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"Leaving No. 18 for "Heart of Bath" Surgery"

About: Heart of Bath

I have quite a few health conditions including mental health issues & find myself requiring a GP quite regularly. I was over the moon to find No. 18 Surgery in 2018, a surgery where the GPs went the extra mile to help & the reception staff were efficient & warm. I could always get a same day urgent appointment if I felt I needed it, particularly important if I was having issues with my medication. I originally left Oldfield Surgery in 2018 because I found it almost impossible to get appointments outside of working hours & the waiting times were often over 30 minutes for an appointment upon getting to the surgery. Since No. 18 patients have had to join Heart of Bath, I have spent up to 15 minutes on the phone trying to get through to the bookings line (the automated system doesn't work- there are never any appointments free no matter what dates/time/GP you choose). For a same day urgent appointment I had to tell the receptionist that I was having difficulties following my miscarriage in order to then be told a doctor would phone me back later that day to make a decision about whether I could see someone face to face. The GP that eventually phoned me 2 hours later was very irritable & clearly felt I was wasting time, even though I had just finished my 2nd miscarriage & needed to see a GP urgently for some support. He felt I did not need to however so I then waited another 10 days to see someone. This was at St James's Surgery, trying to park up there on such a steep hill is dreadful! I really appreciate that we are so lucky to have our NHS (& work for them myself), however I find the general attitude of staff at Heart of Bath isn't remotely personal, defensive & sharp. I imagine this is due to having to put up with complaints all the time. Such a shame we lost the kindness & courtesy I had become accustomed to at No. 18 & now I feel I have to just accept being part of a huge bursting at the seams, highly pressured surgery...

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