Stockingford Medical Centre

For the last ten years I have suffered on and off with problems swallowing food and the sensation that there is something caught in my throat. Four years ago following a miscarriage the hospital suspended I had a thyroid condition, which later then was diagnosed. Despite me having tests for this blood work always showed I was ‘in range’. Although this itself is down to labs and how they measure tests, thyroid conditions STILL cause lots of other symptoms like goitres and nodules. I have chocked on food, water and even my own saliva, abs despite me recently calling the doctor to tell them that I hadn’t eaten any food for four days, I was shocked by the response I had. The Locum doctor told me to carry on putting my food through a blender and add more gravy or sauces. So basically he totally ignored my plea for some supplements and to hurry results from the MRI to see what this ‘ lump in my throat’ was. The conversation left me feeling invalidated. It basically left me feeling like He was basically saying I hear you haven’t been able to eat properly not just for days but on and off for years but that’s ok keep using your coping strategies because it makes my job easier!!... ...as opposed to ... I hear you’re famished... and petrified to swallow water let alone food and oh gosh you haven’t had a bite past your lips for four days, wow this is not normal, let me offer you some kind of support or constructive words...Nope, not one bit of acknowledgment! Literally, I feel like this practice would look casually at you if you walked in with no head attached!!.. This isn’t my only complaint, over the past four years, when trying to call for an appointment, the receptionists attitudes have changed dramatically. Getting an appointment is very stressful and as others have mentioned in their reviews, when you do get through you are told to call back in the afternoon or the next day, where the whole process starts again with being left uncertain as to whether you will get an appointment or not. Also, some of the receptionists all of a sudden think they are medical professionals. Some of them also lack empathy and good manners. It feels like they are deliberately putting barriers in the way of you even getting a phone appointment!!... I am seriously done with this practice now! I am in the process of moving. I have a whole other list of complaints that the thyroid condition has done to me and we never get around to addressing them because of going in circles with the first and main ones of concern... It is a shame how things have gone down hill, I have been with this particular practice all of my life, I’m sad to see that the bedside manner has gone.