Queen's Medical Centre
6-7 Queen Street, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 8HYContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Terrible
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Kim Hollands - Posted on 16 August 2024
On the 13/08/24 I rang the surgery to re order some pain patches. Today 16/08 I went to pick up my prescription from the chemist. No patches. After trying for absolutely ages to get through I did eventually speak to someone at 16.45. Person said my request had been declined by clinician as I had not had that particular medication since march. Despite the fact I order it every 4 weeks!! No one had got in touch to inform me medication had been refused.Asked to speak to clinician or GP. Only to be told there was no one there. All they could do was book a review for Monday. Does no one read our medical records at this surgery? Nearly every week something is wrong with my prescriptions. Every week i end up stressed. This is not accessible healthcare. It’s beyond a joke.
Visited August 2024
Queen's Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled This practice is a shambles
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Primrose Scudder - Posted on 08 August 2024
I was diagnosed with mild COPD in March this year and have had no less than 9 excacerbations or flare ups since then, resulting in me having to take 9 lots of steroids and antibiotics, which i know is not good for me because of the long term effects, but despite trying to get proper advice from a doctor on this matter, I have just been fobbed off and ignored, having to wait at least 2 weeks for even a telephone appointment, during which I have just been told to keep taking the rescue medication packs. Recently, during my 9th flare up, I finally managed to speak to a locum doctor who actually seemed to care and she sent me for a sputum test and xray, after 5 months of me asking for help. She said she would get another doctor to give me a follow up telephone call a week later to plan a way forward and review my medication, which finally gave me hope of getting my problem sorted. However, this call was supposed to come yesterday but didn't. When I rang this morning to ask why, I was told it wasn't even on my notes and I would have to wait another 3 weeks for a face to face appointment. This news actually reduced me to tears of frustration as I feel I am going around in circles. I have every admiration for NHS workers but this surgery gives them a bad name. In short, I have been ill since March and now, in August, I am still waiing for someone at Queens to help me sort the problem out. If, as I suspect, the practice will respond to this review with their usual response of 'please contact the practice manager to discuss this further' I can tell you now I will not be doing this as, every time I ring the surgery , I have to wait at least half an hour to even get through to someone. Also, you can never get to see the same doctor twice and always have to wait at least 2 weeks for an appointment and, because of this, I have had to repeat my history of illness over and over again. I feel neglected, ignored and very worried about my prognosis and really am at a loss of what to do next. I would urge anyone who is thinking of joining this surgery to think again.
Visited August 2024
Queen's Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Awful appointment system and phone lines
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 06 June 2024
On Tuesday I tried to call the surgery to make an appointment for my 9 year old child who had developed a rash on their face which was spreading to their neck and chest. I called the surgery and after being on hold for 45 minutes and not getting through, my step-father drove into town and went into the surgery to book an appointment. He was told he couldn't book an appointment and needed to fill out an e-consult form and attach pictures. I filled out the form and got to the question "Does the rash disappear when you hold a glass to it" I answered No as it didn't, at which point the system told me I had reported a medical emergency and if this wasn't correct click the back button and change my answer. Firstly, there was no back button and secondly, I couldn't change my answer as I had correctly answered the question. I clicked proceed as this was the only option and the form abruptly ended due to the 'medical emergency' I had reported. There was no opportunity to attach pictures. I received a call back the following morning which I missed as I am a teacher. The first message said they would call again, which they did 10-15 minutes later. My first issue with this is, if someone isn't available at a particular time, they are unlikely to be available 10-15 minutes later to answer a call. Secondly, the second message said for me to call the surgery. I was straight back to where I started 24 hours previously. I attempted to call at 3.35pm yesterday. I started as caller number 10. After approx 50 minutes, I became caller number 1. After furrther minutes the phone started to ring rather than the music so I was hopeful that my call was about to be answered. I continued on the call for a total of 1 hour and 7 minutes (approx 17 mins of it just ringing) before I hung up. My guess is the phone lines were turned off at 4.30pm around the time it went from the music to the ring. I am absolutely disgusted at how difficult it is to make an appointment and I am now at a lose as to how I can make an appointment. I have called twice ( a total of nearly 2 hours on the phone), been into the surgery directly and completed an e-consult. I have since filled out the contact form of the website to make a complaint and ask to be contacted, with the result being 'Message cannot be sent'! Disgusting service
Visited June 2024
Review titled Queen's Medical Centre
Replied on 07 June 2024
Dear patient, Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry for your experience. Please could you call the Practice Manager on 01271 372672 to discuss this further. Best regards, Queens Medical Centre
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Review titled Not impressed
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 07 June 2024
After initially trying to phone twice and being told I couldn't even join the que as it was full I spent 1 hour and 15 minutes on Wednesday just gone waiting in the que... 1 hour and 15 minutes!! It took me 40 minutes alone to go from 10th in line to 7th!!! I understand that services are busy and everything but I have never had to experience a wait time like that! While waiting on the line I went to check out if I could fill it out online ... Which I did and sent it... But had absolutely no confirmation come through to tell me if it had actually gone or been received or anything. So I waited on the line to finally get through and after all that time be told that "oh yes we have had your online request come through"... So I basically waited all that time for nothing! I'm now having to phone again as my prescription still has not gone over to pharmacy and I've not heard anything about it! If there's a problem or anything! Not impressed at all.
