Lawson Street Health Centre

UPDATE: 21.09.22: I had both of my Smallpox vaccinations for Monkeypox here. I found the receptionist very rude. They called me and told me that it was my turn with about two day's notice. I'd already booked my Covid boosters for the same day and I asked if I could get my Monkeypox vaccination on another date. They told me that was the only date and that if I didn't attend, I'd be put back to the bottom of the queue and by the time I got back to the top, there might not be any doses left. I panicked and agreed, then spoke to my GP who advised against getting them all done (flu too) on the same day. He recommended I leave a week between them. So I felt pressured and blackmailed into taking the Monkeypox vaccination first and rescheduled my Covid and flu jabs for 29 September at 4pm. By midday on 29 September I had a fever of 38.3°C and on 1 October I tested positive for Covid for the first time. Its now April 2024 and I still have Long Covid in the form of crippling fatigue and a sensory neuropathic cough. OLD REVIEW: (05.18) I can't recommend this place at all, it's a shambles and the staff need to be fired and replaced with human beings who have compassion and customer service skills! I went to the Hartlepool branch with painful symptoms. I have anxiety conditions, so I can at times convince myself that I'm more ill than I actually am. That said I was in agony. Hartlepool said that they had no walk in clinic available and that they had Terrence Higgins Trust on site who could do rapid finger prick tests for bloods. Why not? I thought. They told me I'd need to find another clinic for the urine tests, the ones I needed based on my pain. I went in and saw the THT representative who did the blood tests, all good. I told him about my concerns and he confirmed that they couldn't do urine tests and I needed to find another clinic. I went online to the Teesside Sexual Health Hub website and found that the Lawson Street clinic was open to walk ins. I drove all the way there and was met at reception by the most unprofessional, rude, disrespectful and horrible woman I've ever met. She said they were overworked and had closed the walk in early. That's fine - so update the website then to state that you're closed! I advised her that I was symptomatic and that I'd driven all of the way there because the website stated that the walk in clinic was open. She didn't care, she just made excuses like 'it's not our job to update the website' - well it's not mine either! She said I could take a seat and they'd triage me but that I probably wouldn't be seen. I said to her that I expected my fuel to be reimbursed because the website was inaccurate and misleading. I then went to sit at the very back of the waiting room and from that distance, I could both see and hear her spin round in her chair and start complaining about me to her colleagues - loudly, for the entire waiting room to hear. People were actually turning around and looking at me as if to say 'what the heck is this woman doing?' I waited about three hours in agony because I couldn't empty my bladder, because I needed it for the urine test that never happened. Just before 5pm or 6pm, I forget which, they told me that they were not seeing me and I had to leave, possibly with an STD/STI, no treatment or support. I left and called head office to file a formal complaint. 40 minutes of driving and diesel wasted for nothing. It took days to get an appointment at Hartlepool and, thankfully, it all came back as clear. It turned out I'd developed a cyst. It later transpired, through a Subject Access Request, that they had lied about me being symptomatic, claiming that I'd at no point declared any symptoms. This false information was passed to them by Terrence Higgins Trust, who lied and passed false data to Lawson Street clinic, which they then used to refuse me access to the service by putting through a false and inaccurate triage report. Corrupt, dodgy, rude, unprofessional, inhumane, data privacy violating, unethical, immoral, horrible 'people.'

Been trying to get through for over a week - one number on website doesn’t exist and despite ringing the other more than 20 times at different times on different days have yet to get an answer - how people make appointments God only knows ! Shocking lack of service.

NHS must be in a bad way if they have to fully close reception desk for 30 minutes, now I get people have to have lunch, but you should stagger breaks, we never closed up for lunch in places I worked like in housing offices,...4 people waiting, didnt know they close midday, loads people wondering in the building just walking about unsure where to go. Try and find their phone number, it sounds easy.

I would like to express my gratitude when calling the surgery to discuss a referral I was assisted by a wonderful young man called Jack who was more than helpful and went above and beyond. Past experience has normally been met by a brick wall but this young man could not have been any more helpful . I would recommend him for his outstanding understanding and empathy and treating me as a person and not just another number. More Jacks please and the service would be a better place.

Had a Musculoskeletal appointment & ended up in MORE agony after going to this appointment!! I've ended up having to 'up' my meds to "try" & get some ease. They arranged a follow-up tel call via letter & STILL waiting 4 days AFTER they were to call me! Been trying now for over an hour to get them to answer the phone as constantly busy!! Total waste of space they really are!!!