The Westgate Practice
Greenhill H/Ctr,Church St, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6JLContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Terrible
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 01 February 2024
37 attempted calls from 8am this morning to try and book an appointment! Finally got through just before 9am to hear a recorded message saying all appointments are now gone. Absolutely ridiculous and dangerous system. I always manage for as long as I can before booking a GP appointment as a last resort so rarely need to attend the surgery. When I really do need to see a Doctor the time, stress and inconvenience of trying to book puts me off! Like most people I work and am unable to spend hours trying to get an appointment to see a GP. I know services are stretched but most of this is down to poor management and dated systems. Enabling Patients to book appointments in advance would cut down on the daily appointment lottery calls and ensure they were signposted or seen. It would also reduce pressure in other areas of the NHS such as A&E and 101 (who I will now have to call!) It really isn't rocket science!
Visited February 2024
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 06 February 2024
We are sorry that you have been unable to book an appointment with the practice, as a very large practice we appreciate it can be a challenge. The Westgate Practice made a number of changes to the appointment booking system in response to the Government’s mandate to improve capacity and access in Primary Care. Appointments are now available to book from 8am each day for that day via the telephone and in the practice. We offer on the day appointments for both non urgent and urgent issues with a GP, ANP or Clinical Pharmacist; these may be by telephone or face to face. When speaking with one of our Patient Services Assistants, patients may be asked a number of questions in order that they can direct you to the most appropriate clinician or service. This might be to a community pharmacist, a dentist, mental health practitioner or advanced nurse practitioner. As a result of using care navigation and signposting, are no longer be able to offer doctor appointments online. This is again to ensure that all patients are booked into the most appropriate clinician or service. Once all of the Doctor’s appointments have been booked for that day, patients may be asked to contact an alternate service such as 111. If you are requested to do this, we would advise patients to inform them that they have been referred due to their GP being at capacity. For non-urgent medical issues you can use our website www.westgatepractice.co.uk and go the 'Ask the Doctor a Question' option which can be searched for at the top of the front page, your query will be reviewed and responded to. However, if you are contacting the practice to book an appointment for anything other than a Doctor, we would like to request that patients calls after 10am. All medication queries should be made between the hours of 10-3 only. This spread of appointment booking will help keep telephone waiting times to a minimum. We are also now inviting patients for pre-planned procedures or immunisations to book directly with the practice via a self-book link within their invitation text. We would encourage patients to use the link as it allows you to view all available appointment times, book your selected date, and receive confirmation without the need to contact the surgery. If patients do require a pre booked appointment with either a doctor or advanced nurse practitioner, there are a limited number of appointments available at Samuel Johnson Community Hospital every Saturday between 9.00am and 5.00pm. These can be booked up to two weeks in advance, please request one of these when you call. Whilst we appreciate and acknowledge that no one appointment system will suit all of our patients and their needs, we are committed to offering the best possible care with the resources we have available. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Yours sincerely Sara Allen Patient Liaison Officer
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Review titled Fantastic facility
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by david price - Posted on 01 February 2024
Today I had a procedure performed by the Minor Surgery care team at Westgate Practice, this is a brilliant local service undertaken at our local GP centre and seems so cost effective for the care team and myself, the appointment was arranged speedily and the procedure was performed by the skilled team in Minor Surgery. This is a fantastic service making great use of the very skilled resources within the practice. Thanks so much for your expertise and care.
Visited February 2024
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 06 February 2024
Dear Mr Price Thank you for taking time to give your very positive feedback regarding the Minor Surgery team, your comments will be passed to them. Kind Regards Sara Allen Patient Liaison Officer The Westgate Practice
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Review titled Always helpful.
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by John Bowen - Posted on 15 November 2023
Organised,professional always helpful,glad we moved back to Lichfield.we find the Westgate practice very well run, helpful and quick to respond if need be. However we are amazed and shocked that a referral letter can take up to four weeks to leave the surgery and reach the consultant. Surely that timescale signals a need for more secretaries! Sorry but this is our only but very important criticism.
