Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Birch Hill Medical Centre, Leppington, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7WWContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Questionable practices about phone calls
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 13 March 2024
After waiting the best part of a month for a consultation, I received no call, just a bland text. This was late in the day. The text suggested 'your phone was switched off' which it wasn't. My phone is set up to alert me for all calls, but no calls had been made. The text was delivered to my 'switched off' phone without a problem. So, the following morning I tested the 'switched off' scenario ... went straight to voicemail, no 'switched off' message. When I turned my phone back on, I got an sms to alert me of a missed call. As it was the end of the day, after the surgery had closed, I was unable to respond, and now have to wait another 'n' weeks before I can speak to someone.
Visited March 2023
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 18 March 2024
Thank you for this feedback and is disappointing to read when we really do make every attempt to help patients. There may have been a reception problem with your phone and hence not connected. Our policy is to attempt and if not connect then to send a text which will get to the patient who is not kept waiting - as a way to reach out that we had tried, and request contacting us if still required. It would be quite unreasonable for the doctor to keep trying as when do we stop? There have been instances when batteries have been dead or wrong phone number given so we would be unable to keen chasing. We are open 8-630 on the working days and many doctors work longer than this due to the high demand. Hence you would have had to contact the surgery during open hours. We triage to prioritize all requests asking to speak with a doctor, and cannot say which category your contact was, but was possibly "non-urgent" as we contact patients on the same day if assessed as urgent. Given the huge workload and demand at the moment, it is only reasonable that we prioritize those that need urgently on the same day, and it may be that yours was of a non-urgent nature. Hopefully, your query has been resolved now but do please contact us again, in the best way that suits you if not resolved. Many best wishes.
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Review titled Klinic Access
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Andrew Stanley - Posted on 01 March 2023
My wife and I have used Klinic Access several times and found it absolutely brilliant. There has been no need to come in for a face-to-face appointment, because I've either been referred to Frimley for an urgent appointment or, in my wife's case, been given a prescription to collect the same day.
Visited March 2023
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 02 March 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write this feedback. Klinik i a new tool we have employed to help with anyone seeking advice and glad you have found it helpful. The process is that a GP/clinician will review all advice or appointment requests to see how best to manage the enquiry and may be just a telephone consultation or arrange to be seen face to face. This also allows for the patient to be consulted by the most appropriate clinician. We hope that this will help with the long waits on the phone due to high demand and your feedback is evidence that it is working for patients which is our main aim. Thanks again and many best wishes to you and your family.
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Review titled Klinik app is great and very fast follow up
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Scott Hamilton - Posted on 13 February 2023
I raised a query on Klinik and was call less than 3 hrs later by the surgery to follow up. The app is so easy to use and combined with such a fast follow up is remarkable. This will change GP services provision for so many people
Visited February 2023
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 14 February 2023
Thank you for taking the time to give this feedback. In order to save time on the phone waiting and to give a prompt service, we have employed this Klinik platform which is manned by 2 doctors and hence the quick turnaround. Glad you benefited and hopefully others too. Best wishes as always.
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Review titled Baffled
Rated 3 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 18 January 2023
No problem with new system, daughter was seen quite quickly However cannot get prescription from any chemist, its been an on going problem with shortages so why prescribe it still knowing there's a national shortage
Visited January 2023
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 18 January 2023
Thank you for taking the time to give this feedback which is greatly appreciated - and that our new system is benefiting patients. I am sorry that you have had trouble getting the medication due to stock shortages. We are aware of problems but the chemists do get regular supplies daily, and additionally the government has put in place a process whereby they can give an alternative if no stock, and hence should be of little inconvenience to patients. Unfortunately, this shortage status changes daily and we do not get informed what is in stock in real-time - hence not in our gift to manage as we would like ideally. Many thanks again and best wishes.
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Review titled Amazing Practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 28 December 2022
Amazing service provided by the doctors and staff at the surgery today. So grateful for the support and prompt response after the initial online consultation. The doctor was extremely helpful and efficient. Thank you all
Visited December 2022
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 29 December 2022
Thank you for taking the time to submit this review - means a lot. The new Klinik online consultation tool should help reduce the need to phone the practice, and each one is triaged by a doctor. Hence the most appropriate action is taken and prioritized as per nature of enquiry. Thank you again, and glad you found this helpful - many best wishes.
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Review titled Helpful and efficient practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 07 October 2022
The practice always endeavour to resound quite quickly and help on the day if they can. The new online consultant form is an effective way of achieving this.
Visited October 2022
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 07 October 2022
Thank you for taking the time to write this review, and your lovely positive comments. The new online consultation service on our website (called Klinik) is a very simple way to access advice in your own time, at your convenience and it is heartening that you have found it easy and helpful. Our aim is to reduce the wait times on the phone for those that need advice, be it clinical or administrative, by encouraging the use of the Klinik process, instead of telephoning the surgery - and thereby freeing up the phone lines which can be very busy indeed (80-100 calls per hour). Once we receive the completed form, it is assessed by a doctor who prioritizes the call - we have on many occasions responded within a few minutes on receipt of the Klinik form, to the surprise and delight of the patient! Of those that have used this, over 80% say that they found it easy, very beneficial and better than calling the surgery. Thank you again and many best wishes.
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Review titled Could not get a doctors appointment or call
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Gen phillips - Posted on 03 May 2022
I phoned for two days and waited in queues with 18 people before me before being told that no doctors appointments or calls would be issued. I was directed to online which did not solve my health issue. I wanted to speak with a professional but the receptionist was trying to diagnose my issue and the she referred me to a physiotherapist before I was seen by a doctor.
Visited May 2022
Review titled Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill
Replied on 07 May 2022
Dear patient - Thank you for your feedback and comments – and apologies if you have been inconvenienced in any way. Firstly, in relation to the waiting time on the phone, all practices in the country are extremely busy at the moment with demand for medical advice. We are no different in that we get anywhere up to 100 calls per hour, and much worse during the early mornings. We have a limited number of appointments, although we do offer one the highest number in the area by far. Secondly, historically, we have found that getting the right individual with expert skills may help resolve medical issues much more efficiently and quickly, rather than taking up an appointment with another clinician who will refer you to that service anyway. The practice has been at the forefront of innovation, in that we have employed allied health professionals who help manage demand and patients in the best and most appropriate way. We have highly trained pharmacists, counsellors, social prescribers, and physiotherapists who help patients and have had very positive feedback for the service they have provided to patients, supported all the time by the practice GPs if there have been any queries. The receptionists have been trained to get as much detail as possible to place patients with the right clinician, who does not have to be a GP every time, and it may be that your case related to a Musculo-skeletal or joint problem that would have been best served by seeing a physiotherapist. Receptionists should not be giving medical advice and I will take this back as a learning point and hope the above goes some way to explaining the process that was followed. Sincere apologies again, and any thanks for taking the time to write in.