The five GP surgeries ranked as the worst by patients
DIFFICULTY GETTING AN APPOINTMENT IS A MAJOR GRIPE IN SURVEY
have picked out what they see as the five worst GP practices in Derbyshire.
Using figures from the GP Patient Survey 2021 – a huge ongoing poll involving more than a million people a year – all 6,659 GP surgeries in England have been ranked from best to worst.
Derbyshire’s worst GP practice ranks in the lowest 3% in the country and Derby is the worst part of the county for patient happiness, with three of the lowest-ranked surgeries within the city.
The survey covers everything from the trust patients have in their doctor, to the attitude of reception staff and how easy it is to get an appointment.
The lowest-ranking surgeries in Derbyshire are (with their national ranking in brackets):
THE VILLAGE SURGERY The Hub, Shiners Way, South Normanton (#5,932)
According to Google Reviews, The
Village Surgery only has a 1.6-star rating. Nearly 6 in 10 patients are unhappy with appointment times and the same proportion said they had a “good” experience the last time they made an appointment, according to the study.
One online review said: “I’d give zero stars, to be honest, as this surgery is a massive joke all around.”
The surgery has fallen almost 300 places in the rankings since 2019 and is the lowest-ranking practice in Bolsover and North Eastern Derbyshire.
WOODVILLE SURGERY Burton Road, Woodville, Swadlincote (#6,063)
Only half of the patients at Woodville Surgery are happy with the appointment times that they were offered and fewer than half said that they had a “good” experience the last time they made an appointment, the survey says.
An angry patient commented online: “I have been asked to call in the morning a number of times now. Two weeks of trying to get through bang on 8am and the line rings a busy tone and times out.”
HORIZON HEALTHCARE Burton Road, Derby (#6,078)
This practice fares as the lowestrated GP practice on Google Reviews, with many patients unhappy with the service they have received.
Horizon Healthcare was also in Derbyshire’s bottom five in 2019, although it has gone down in this year’s rankings. According to GP Patient Survey data, only 52.2% of patients at the surgery said they “definitely” have confidence and trust in their GP.
A review on the NHS website branded the surgery “disgraceful” saying: “If you can’t phone in a hundred times and hold the line for an hour at 8 am it doesn’t matter what you have, you aren’t going to see a doctor.”
HOLLYBROOK MEDICAL CENTRE Hollybrook Way, Heatherton, Derby (#6,280)
Almost two-thirds did not have a “good” experience with Hollybrook Medical Centre the last time they made an appointment, while just under 40% of patients said they were happy with appointment timings at the surgery.
Hollybrook has a 1.8-star review on Google with one reviewer saying: “It can take you hours, if not days, to get an appointment”.
The surgery has improved from the 2019 study where it placed bottom on the list within Derbyshire.
HAVEN MEDICAL CENTRE Osmaston Road, Derby (#6,413)
According to the survey, Haven Medical Centre ranks in the lowest 3% of GP surgeries in England and is the lowest in Derbyshire.
The Allenton surgery scores 1.8PATIENTS stars on Google Reviews with patients branding the surgery “diabolic”. One reviewer said: “After 48 times of trying at 8am, managed to get through but was put on hold for 25 mins only to be told no appointments were available for today.”
Only a third of patients had a “good” experience the last time they made an appointment whilst just over half of patients “definitely” have confidence and trust in their GP.
The Derby Telegraph reached out to all five surgeries but none provided a comment.
A spokesperson from Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Staff at GP practices, like colleagues all across the health and care system, work incredibly hard to care for patients. They are currently facing an unprecedented demand on healthcare services, and GP practices are providing thousands more appointments in response.
“Patient feedback is an important part
of the way in which performance is measured, and should not be considered in isolation. In particular, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carries out rigorous, expert performance reviews, which are published with important supporting information.
“As is the case across the health service, variations in performance are constantly being reviewed but may be influenced by a wide range of factors, some of them beyond the control of the practices themselves.”
It can take you hours, if not days, to get an appointment.
Online reviewer