Park Parade GP Surgery

My experience of Park Parade Surgery has always been excellent. The staff all work very hard in a difficult climate. The systems they have in place are there to support as many patients as possible. The econsult form should be considered a triage form, these are reviewed daily by the duty doctor and an appropriate response is made in a timely way. I can honestly say I have never had a problem and when I have required more urgent attention and/or an appointment it has been forthcoming. I can not fault Park Parade Surgery, they are thoughtful and attentive.

Doctoring by flow chart. E-consultant form is ambiguous, limited and not fit for purpose. “Not on the list” you are not coming in. Park Parade is merging to become even bigger and give you even less chance of seeing a doctor. More patients equals more money. The care has gone we are now just statistics as the surgeries continue their march towards privatisation.

After 27 years, one more decides to leave. Whilst Dr Cunningham was the head/lead GP, his staff were professional and curtious. Having myself worked in a non-appointment, non computerised GP surgery, and have carried out every discipline of practice life from Receptionist, Medical Secretary, Assistant Practice Manager and, for many years, the only full time member of staff, there isn't much I haven't seen or done. A busy town centre surgery, with GP's well known for their hospital clinic work too, we had a mile long waiting list. We accepted prescription requests by any communicable form. All had to be handwritten on to prescription pads, recorded in patients notes and placed on the GP's desk the same evening, for checking and signing, along with all the other daily reception duty associated work we had to do. From 1230 I was supposed to go to my office, type up work left to me by the GP's, Nurses, Midwife and Health Visitor, but the telephones and doors, with various home visits, queries and questions needing help or answering, was my job too, until 1630 hrs, when we reopened for evening surgery. It wasn't an easy life, infact it was, for me, long hours, and hard work. I've seen, met, heard, read and written just about everything. There isn't anything that I couldn't deal with professionally or that would shock me. I always gave the patients and work colleagues my professional attention. Anything less and the patients complained to the FHSA and we could be sacked. Unfortunately, I had cause to submit a written complaint against a Park Parade surgery receptionist, on the grounds of unprofessional conduct, after trying to explain to the Receptionist the faults I'd experienced with their equipment which I was returning, and was subjected to a tantrum and an angry display of same testing equipment. My jaw dropped at her behaviour but, rather than dress her down, I walked out in disgust. Sadly, afterwards, that's when I started to notice subtle, at first, unprofessional behaviour from various areas of the practice. The last time I visited the practice, a receptioninist wasn't at all bothered that a very simple paperwork task, had caused more work for volunteers helping me, which they didn’t really need, or me wasting yet another month on same. On hearing a sarcastic comment from the receptionist, I returned the uncompleted paperwork and told the receptionist to just leave it. I had privately decided enough was enough, walked out, knowing I never wanted to return to this place, after approx 2+ years of unpleasant experiences. I put measures in place when I first encountered unprofessional behaviour because there is no place for it I genuinely thought it was just me this was happening to but after the last occasion, I did wonder if other patients were experiencing the same as me so, for the first time, I checked to see if there were any online reviews. I couldn't believe there were, what people had written and what I was reading. This wasn't just happening to me. I text my friend, who knew about my experiences, and suggested she read them too. I took my friend's advice, long overdue on my part, and am now registered with a lovely practice. My new surgery reminds me of the original Park Parade Surgery, before it moved to Mowbray Square. One of the saddest reviews I read was a patient who had been with Park Parade Surgery for 57 years, and they had to change surgery, for exactly the same reasons as the rest of us. I sincerely hope that once Park Parade and East Parade Surgery merge, a more professional working ethos is adopted. I found East Parade reception staff very helpful when the Park Parade reception desk wasn't manned.

Terrible surgery. You cannot get an appointment in less than six weeks and then they are at really bad times. If you ring and someone actually answers the phone, you are told to fill in an e-consultant form which is ambiguous and inept. I have been with this surgery for over 40 years and it was a good surgery until Doctor Cunningham left. Now its a disgrace.

I think the care I receive from Park Parade surgery is excellent. When I need an urgent appointment, I get one. I think the medical staff plus admin and support teams work very hard and I trust them.