Giffard Drive Surgery
68 Giffard Drive, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 8QBContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Standards very poor and progressively getting worse
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Dr Miriam - Posted on 17 January 2025
I am deeply frustrated and disappointed by the inefficiency and lack of care at Giffard Drive GP surgery. Timely appointments are nearly impossible to get, and there seems to be no clear process or streamlining. Follow-on appointments, even when clearly required, are not booked or recommended, leaving patients to navigate the system themselves with no guidance. There’s no transparency regarding why appointments are assigned to certain staff (GPs vs. pharmacists), and it often feels like responsibilities are being pushed onto the next person, with no resolution in sight. Pharmacists that you re booked with tell you they can't do anything before a diagnosis is made, and you wonder why you were booked in with them to begin with. GPs rarely take meaningful action, until your symptoms (e.g. very high BP) indicate you are close to stroking out. Raising concerns appears to make no difference. I hand-delivered a Concern letter to the practice manager four weeks ago (18 December, 2024) and despite their stated policy of responding within a certain timeframe, I have received no acknowledgment or response. This lack of accountability is incredibly disheartening. The online booking system is another issue-it’s often down or unhelpful. I was asked to make a booking online, yet this afternoon at 14:30hrs, I was unable to make that non-urgent but important query because the system was "temporarily unavailable". This is not anything new, the booking system is fashionably "temporarily unavailable". It makes me wonder if these problems stem from staff being overworked and experiencing compassion fatigue, or if it’s simply a matter of box-ticking without genuine care for patient welfare. Either way, the erosion of basic service standards is alarming and saddening to witness. I hope these concerns are taken seriously, as the current system is leaving patients feeling unsupported, unheard, and frustrated. Or nothing will be done because it is a ploy to push patients to private healthcare...one wonders...
Visited December 2024
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 20 January 2025
Dear Dr Miriam, Firstly, thank you for taking the time to feedback regarding some recent experiences you have had at Giffard Drive Surgery, I can only apologise they haven't been positive. I will discuss with the the Deputy Practice Manager with regards to your hand written complaint, so we can formalise our response as I do not feel appropriate to respond regarding personal medical issues on a public forum, I do hope you can understand this. Should you require any further support from us, please do not hesitate to get in touch, Kimberley Finch Practice Manager
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Review titled Gate keeper receptionists and a work load to big to manage!
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Samantha Marshall - Posted on 29 February 2024
You can not get an appointment here, you are on hold for over an hour most times you call and the receptionists are rude, unhelpful and quite frankly nosy and they are not medical pratitioners. They tell you that you must disclose the reason you need to see your GP to them and if you question this the response is always "Im not going to talk to you if youre being rude" and they they tell you, they won't process your call and you'll have to wait for a general appointment which will be three or four weeks wait. Leaglly, you do NoT need to tell them anything about your condition to see your GP. I had to pay privately in the end only to be told it would take two weeks (due the work loads!!!) for my GP to even review the finidngs from the tests I'd paid for, and write an open referral so I can pay more to get treatment I need.
Visited February 2024
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 06 March 2024
Dear S Marshall, Thank you for your feedback, the Reception team always aim to answer the calls as quickly as they can, at times of sickness/annual leave this can lead to longer wait times and due to the morning rush for same day appointments this can always be a busier time. We have made a recent change to our system which we feel will help patients get the right appointment, at the right time with the right person. Our website has a form for a patient to fill out, it is then triaged by a clinician the same day. We hope this change supports our patients and helps our access. I do regularly listen to the Reception team interact with the patients and feel they are kind, caring and supportive, please do contact the practice directly if you have had a negative encounter with detail so I can look into this for you. A patient does not need to tell a member of the team what their appointment is for but we do ask so we can book the appropriate appointment for the patient. I do understand the frustration when waiting for results, our team will pass the results to the Doctor as soon as they are able to, the GP will review the results and take any necessary actions needed, whether that be further tests, a review or an onward referral, this will always be communicated to the patient. I hope going forward you have a positive experience at the surgery as we do strive for excellent patient care. Thank you Kimberley Finch Assistant Practice Manager
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Review titled Very poor practice
Rated 1 star out of 5
by david barker - Posted on 04 January 2024
Trying to get a face to face appointment first available 24th Jan 2024 it’s a joke To have to wait nearly a month to see a GP actually not a joke it’s verging on criminal No wander A&E departments are run off their feet I only want to discuss my Medication face to face without being fobbed off by a receptionist
Visited January 2024
Giffard Drive Surgery has not yet replied.
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Review titled Not Impressed
Rated 3 stars out of 5
by Mrs Lorraine S Spence - Posted on 25 January 2024
My husband has just received a message regarding Prostrate screening. He has just rung the surgery pointing out that he has stage 4 lung cancer, no longer receiving treatment and is under palliative care with not much longer left. The reply he was given is that it was an automated message so just ignore it and any further messages. This seems a bit insensitive and perhaps a "send to all" policy needs some sort of filter!
