for ourselves. I regret I cannot control when patients telephone, or at what point they either enter a queue or at what time appointments may run out. Patients are able to request an appointment online, telephone or come into the practice. However, I still only have a finite number of appointments. We do also allow a number of appointments to be pre-booked, but we need to control pre-booking to avoid being booked many weeks ahead, which then would vastly reduce any same day availability. It would also seem unusual that you had to try for 10 days to receive an appointment. We have had many days when all telephone calls at 8am have been cleared and appointments are still available. Regretfully you have made an anonymous post so I cannot investigate why your telephone number did not appear to get through. However, please be assured as our telephone message states and our online message, and also information that would be given to you if you came to the reception desk, if any patient feels they have a clinically urgent matter, that matter would be fully triaged by a duty GP who would then arrange any appropriate appointment or care needed on the day. Thank you for taking the time to give your feedback. We do frequently review the services that we provide and always take into account any feedback we have received. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Thankyou and Great Service
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Mrs K Beamish - Posted on 28 March 2025
After a routine appointment flagged something may not be right I was fast tracked to the hospital and I honestly could not be more thankful for the excellent care I have received from the Doctor and Nurses at Bridge Road. A huge Thankyou to all!
Visited March 2025
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 31 March 2025
Dear Mrs Beamish, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such nice feedback. I am pleased that you are happy with the clinical care you received at Bridge Road Surgery and I will ensure that I pass your feedback for all staff to see. It is important to all of my staff that they give good care to patients, and we are always grateful for nice feedback. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe
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Review titled Appointments system is a lottery
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 17 February 2025
Whilst I appreciate we all have very busy lives I find it nigh on impossible to get an appointment without playing fastest finger first at 8am. 3 days of trying so far. So I phoned today and was asked to either keep trying or phone on Wednesday for a Saturday appointment in 2 Saturdays time. The 2 week appointments are fully booked and the March schedule isn't out yet. I have an issue of concern so what on earth am I supposed to do? I should point out that once you do manage to get an appointment the staff team are wonderful but please do something about this 8am lottery, especially if a patient has a worrying concern that they can't even speak to some about.
Visited February 2025
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 26 February 2025
Dear Patient, Thank you for your feedback. I apologise you are unhappy with the availability of appointments. Regrettably it is well publicised nationally about the overwhelming demand that all NHS services including GP surgeries receive everyday. Whereas we offer many hundreds of appointments each and every week, we still cannot satisfy every request which is equally frustrating for ourselves. I regret I cannot control when patients telephone, or at what point they either enter a queue or at what time appointments may run out. Patients are able to request an appointment online, telephone or come into the practice. However, I still only have a finite number of appointments. We do also allow a number of appointments to be pre-booked, but we need to control pre-booking to avoid being booked many weeks ahead, which then would vastly reduce any same day availability. However, please be assured as our telephone message states and our online message, and also information that would be given to you if you came to the reception desk, if any patient feels they have a clinically urgent matter, that matter would be fully triaged by a duty GP who would then arrange any appropriate appointment or care needed on the day. I am pleased that you do appreciate the clinical care you have received. Thank you for taking the time to give your feedback. We do frequently review the services that we provide and always take into account any feedback we have received. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Very Caring
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by John Pope - Posted on 24 January 2025
I attended a scheduled blood pressure and wellness check on 23rd of Jan2025 and received prompt, efficient and friendly attention for this valuable service. Thank you.
Visited January 2025
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 16 February 2025
Dear Mr Pope, Thank you very much for leaving such nice feedback. I will ensure your comments are passed on to my staff. I am pleased that you are happy with the care that you have received. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Frustrating
Rated 4 stars out of 5
by Deborah Dennis - Posted on 17 December 2024
Appointment this morning for blood test re: pre-diabetes checks. I was asked in the text received confirming the appointment to do my blood pressure and BMI on attending. I arrived 27 minutes early but was called within 3 minutes due to a cancellation. Very efficient. Blood taken by a nurse. I asked whether she would be taking my blood pressure and BMI as this has been done by the nurse on my previous pre-diabetes checks. Was informed I could do this myself on the machine in the waiting room. Attempted to do my own blood pressure and although I am not medically trained I could see that the readings were not right. I then tried to do my BMI. The measuring bar on the height machine appeared to be broken. I reported this to the reception and then one of the receptionists offered to come over and take a look. At this stage I mentioned I thought the blood pressure readings did not seem right either. The receptionist agreed the height machine was not right and she suggested I do my blood pressure whilst she was there with me. She was concerned about the readings. She spoke to a nurse and I was then offered another appointment for 5.20pm today for a nurse to take my blood pressure. I just feel that had the nurse who took my blood also taken my blood pressure and weight/height at the same time as taking my blood, this could all have been done very quickly. Instead I felt stressed and it also wasted the time of a receptionist who spent probably about 10-15 minutes with me trying to take my blood pressure and BMI. Also it is inconvenient having to go back to have my blood pressure taken later today. What could have taken 10 minutes thereby resulted in at least 20 minutes of my time and also the receptionist's time who could have been dealing with something more important. I would like to add that the receptionist was extremely helpful. I just feel that this appointment could have been managed a lot better.
