Downs Way Medical Practice
Worcester Close, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 9LBContact details and opening times
Patient ratings and reviews
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Reviews
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Review titled Very poor trying to get appointments
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Dave - Posted on 22 July 2024
My wife has on the last 2 attempts,on different days in the last 2 weeks that she has tried to use the econsult, at either just after 08.00 up to 08.40 the system says that it is not accessible. Try again another day. My wife today phoned at 09.25 to try and get to see a doctor at either Shorne Village Surgery or Istead Rise to be told that the quota is full and to try again tomorrow, why is it not possible to make an appointment for the following days without going through the usual long waiting list to talk to someone, what a waste of time. I am really surprised that there was no availability at Shorne surgery (our local one) because I happened to have been in there today for a different matter and remarked to her that the waiting room was empty. Shorne village surgery appears to be side lined all the time, I realise that things have changed from the first class service that we used to enjoy pre Covid, however the world is back to normal and has been for a while now, why is our GP service in such a bad way, there is probably more people now than before Covid that need the services at Shorne but it is sadly lacking, Istead Rise it seems is no better, please look at the reviews from people that feel they are being badly let down, the number is increasing daily.
Visited July 2024
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Now the worst surgery in the area
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 28 December 2023
After calling 111 who referred me to the surgery for appointment. I rang on a Wednesday and was offered Saturday. I'm 76yrs had a v high temperature a severe cough, trouble breathing and had the cold since November it kept coming back worse each time. No hope of seeing anyone for 3 days! It's the same story for many in the community now. Very poor service.
Visited December 2023
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Good practice
Rated 4 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 11 November 2023
I have nothing but good to say about this practice. I sent an econsult and within 20 minutes I had a face to face at 10 o’clock that morning where things were sorted that I’d tried to get sorted for ages. I found everyone nice and friendly. I had to make another appointment so I sent an E consult and got another face to face for the next day. I have only been at the practice since July but I think I made the right choice.
Visited September 2023
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Round in circles
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 29 March 2023
Assuming that though persistent my ailment is not an emergency I have tried eConsult for advice but found it consistently 'unavailable'. So I turned to NHS 111. Answered a number of questions, of which more than 90% were inapplicable and finally received the instruction, "See your GP".
Visited March 2023
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Poor service
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 02 February 2023
Can not ring to book appointment, get told to do a call at 8.30 in the morning or a form at 8 am. They say no doctors book appointments till you have a phone consultation. The staff on reception is rude and won't help. Just keep saying ring in the morning.
Visited February 2023
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Dreadful, frustrating and unreliable
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 06 December 2022
Absolute hideous GP practice. Telephones are never answered, no response from GP following specilaist appointments who specifically advise to see GP. Have been waiting 3 months to try and get through. On the very rare occasion i manage to get through its always "try tomorrow and dont turn up as we will turn you away". This place should be closed down. Ive been there for over 45 years and its now such a complete disaster its a waste of tax payers money. There must be sooo many patients who have undiagnosed issues it is extremely worrying for the community.
Visited December 2022
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Poor all round
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 29 December 2022
Face to face appointments are withheld and only a clinician will decide if you get one once you have done an econsult. Econsult is now turned off once they reach a certain quota, before 10am currently. So if you don’t get through on the phone and don’t make it in time for econsult you’re screwed. I feel like the patients are treated with an agitated annoyance that you dare wish to see a doctor. But by far the worse thing I witnessed was a frail elderly person at reception asking for a doctors appointment as she had tried for days on the phone, she was told by reception that it wasn’t possible to give an appointment and to ring again in the morning. Sums it up really when a vulnerable member of the community asks for help and they are turned away. I know other GP surgeries will do this for the elderly but not here, so it’s a matter of decision making by the bosses not what is actually best for the patient.
Visited December 2022
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Frustrating Service
Rated 3 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 14 October 2022
I telephoned for a Covid Booster appointment at Istead Rise. A very helpful receptionist said that the next date was fully booked but come along anyway as many patients fail to turn up. A few days later I rang to check the date of the clinic and the receptionist refused to tell/confirm the date. She was perfectly polite but steadfastly refused to tell me the date. I did ask to speak to the practice manger but was told he was on holiday. I pointed out what her colleague had said some days earlier but she refused to acknowledge what I was saying. She offered us dates at Summerhouse Drive which we accepted. Decided after all to try the NHS site and got appointments at the centre at Canal Basin, Gravesend in 24 hours of going on line. I must state the the conversation did not get heated by either party.
Visited October 2022
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Cannot make contact
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 22 September 2022
Have been trying for some days now to make contact via eConsult but the surgery are always unavailable, the eConsult appointments have usually run out within five minutes of them being available. The frustrations around not being able to sit with a GP face to face are incredible. What happened to our lovely nhs that cared for the people of the uk? When did we all just become data?
Visited September 2022
Downs Way Medical Practice has not yet replied.