Visited June 2024
Review titled Queen's Medical Centre
Replied on 14 June 2024
Dear patient, We are very sorry for your negative experience. Unfortunately we are very short-staffed at the present time. If you would like to discuss this further, please call the Practice Manager on 01271 372672. Thank you for your feedback, Queens Medical Centre.
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Review titled Appalling practice
by Anonymous - Posted on 08 April 2024
I joined in April 2023. I have completed a number of e consults. I have never been contacted or able to see a Dr. The receptionists are all polite and I'm sure they just tell patientswhat they've been instructed to. I eventually had a call from a pharmacist who said I needed to see a Dr and he's leave it on my notes. When trying to make an appointment I was told over and over that the practice manager was waiting in a rota ut it would be over a month. I then saw a physio who didn't listen to me. He ordered bloods. The nurse was lovely. I had no follow up and months down the line have no answers. I have given up and registered with another practice.
Visited March 2024
Review titled Queen's Medical Centre
Replied on 07 June 2024
Dear patient, Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry for your experience. Please could you call the Practice Manager on 01271 372672 to discuss this further. Best regards, Queens Medical Centre
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Review titled I am utterly saddened
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Jason - Posted on 17 March 2024
Having been passed from pillar to post with this practice I have to say this is the worst experience I have had with a health centre ever. I have begged to see a doctor and been refused the opportunity for anything but a 'routine appointment' in a month. Then in January I was fobbed off with my xray being sent off without anyone speaking to me, resulting in a years long wait for a hospital appointment. The pain became much worse, but I was told that the doctor at Queens would only see urgent cases on the same day, so I was offered a routine appointment for a months time. Two days later when I phoned back in urgent pain I was told to go to A&E! If your case is not urgent they won't see you, and if it's urgent it's A&E. Joseph Heller wrote a novel about this sort of thing - was it called 'CatchQMC? So I went to A&E, a bit upset by the lack of care - Queens could have sent an email to A&E or contacted them in some way to say I was coming, but it really felt that they were sending me to A&E to get rid of me, and nothing else. In A&E they ran a lot of tests - they were great, but they emphasised how important it was for me to see my doctor. They wrote a report to say what department my GP should refer me to, and gave me enough strong painkillers for a week - they said they were sure my doctor would see me within the week. So the next day I phoned Queens asking if they'd received the report from A&E, and asking if there was any chance that the appointment I had with them in a month could be expedited a little bit. They said 'no' so it's still about 3 weeks before I can see the GP just to look at the letter from A&E with me and make a referral. Since they won't even look at referring me for another 3 weeks I think I can make a bet that the referral, if and when they make it, will also be 'routine' which will mean another years wait, as it would be in a different department to the one that they originally referred me to without meeting me to discuss the xray. In the meantime, they have offered to extend my prescription for painkillers for another three weeks. I'm not too crazy about taking codeine 4 times a day for a month. I must emphasise that the doctors at Queens all seem very nice, and that they did phone me, and even referred me to orthopaedics on the basis of a telephone consultation. The problem is that a phone consultation was not what I needed or wanted and it led to my being referred to the wrong department. Please see your patients Queens. Please.
Visited February 2024
Review titled Queen's Medical Centre
Replied on 05 April 2024
We are very sorry for your negative experience. Please could you call the Practice Manager on 01271 372672 to discuss this further.
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Review titled Staggering.
Rated 1 star out of 5
by H Thompson - Posted on 06 October 2023
I am pretty blown away to be honest with you. I am very very sympathetic to the state of our NHS at the moment but my patience with the admin and reception staff has reached its limit. I try to smile and be polite at all times and that will continue. Taking two weeks to organise an appointment is one thing. But to not act on a letter from Dermotology for nearly two *months*, is something else. Of course, I can't ring them about it, otherwise I'd be made to feel evil for daring to interrupt their day... I always think they can't get any worse, but I'll give them this - they'll always surprise me
Visited October 2023
Queen's Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Great
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Wendy Miles - Posted on 21 April 2023
Felt listened to, understood and felt I was given plenty of time to explain my symptoms, Dr was great at giving me the time I needed and has followed up with treatment and further appointments. Feel supported and feel now that I have someone who listens that my health will start to improve
Visited April 2023
Queen's Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Good quality of care
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Roger Woodward - Posted on 31 March 2023
My experience has required several tests and follow ups. The results have come back quickly and been communicated with any further action required. I feel confident in the treatment I receive across the practice.
Visited March 2023
Queen's Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Awful Practice
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 07 June 2023
This Practice is awful telling you they can't do a routine appointment and then call you on the day and you miss one call and they don't try again Absolutely outrageous
Visited March 2023
Queen's Medical Centre has not yet replied.