Regent

Getting an appointment here feels harder than riding a unicorn. I’ve been coming since 1993, and the waits seem to get worse every year. It’s become a nightmare to get seen. I had a telephone appointment booked for 8:30 this morning, but nobody called. When I rang, I was 12th in the queue. Once I got through, they said I was on a callback list. The callback finally came at 15:00, only for me to be told I’d have to wait two days for a face-to-face appointment. The receptionists haven’t been helpful either. It feels like they do everything they can to stop you getting an appointment. Over the past 10 years, seeing a doctor has started to feel impossible.

I’ve always found the staff professional and attentive. Dr. Madlom was excellent, and after talking with him and having the necessary tests, I was referred to cardiology quickly. The hospital confirmed the referral the following day. Reception staff have also been good at working out which clinician I need, and they explain things clearly, including why I might need to see a particular person. I’ve been treated well both over the phone and in person. For routine GP appointments, I’ve never waited more than 4-5 working days, and there’s a choice between a phone call and a face-to-face visit. If the GP you want is already booked, you can call back another day to get on their list. The same-day triage works well for urgent needs in the morning: I’ve either had a prompt GP callback or a receptionist ask me to come in that day. It’s very easy to get either a same-day or routine appointment, which is excellent for the NHS. Friends at other practices have waited around four weeks for routine appointments. The phone lines do get busy, as they would at any surgery. With thousands of patients, I’d expect that, especially in winter. Staff need a brief reason for the call so they can book you with the right person. I can’t understand some of the negative reviews. This is by far the best practice I’ve been to, for both staff and appointment times, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new one.

I called about a non-urgent appointment and got a time that suited me the following week. The ACP/nurse team saw me, and I can’t fault the care: the wait after checking in was barely any, and the assessment was thorough, friendly, and delivered with a smile. I left feeling very satisfied with the care and management plan.

I rang at 10:30 this morning and had an appointment booked for 13:10 without any trouble. At the surgery I was called in almost straight away. The nurse practitioner was friendly, caring and thorough, and sorted a prescription, so hopefully I’m on the mend. I’ve had no problems and would really recommend this practice. I’ve dealt with lots of GP surgeries around Doncaster, and I’d say this is one of the best.