Visited January 2024
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 29 January 2024
Dear L Spence, Thank you for taking the time to offer your feedback to the practice. I am sorry your husband received a text message relating to Prostrate screening given his current health. At times, we do send out invitations for screening both internally or set to us by our PCN/NHSE, as well as general health reviews i.e. an up to date blood pressure reading and given the list size of the practice, we do send out invitations 'in bulk', though, on the premise of your feedback, in future the practice will look to exclude sending messages to patients that may not be appropriate or could be potentially upsetting. Thank you Kimberley Finch Assistant Practice Manager
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Review titled Poor from the get go
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Sarah - Posted on 22 March 2024
New to the area and got assigned with Giffard drive? Good luck. I was under the care of Giffard Drive after moving to the area for around a year. During this time, all I experienced was unanswered questions, a resistance to get tests done, and a ban on the regular antibiotics I took for my reoccurring UTI's (I've had for 10 years) which they accused me of faking because it often didn't pick up in dip tests.. why would I fake that? I have now moved area, and immediately the question/concern I have had for a year about issues with my hormones have been answered in 1 x 15min phone call with my new practice. A year of uncertainty for no reason. You're better off going private than signing up with them.
Visited August 2023
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 22 March 2024
Dear Sarah, I am sorry our service hasn't met your needs, I am unable to comment further due to having no further information and being unable to identify you, should you wish to make a formal complaint please do visit our website and I will do all I can to help. Kimberley Finch Assistant Practice Manager
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Review titled Excellent practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 22 July 2023
Very pleased with my experience at the surgery. The GP made an appointment the next day at FPH. My issue has now been identified and I'm now undergoing treatment that will resolve my medical issue.
Visited July 2023
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 24 July 2023
Dear patient, Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback, I am pleased to hear you had a positive experience with our clinicians at Giffard Drive, should you require any further support, we are always here. Kimberley Finch Assistant Practice Manager
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Review titled Great practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Debbie Woods - Posted on 14 July 2023
I have been a patient with giffard drive for 30 years, and consider myself lucky to be a patient there. Even during covid times they were available, where lots of practises weren't. There has been a change of doctors over the past few years and I have had cause to see a few of them, and without exception they have always been thorough and reassuring. can always get a face to face appointment if need be.
Visited June 2023
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 18 July 2023
Dear Debbie, Thank you for your feedback which is received with thanks. We have been re-building our clinical team up following the loss of some of our experienced GPs recently and hope there will not be too many changes to these in the near future. I am extremely pleased that you have always been reassured following your consultations and sincerely hope this will continue. David Hitchman Practice Manager
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Review titled Disappointing surgery
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Maxine Cracknell - Posted on 10 May 2023
Did an e consult at 8am. GD replied to tell me someone would be in touch the following day by 6.30. At 5.30 I rang. I was number 1 in the queue. Waiting 18 minutes before answering. Why so long?. I was about to drive there when they picked up. Apparently no one has been in touch because they are so busy. I assumed that's why e consults were put into place. Been informed thar someone will be in touch tomorrow morning. Really isn't good enough. I've heard of other surgeries that are running like pre covid. Appts the same day etc. If your seriously thinking about becoming a patient here then I would like again. I must be the unlucky one as I've had nothing but negative experiences here.
Visited May 2023
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 18 July 2023
Dear Maxine, Thank you for your feedback, I am sorry that the experience you received fell below that expected. Unfortunately, we have been experiencing delays with the e-consult service due to levels of clinical staffing. We have tried to communicate this on social media and our website. We do try to respond as soon as possible and will always prioritise those cases which appear more urgent. That said, the e-consult service is not designed to be used for urgent symptoms as we cannot guarantee a rapid response. We are back to pre-covid operations, offering face to face and same day appointments although, as you can appreciate, we have can only offer appointments within our available resources. Our clinical staff are all working beyond the recommended levels and I have to consider their health and well-being as well as that of our patients. We have been actively recruiting clinical staff which, I hope, you will see should you need help in the future. David Hitchman Practice Manager
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Review titled Disappointing
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Maxine Cracknell - Posted on 13 March 2023
GD arranged for me to see doctor at another surgery on a Saturday. They said need chest x ray. Was to call GD on Thursday and that would have been arranged. It wasn't. Told me to call again Monday. I did. Still not been arranged. Simple chest x ray. GD have told ne to call back in 48 hours by which time it will be 11 days later. Let's hope its nothing serious. Sadly not the first complaint I've made about this surgery.
Visited March 2023
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 29 March 2023
Dear M Cracknell, Thank you for your feedback, I do hope you received my personal response and do not hesitate to get in touch should you wish to discuss any matters further, Thank you Kimberley Finch Assistant Practice Manager
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Review titled An excellent practice that have really helped
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Gaz - Posted on 23 February 2023
From my years in the military I’m bust up my GP does make me out to be full of s**t when approach him and we have an level of understanding.
Visited February 2023
Review titled Giffard Drive Surgery
Replied on 11 May 2023
Dear Gaz Thank you for your review, we aim to help all provide the best possible care to all our patients including military veterans. We pride ourselves in being an accredited veteran friendly practice and are happy you have experienced this positively. David Hitchman Practice Manager