Vale Medical Centre
195-197 Perry Vale, Forest Hill, London, Greater London, SE23 2JFContact details and opening times
Patient ratings and reviews
Leave a review
Help others by sharing your thoughts and experiences about Vale Medical Centre.
Reviews
-
Review titled Impossible to get an appointment!
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 18 August 2023
They only release appointments on the day and even if you call at 8am on the dot you will be in a queue of 30+ callers - that takes on average 1hr 20 to get through. Only to be told no appointments. Same with the app - you have to go on at 9pm the night before and again go on at 9.01pm and there are not appointments left. They don't actually advertise this is when appointments are released so you can only do this if you are in the know. But my real annoyance is that you can't book any non urgent appointments in advance. What if I have built up courage to speak to someone about my mental health or something that has been worrying me. If it is so hard to get an appointment then it's easiest to give up and not seek help. I can't really comment on what the doctors are like as you can't get to see one.
Visited August 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 10 January 2024
Dear Service user, We have changed the appointment booking system in the last few months which will have addressed this issue. I hope you find the new system better. Kind Regards Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled Excellent service
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by John Dodds - Posted on 14 September 2023
Haven’t booked an appointment in awhile - attended the practice to find I picked the first day of a new booking system - very efficient and staff right from the patient receptionist who explained the new system thoroughly, to the GP who I spoke to.
Visited August 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 10 January 2024
Thank you very much for your feedback which we will be sharing with all the team. Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled Fantastic service
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 30 August 2023
Since they introduced the new booking system I was able to get an appointment booked. Something that in the last would be very difficult to achieve. Well done all.
Visited August 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 10 January 2024
Thank you very much for your review. Very much appreciated and will be shared with the managing team. The Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled If you love waiting on the phone you'll love this place
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 05 July 2023
No shade on the people who work here, who are outstanding, but waiting for the best part of an hour only to be told there's no available GPs and that you need to call again tomorrow to go through the same process for the chance to maybe get seen but probably not likely isn't exactly ideal in an emergency. In short don't be poor.
Visited July 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 07 July 2023
Thank you for your feedback. Please note that we are reviewing our telephone system and hope to have a new set -up in the next coming weeks. If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please do contact the Practice Manager. Kind Regards, Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled Good service and care
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 03 August 2023
Recently registered and found the GP very attentive and caring. Would definitely recommend. Reception was busy but very helpful.
Visited July 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 07 August 2023
Thank you very much for your time you took to write these kind words. It is always nice to hear good feedback and it will be shared with the team.
-
Review titled VeryGood Doctors But very Poor Service
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 22 June 2023
At this point I am relying on this practise for medical support , having been fit until a few weeks ago. It is true my distressing as I have logged in many time time in patient access but told the app is not liked to the vale. There is a systemic problem , I have logged the problem twice with patient access and spoken to the practise several times . If a patient access system is only working for a proportion of patients it is in fit for use and a dangerous, especially when I was told that the vale are going to increase their reliance on the app which has systemic flaws. The only way I can see a doctor is if I line up by 7.30 and then there are only 5-10 appointments available as that’s on the day. If I telelephone at 8 am when the practise opens there are 40 people waiting . There is no triaging . You can only make an appointment on day if you téléphone or line up and then there is patient access that tells me my practise is not linked to it. And reception staff seem to have their head in the sand and insinuate it’s the patients problem . That is patronising and victim blaming
Visited June 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 07 July 2023
Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction. We are currently reviewing our appointment and telephone system so that we can reach as many patients as possible. We hope to have a new procedure in place in the next few months which we hope will help easing the pressure we currently face. If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please do contact the Practice Manager. Kind Regards, Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled Should be 0 stars: No appointments ever available
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 17 April 2023
Yet again it’s proving impossible to get an appointment at this surgery, 3 weeks and counting at this point. I’m on the app booking page on the dot of 9pm but by the time you press confirm (even when using a single word descriptor for the reason) the appointment is no longer available. On the phone at 8am and this morning I was 32 in the queue and as ever, after waiting 40 minutes, I’m told all appointments have gone. It’s unacceptable, like many, many other members of this surgery, I need to see a GP and I simply can’t.
Visited April 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 07 July 2023
I am sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction and the inability to book an appointment. We are aware that patients have difficulty in reaching us via the telephone and as such we will be having a new system in August which we hope will ease the current pressures. If you would like to discuss this in more detail please contact the Practice Manager. Kind Regards, Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled Good practice all around
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Rebecca S - Posted on 11 April 2023
After reading the review history I had to write my family experience. Yes, they are under pressure but this is not the practice fault. The country needs more GPs full stop. We have been at this GP surgery since 2015 without any complaints. My very old father has received great care and I am very grateful.
Visited April 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 24 April 2023
Thank you very much for your feedback. Please rest assured that it will be shared with the team. The Vale Medical Centre
-
Review titled Not sure where this practice is heading...
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 11 April 2023
Same as majority negatives below, 48 in the queue ( seem to be the number), got through after 45min and told to go to another surgery. No space for 'negotiation'. Also this is not the first time, last time I had to negotiate just to get a txt from gp let alone to be seen...
Visited April 2023
Review titled Vale Medical Centre
Replied on 24 April 2023
Thank you for your feedback. Indeed we are aware that there is a very high demand for GPs services within our area. This is very stressful not only to the patients but also to the practice staff. However I would be very pleased to meet with you to discuss the pressures we are under and get your feedback on how we could improve. Please do contact the Practice Manager via our contact form. Kind Regards, The Vale Medical Centre