Whalebridge Practice
The Whalebridge Practice, Swindon NHS Health Centre, 1 Islington St, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 2DQContact details and opening times
Patient ratings and reviews
Leave a review
Help others by sharing your thoughts and experiences about Whalebridge Practice.
Reviews
-
Review titled Impossible to get through to/poor experience when do
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 21 October 2024
Took over a week to get the practice to answer phone, either constantly engaged or rings out. Finally they answer and cannot get an appointment pre-booked just told to try every day at 8am but warned they run out of appointments after 5 mins! Changes to repeat prescription service also not communicated and getting my elderly mum to do on-line they have now restricted her meds to one month supply each time without any interest or explanation why this can't no longer be a 3 month supply each time.
Visited October 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Shocking
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Teresa - Posted on 19 August 2024
Had a knee replacement and practice nurse does not remove stitches and I have to go to the urgent care centre which is probably why they are so busy uo the centre why are routine nurse appointments cznt do god nos why
Visited August 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Terrible booking system
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Tracy - Posted on 17 July 2024
There is no telephony system to allow you to join a queue to make an appointment. You have to call at 0800 and continue to redial and hope you get through. In the past week I have attempted to get through to make an appointment and made over 200 unsuccessful calls (redials) This is unfair and a stressful experience especially for elderly people. What is more annoying is that when i did connect the receptionists didn’t answer the call and just left it ringing. This system is in the dark ages and does not meet the needs of its patients. Other surgeries do much better. It’s time to change it and bring it up to date for benefit of patients and staff.
Visited July 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Absolutely awful practice
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 17 June 2024
Need a repeat prescription sent an e-mail as I usually do and then get told I can't do it that way any more and need to go to the surgery that is not possible before I run out of my medication. They said they won't do it on the phone or e-mail and it is my responsibility to order repeat prescriptions despite the fact I wasn't informed that they had changed the way I can do it absolutely no care at all just told me to ring 111 absolutely disgusting service I asked to speak to a manager or doctor and was told no one was available as they were shutting in 15 minutes absolutely fuming
Visited June 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Appointments
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 25 June 2024
After trying 37 times to get an appointment for my elderly mother which I tried numerous times of the day and the phone constantly rang out, I went into the surgery to book an appointment. The two admin staff were sat behind their desks chatting and I heard no phones ringing so I can only assume that the ringers were switched. Not only for my 90 year mum but for all the other elderly people trying to get an appointment, I find this totally unacceptable. I was told my the receptionist that since joining with two other surgeries, the phones are really busy. Also has anyone been told of the new way to order repeat prescriptions as this is also a absolute joke!!!!
Visited June 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Poor reception response
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 10 June 2024
My GP Great Western Surgery was always easy to get hold of and they answered calls promptly. Since being taken over by the Spacells/Whalebridge group you can no longer get an appointment or speak to someone without 1.5-2 hours sitting in a phone queue. It was easy enough for me to drive to the surgery and speak to someone, but it must be terrible for the immobile patients.
Visited May 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Terrible Service
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Alagu Nagappan - Posted on 21 May 2024
I registered in this GP for my family by Mar 2024 and I was waiting for confirmation. By May I voluntarily stepped in to check the status to hear that it wasn't processed yet and they asked me to submit proof. I submitted and was waiting. Meanwhile my 5 year old daughter got chickenpox and I went to book an appointment(assuming registration would've happened). They said they couldn't find the details and said registration is not yet done. Even after submitting the proofs, they said they can't register now as they're merging 3 practices together. They knew this info earlier itself and could've informed me when I submitted the proofs. The receptionist was answering so cool and she can't help. After me asking if there's any other GP nearby she said there's one in the 1st floor. She knew all this and was sitting dumb. Why have these kind of people at work who are of no use to the needy people. And their telephone line is always busy for no reason. Even if it rings they won't answer. Horrible pathetic service!!
Visited May 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Not answering phone calls
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 15 May 2024
I'm immensely frustrated with the service I've received letter regarding my son's mmr(1B) vaccination. Despite countless attempts over the past three days, reaching out to the Nhs Whalebridge number provided in the letter – 01793 692933 – has been nothing short of an exercise in futility. I've dialed that number over 80 times each day, at various times, only to encounter either endless ringing with no answer on over 30 occasions or a perpetually busy line. What kind of service is this? It's utterly unacceptable. It's beyond frustrating to have a vital matter like my son's vaccination in limbo due to the inability to even reach someone on the phone.
Visited May 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Imposible to get an appointment
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 07 May 2024
Been on the phone for 55 mins (and still trying as I write this), trying to get through to make an appointment for my teenage child. it did ring once after 48 mins but no-one picked up so rang out. The website for Whalebridge (which hasn't been updated since 2013) states that non-urgent appointments can be made by calling after 11am. This is no longer the case - you have ring at 8am regardless if its urgent or not. When you do get an appointment, the doctor never sees you on time - you are lucky if you are seen within 20 mins of the appointment time.
Visited May 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.
-
Review titled Doctors good. Admin and systems not so
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 31 May 2024
320 calls last week and 100 this week to unsuccessfully get an appointment. One Receptionist surly, snarls and ignorant. Interrupts you constantly when you're mid sentence. After 40 years of being registered here I'm thinking of going to another surgery in catchment area. Surely there can't be another receptionist as rude as her. The telephone system isn't fit for the size of the area now you've taken on Sparcells surgery patients. It is not fit for use. The frustrations are evident in the reviews and the local press. Investment is needed. Whoever runs the finance and future proofing of this practice needs to look at doing something different. Even going back to splitting the appointment availability over 2 points of the day. Ie am and pm appointment opening so you can call twice a day. Not happy with your service or one of your receptionists who needs retraining!
Visited May 2024
Whalebridge Practice has not yet replied.