After nearly 31 years with this surgery, the management team has sunk it. The excuse in the pandemic for same-day-only appointments has been carried on. No wonder patients grouse about re-dialling more than 100 times to get through, and of course no appointments are left. One reviewer mentioned always getting an appointment, but a nurse appointment is easy because it’s not same-day. Until the surgery resumes forward booking, the situation will only get far worse … and as for triage by non-clinicians, such practice is nonsensical. Having to tell a receptionist one’s problem is not on, and my response always is that I will discuss that with the doctor. So, I would give a high rating for service from the clinicians, if one can be seen, but zero for management practices which are outdated and impractical. Experience from family members around the country shows no one having our experience, with some being offered the choice of face-to-face or telephone call on any day. Surely it’s not rocket-science for management to see that forward-booking would alleviate the unseemly scrum at 8 every morning, and save patients their frustrations, which clearly do nothing for their blood pressure. Receptionists cannot do other than they are told at this surgery. One who has retired said they were allowed to use their initiative “in the old days”, but no more with the current team. Wakey-wakey, Rivermead Gate Management Team - stop taking on more patients than the surgery can accommodate without penalising your existing patients. Students from APU must be a lucrative cohort for RMG.

This place has gone from bad to terrible. Look elsewhere for a GP practice