Visited December 2024
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 07 January 2025
Dear Mrs Dennis, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I agree your experience was frustrating. Unfortunately there was an issue the day you came in to use the 'POD' and in fact we had been unaware of this until after you had tried to use it. Although a poor experience for you it did enable us to get the issue resolved that day. The clinician that you did see to take your bloods was a highly trained and experienced phlebotomist, but it is not within her job role or has had the training to be able to take blood pressures. Neither is there appropriate equipment in the phlebotomy room to be able to weigh or measure you. As the 'POD' did give abnormal readings it was important we had you checked, but due to existing appointments could not just do it there and then. Hence the request to return. I do therefore apologise. I agree it was a poor experience for you. We will discuss as a practice to see what we night do better in similar circumstances in the future. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Awful with mental health
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Marina Lucey - Posted on 06 December 2024
The surgery are very dismissive of patients with mental health problems when they are asking for help and just brush them off with no appointments not even trying to book even a routine appointment. They also are rude on the phone when asking for medical supplies that they insisted be taken off of prescription and have to be ordered through the reception. They only supply a small amount meaning continual calls and even then requests for the supplies requested can take up to 2 weeks
Visited December 2024
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 09 December 2024
Dear Ms Lucey, Thank you for your review. Although I will not normally comment in too much detail in a public forum, I have tried to search your records and it would appear you have not been a patient or been seen at Bridge Road Surgery for several years. It would appear that you have left the review for the incorrect organisation. If you have done so, please would you kindly request the review to be removed. Should you feel you are still a patient, please contact me directly by email clive.sillitoe@nhs.net, stating your full name. DOB and address and the last clinician you saw at the surgery and when. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Love my surgery and staff
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Heather Ayers - Posted on 03 December 2024
To thank the lovely nurse who did my ECG today 3/12/2024 I’ve had many a good experience at Bridge Road surgery, the receptionists are very helpful and polite
Visited December 2024
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 04 December 2024
Dear Heather, Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know how pleased you are with the care you have received from my staff. I shall be pleased to pass your comments on to my staff, they will also be grateful that you have taken the time to write. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Brilliant Experience
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Amy - Posted on 04 November 2024
Since changing from my previous GP surgery from a bad experience on recommendation from my family member, the service I have received has been amazing. I phoned last week to get an appointment and the appointments were full, however one of the receptionists called me back and got me a same day emergency appointment going above and beyond. I am extremely grateful for that. Today I had a blood test and the nurse I saw was so so kind, understanding of my phobia and caring in her nature. Didn’t make me feel embarrassed and to be honest I couldn’t actually feel a thing- thank you! I don’t often leave reviews but I feel the need to do so as this GP surgery has truly made a big difference, not only to me but also to my family also. Thank you so much, keep up the brilliant work :)
Visited November 2024
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 04 November 2024
Dear Amy, Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. I am very pleased you have received a good service and good level of care. I shall be sure to pass your comments on to my staff. Thank you again for your kind comments. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe Practice Manager
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Review titled Fast efficient response and appointment
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Martin - Posted on 14 November 2024
I attended the surgery at 8.00am requesting an appointment to see a Doctor, I was offered an appointment for 11.15am the same day. I saw the Doctor, was diagnosed and given a medication prescription and by 11.45am I had my tablets and began the treatment. When needed the service is superb. Thank you for your fast and efficient help.
Visited November 2024
Review titled Bridge Road Surgery
Replied on 16 November 2024
Dear Martin, Thank you for taking the time to leave such nice feedback. I am pleased that we were able to offer you fast and efficient care. I shall be sure to pass your thanks on to all staff. Best wishes. Clive Sillitoe. Practice Manager