The Castle Surgery

Despite all the negative comments about this practice I have nothing but praise for them. I have only been a patient here for little over a year but have had to contact them several times. I have had no problem getting through on the phone and no problem getting a GP appointment when needed. Everyone I have dealt with has been both polite and helpful. I cannot find a bad word to say about them.

After 1 and 1/2 years of COVID lockdown to get a face to face with a doctor was amazing in a very short time from calling in to speak to the very wonderful receptionist lady wow who’s job must put lots of strain on her congratulations you did and do an amazing jobDr littler you are a true gent very understanding treated me with compassion and empathy you remind me of James Herriot the vet with the cord trouser well spoken and a gent to boot I truly hope you get to Malta one dayThank god I moved surgery from Halstead castle doctors and staff you are amazing thank you againGary Bentley

Disgusting new Management. Removed me from their books without ANY notice despite a conversation with Dr Lethaby allowing me to remain on the books. I am disabled with a spinal injury and nerve damage and have monthly painkiller prescriptions, was told by the Chemist trying to fufill my prescrition that I no longer had a GP!! Tried to speak to Surgery, V unhelpful receptionist , gave me false info. later confirmed false by both Practice Manager and NHS. I now have to sign up with a Practice that Killed my Mother by failling to diagnose throat Cancer , told her it was indigestion. We took her to a hospital that confirmed our fears, she died 8 months later. Falcon surgery is as bad, constantly ignored requests for amendments to prescritions from Addenbrookes. Definitely gone down the drain now, very sad. Have to give one star or I cannot post this, but I chose no stars.

Awful . Can't get through on phones . I rang since 8.30 over and over. Eventually got through..after dozens of calls about 9am , was placed in a queue , got to no.2 to them be cut off .Had to call back , eventually got through 15 mins later at no.6 . When I got through to a woman called Elaine , i was toldNO appointments I was too late. I explained I had been trying to get through for almost an hour and that I was cut off . She said no you weren't and didn't believe me . She was so rude and had a real attitude. I said i would really like to see a doctor. She said reluctantly " well i'll get someone to call you and I'll tell them you said it was extremely urgent!!! I also asked to be reminded of a future appointment time as I hadn't been informed . She said if you had an appointment you'd know when it was ..!! I was in fact waiting to be told that informed.ation as THEY had contacted ME! Why can't they just be understanding

Tried to book two important appointments on separate occasions to be told that they don't book appointments you need to call in the morning to find out if they can see you that day. If you call in the afternoon because you work from 9am until 1pm you get told you have to call at 9am to speak to someone about appointments even though they apparently don't book them in advance. This is a ridiculous way to manage your appointments.Update 14/10/2020: two more appointments cancelled. This is simply not acceptable. I am beyond furious and am now looking into an official complaint to medical negligence authorities.

I tried 72 times between 8.25 and 9.05 (my phone registers every call). Still told no appointments today. Went to surgery and a surgery nurse requested a GP appointment for me. Made one for a GP to phone, two weeks later. This was for an appointment they told me to make by text. Tonight I tried to collect a new prescription the GP has ordered and was told the pharmacy closed at 5.30 even though the surgery doesn't close until 6pm and I have always collected about then as I work full time until 5pm. Very rude to ight. Glared at as I walked in, told we close so rudely but the young lady in front of me was given a paper prescription and told take to the chemist to get dispensed" no politeness. Thought our surgery dispenses. It always has. 20 years and I've never had a paper prescription."

They have a deliberate policy in place to prevent you from making an appointment. According to their website you can book an appointment in 3 ways, in person, online or by phone. The staff refused to book me an appointment when I turned up in person, they also refused to register me on the online booking system advertised on their website and they have set their phone to be permanently engaged with no phone queuing system in place. Avoid this medical centre if you wish to retain your sanity!