Visited November 2023
The Westgate Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled No engagement
Rated 3 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 22 November 2023
Yesterday I was sent a text message by a doctor here informing me that the dose of my recently prescribed medication was being changed. I did not consent to the change or agree with the decision. The text was sent just before the practice closed for an afternoon of training so there was no means of contacting anyone at the practice to discuss this unwanted change. The following morning, I 'phoned the practice at 8am and it took 49 attempts until I managed to get through to be told I was more than 20th in the queue. I do have an appointment today now but not with the doctor that sent the text as they are away today. This matter, the delay, hassle and unavailability of having someone to speak to about it has caused me a lot of irritation and stress. Having checked the NHS website, a patient must give informed consent to a GP prescribing new medication. Being on this medication is new for me. I would appreciate greater involvement in the decisions about my own health. Just being sent a text message, telling me of the change is unacceptable to me.
Visited November 2023
The Westgate Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Very efficient Covid and flu vaccination process
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Belinda Thompson - Posted on 14 October 2023
My husband and I were invited to attend the practice for our Covid and flu vaccinations. This is the first time we have been to the practice for these vaccinations, having previously had them at other vaccination centres/pharmacies. The whole process was well organised, speedy and very efficient. Special mention to the meeter and greeter volunteer outside, who did an excellent job. It was very impressive too that an in-car vaccination was available for those too immobile to walk into the building.
Visited October 2023
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 18 October 2023
Dear Ms Thompson Thank you for taking the time to give us such a lovely review about your experience at our covid/flu clinics. Your kind comments will be fed back to our volunteers who give their time freely to support us. We do try to plan to accommodate all of the needs of our patients by offering an 'in car' service. Kind Regards Sara Allen Patient Liaison Officer The Westgate Practice
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Review titled Well organised.
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 14 October 2023
Efficient and well organised Covid vaccination today. Friendly staff and helpers on hand gave an excellent easy service even though it was on a Saturday. Thank you.
Visited October 2023
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 18 October 2023
Dear Patient Thank you for your kind review about our flu/covid clinics. We do try to give a good service and are supported by lovely volunteers who give up their time to help. Kind Regards Sara Allen Patient Liaison Officer The Westgate Practice
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Review titled good practice in the past
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 25 September 2023
extreemly difficult to get an appointment can't see the same doctor more than once so have to keep going over the same ground which takes up the time allotted came away extreemly frustrated
Visited September 2023
The Westgate Practice has not yet replied.
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Review titled Good Practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Colleen Jones - Posted on 25 September 2023
Made appointments for my COVID and Flu vaccines got the times I wanted for myself and husband we were in the practice less than 5 minutes
Visited September 2023
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 25 September 2023
Dear Colleen Thank you for giving us such good feedback about the running of the flu/covid clinics. The staff team do work hard to ensure that they run as safely and efficiently as possible. Kind Regards Sara Allen Patient Liaison Officer The Westgate Practice
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Review titled Well organised and great team of people
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by SPaul - Posted on 26 September 2023
Reminders to your phone makes it so much easier not to miss an appointment. The booking system works really well and staff although busy still courteous and big thank you to them.
Visited September 2023
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 25 October 2023
Dear Mr/Ms Paul Thank you for taking time to do such a positive review; we do try to constantly monitor and adapt our systems to support our patients. It is good to know that it works well for you. Kind Regards Patient Liaison Officer The Westgate Practice
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Review titled Fabulous practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by EANN - Posted on 23 September 2023
Well organised, get a face to Face If needed but always get something , phone call, email , text whatever is appropriate and best fit for the condition
Visited September 2023
Review titled The Westgate Practice
Replied on 18 October 2023
Dear Eann Thank you for the very positive feedback about the working of the practice. We do endeavour to use several methods to contact our patients to ensure an efficient service. Kind Regards Sara Allen Patient Liaison Officer The Westgate Practice