Saffron Health Practice

I have been with Saffron Health for several years. I thought the idea of the expanse and the merge of the two practices was for more GP's under one roof, access to more appointments etc. However, I have seen a decline in this. There are some lovely receptionists, who really do try. But the remainder of the receptionists seem to have attitude every time I contact, and have no empathy and no attentiveness at all.Considering how big the practice now is, I do not now understand how there is no way to get in to see my doctor for weeks on end, and advised to contact 111 or go to the LRI. Who then laugh in your face and say go to your GP. Your then sent on a goose chase, all just because you cannot get into your GP.As for this new Accurate system, well... got absolutely nowhere, that was just a way to fob me off for another day!!! Was ringing everyday, from 8am since Monday this week. Got sent the link for this accurate system to make an appointment for next day. And what did that say? That all appointments had all gone for next day! What a shock. Continued to ring everyday, and attempt to join the queue. When I do finally get to join the queue its 40 calls later and 9.30am, and every single day get told the same thing 'Sorry we are fully booked up with appointments today'How can other GP practices do it and offer appointments for same day and get people booked in? But Saffron Health cannot? The answer is not always to change GP. When some people cannot travel. The GP's in the practice are good GP's.Why can the problem not be fixed and resolved?

I advise everyone to get a different GP if possible.I’ve tried to make an appointment a few times in which the reception was of no help whatsoever if you could even reach them in the first place.Last year I tried to reach them and make an appointment but I failed as I only ever reached the automated response system.At that point I have given up and didn’t end up making any sort of appointment and waited until my problem went away on its own.Then I tried again yesterday and for the first time I reached the receptionist after they called me back.I have stated my problem and was advised to go to the pharmacy instead to see if I could get something “behind the counter”. But since I didn’t fully know what was wrong (which is why I wanted to see a doctor in the first place) I didn’t know what medicine to look for and I didn’t want to bother a pharmacist with the trouble of playing guessing games either. As it could have been three separate “causes” and each looked very familiar but would need to be treated differently (Based on my Google search).When I mentioned I’d still like to make an appointment they said they were already fully booked ( mind you it was roughly around 8:30AM ) but I was trying to be understanding and asked if they could book me in tomorrow or any available spot as soon as possible but they said they don’t book in advance. So again after that they just said to go to the pharmacy and hung up.And today I tried to call them again to be a bit more stern about my need to see a doctor but I couldn’t reach reception and was hung up on by the automated response system.At this point I think I will call 111 and see what they say.Truthfully, looking at other reviews, I am surprised that the GP is still standing or that the right people haven’t taken the time to investigate and make changes.

Firstly, the doctors in this practice are brilliant, attentive, empathetic, and clear cut professionals. The establishment is clean, safe, and easy to access. However, the experience shared by many locals, including many of my own family members are all have had major difficulty in procuring appointments. The last time I tried to book an appointment at approximately 8:30, I was told I was too late. I asked to perhaps book a callback or an appointment further down the line; this was an impossibility. After explaining that my work hours often prevent me from being able to ring at 8:00 sharp, the receptionist told me that's my problem. The lack of professionalism, cooperation, capability, empathy, and desire to help people, lets the community down. It is perhaps staff such as this which hurts public support for pay rises in the sector, which is unfortunate. All I can say is a large proportion of desk staff need to find new careers. I recognise that this may not apply to every single receptionist at Saffron Health, but for the most part it applies and is the sole reason for such a low rating, which I still believe is too high. The best thing I did was register with a new GP, but unfortunately, many patients who may not be able to travel, or those who are vulnerable, and/or elderly cannot exercise this choice.If other GPs can operate effectively from the front desk, it is clear its not the logistics or the workload, but the attitude of the desk staff. I hope this does improve, for the sake of those that need the help and those that deserve pay rises.

My 88 year old partially sighted mother was interrupted by the Doctor on the phone (rude!), while she was trying to explain her distressing symptoms, and then told to send a “selfie” . How many people that age even know what that is?! They need to go back to seeing people in person instead of sitting on their backsides in the office, or wherever else they are. Also asked “how quickly can you get here?” Ridiculous. Next available appointment was a week away. Meanwhile she has to suffer the discomfort. Not impressed.

Rarely able to book same day appointments unless you get up to do the online booking at dead on 6am, not a minute later. Sometimes pick and choose whether they can book in advance (I suspect this is a nurse VS GP thing). Asked for a written letter of diagnoses and was told at first that I'd get a call when it was ready to send. Then when I chased it up after 4 weeks, they said it would be within 28 days. Chased it up this morning and now they're saying a minimum of 28 days. Very inconsistent reception staff. If you have other better options, I'd recommend registering at a different practice.

The racism, negligence and unprofessionalism among the receptionists is on another level. Some of the medical staffs are OK. They are very mean and would rather you die than to attend to u. As a healthcare professional myself I find this quite alarming and disgusting. Even had to go private at some point.

Its such a shame that the smaller surgery on Saffron Lane (near Pork Pie roundabout) merged with this one. I used to get excellent service from them. I realise this surgery is under pressure - everywhere is - but the people who answer the phones are very short with me. Making people who are sick wake up at 6am in order to fill in the Engage Consult form and then wait hours (sometimes a day) to hear back from the surgery is long winded and unnecessary. If you try to ring at 8am you can very rarely get an appointment and in the unlikely event that you get an appointment at the surgery you get there and it is deserted. It is a shame they have spent so much on the surgery and not GPs.

The receptionist is very rude, didnt want to help at all, wasnt interested in getting the dr to call me back because they said they are fully booked so I called 111 they then referred me back to saffron health so I called saffron health back and got the same, we cant help you today we are fully booked u have to call back tomorrow. My dogs vet has better patient service than this so called doctors surgery oh yes and to add to it the place is deserted everytime iv been in. I wonder why?

Phone always busy, since 8:00 to 10:00 difficult to meet doctor even continue until 1pm and the reception said fully booked and call again tomorrow at 8, but the next day still the same but when you go straight to GP practise, the patience only 1 or 2,very quite place. This is always the same routine whenever we want any appointments. But when ever we visit GP all the staff are good and kind. They treat very smoothly.

Honestly the worse service I have ever recieved in my life. I attended the hub as I had a toe infection and numbness to my toes and I was completely dismissed by the doctor. He would not even let me finishing talking before he told me that nothing was wrong with my toe. He repeatedly asked me what I want him to do as he is an emergency doctor. I asked him to at least have a look at my toe which he did by just looking down at my toes which were on the floor (whilst he was sat on his chair) and then he continued to tell me they are fine and that if they are numb it's due to a back problem (which I do not and have never had). I practically had to beg him to take a proper look at my toes as it was clear that something wasn't right and I even showed him a video of my toe (that was taken less than 30 mins before my appointment) in which he did yeah the infection has gone now. I then challenged him and said ohh so you don't see the pus coming out my toes, he then went to take a closer look- all he did was squeeze my toes and repeat that there's nothing wrong with them. I asked him again if he couldn't see that there is no nail on the toes and there was pus and blood coming out then he tried to show me that there wasn't... Just to show me the WRONG TOES. HE did not even know which toe I was talking about nor examine the correct toe. In the end he gave me a self referral form for podiatry and sent me away.To add previously I have been to two pharmacists for advice and they have confirmed that my toes are infected and that I need antibiotics. I also asked other medical professionals who had said it looks like an infection and that I need antibiotics from the doctors.