MaryT

That’s interesting, Dulwich Dweller; my 70 yr old neighbour told me 2 weeks ago that he’d left work early to go and book in person (being uncomfortable with all the online & app stuff) and was explicitly told that he needed to go away and book online. He’s not the sort of person to be insistent and, like a lot of older people, a bit embarrassed at his lack of digital ability, so he left without the appointment . This is my point about inconsistency, since his experience was quite different from yours. I’m beginning think that it rather depends on who, at Reception, you speak to on day…

Thanks for the response and to some who PM’d me. I’m now included on the Patient Participation Group (meeting next in Dec) so I’m going to feed back the comments here, good and bad. Update today to PPG members is that, as some of you have said, there is a new contact in place with GP practices with effect from 1 Oct. That appears to be the driver for some of the changes we’ve seen at The Gardens. From the responses here, though, patients might be getting an inconsistent message from the Surgery; I was definitely told that appointments must be made through the app, and only the app. It was only when I expressed concern that a strictly online service would not be suitable for all, that I was told by the receptionist that she could complete the request for me (or others if needed). Even then, then patients would need to await a text from the Practice. Perhaps we are just teething problems with the new provision…Happy to bring any and all comments to the PPG meeting (although I’m aware that the most digitally-excluded people probably aren’t on EDF!) Thanks folks.

I’ve been happily with them for donkeys years but my recent experience has been a bit shocking. Clinical staff have been great (if you can get an appointment) but apparently the Practice has a ‘new system’ in place. You can’t phone for an appointment, you have to go ‘on the app’ and request one. GP will review the request at some unspecified point and decide whether to offer you an appointment . My experience of using the app hasn’t been good and I’m a bit horrified that folk can no longer arrange appointments by phone or by walking in. I’ve also had them lose referral forms, and had to chase them multiple times over a simple GP letter. This has never been my experience in the past so it’s alarming. Anyway, I’ve asked to be included in the Patient Participation Panel, so I’m interested in the experience of others, good & bad? Feel free to PM me, if you prefer!

Oh dear! The general response is that my experience of Jon Hartley is the norm. That’s bad. As an update to my issue with him, Ellie Reeves’ office advised that I contact the Southwark Labour Party Chief Whip in the first instance with my complaint. Coincidentally, the Chief Whip turns out to be Cllr Maggie Browning. She acknowledged my complaint and, in response, said that she had ‘spoken’ to Jon Hartley and appeared satisfied that he’d now responded to me. Not sure that’ s an adequate response, since it seems to been well-known that he consistently ignores constituents. Maggie will know that better than anyone as she’s paired with Jon in our Ward, and she’s having to pick up the stuff which he’s ignoring. As people have noted, Maggie does indeed respond to constituents but she’s now on maternity leave. Alas, I think that means we’re lumbered with just Jon. I’ve bypassed him in respect of my own issue, because I think he’s a waste of my time. In case anyone else should be having problems with him, especially now that Maggie Browning is away, I’d recommend emailing Ellie Reeves MP. Her office is very responsive in my experience and, if she hears from enough disgruntled constituents of Cllr Hartley, I imagine she be quietly speaking to the Southwark Constituency Labour Party about him. Ultimately, if he stands again, he won’t be getting my vote. Be annoyed people, be very annoyed ! Your vote should count for something and the candidates privileged enough to get it should do the job they were elected for!

CPR Dave, attendance records are available on Southwark's website. Maggie Browning has attended 100% of meetings. Jon Hartley has attended 65%.

Thanks for these responses. Yes, Cllr Browning & Cllr Hartley did a door-knocking exercise a couple of months ago. It was Maggie Browning who knocked and I told her that I'd had radio silence from Jon Hartley. She looked embarrassed but not surprised. I have spoken to him since, only after writting to Ellie Reeves, our MP about it his lack of response. He agreed to address the issue I asked about but I've not heard from him since. It's really not acceptable for an elected Councillor to consistently ignore his ward constituents. Since it's clearly not a one-off, I'm gonna pick this up formally. I'll let you know how I get on...

Yes Sally, I've emailed him several times since Xmas. I don't contact Councillors frequently but when I've done so over the years, I've found them generally engaged and responsive. It's unprecedented to just be ignored and, regardless of the query I'm raising, that's worrying from the point of view of our local democratic voice. Its a Councillors role to represent local people! A different thread on here made reference to a lack of response from one of our ward councillors and, since there are only two, I'm guessing it's the same one. I'm following up my own concern separately but I'm asking on here about whether others have had the same problem. I'd like to think it's a one-off but, increasingly, I suspect it's not. Hope that gives a bit more context!

Anyone else having problems getting responses from Cllr Hartley (Dulwich Hill ward)? I notice that someone else on here suggested that he never acknowledges emails from residents?

This problem has been going on since before Covid due to the closure of the Dulwich sorting office. The local MP Ellie Reeves is aware and has written to the Post Office. They give the same generic responses about 'temporary' staffing issues. Would encourage people to email Ellie Reeves. It's about time this was finally resolved!

Just had a huge dump of overdue mail today; a birthday card sent on 11 March (that birthday is now long gone!), a missing SIM card, which had to be ordered again, overdue PCN correspondence from Southwark, meaning fines have been missed without me knowing (again!). This is a problem which stems back to the closure of the E.Dulwich sorting office over 5 years ago, although Royal Mail keep saying that they've now got it in hand. Rubbish! Local MP Ellie Reeves knows about it. Go ahead and email her please, as I've been doing! ([email protected]) I'm heartily sick of the problem; it has tangible consequences for people when the mail is so unreliable!

For those of you who don't know, the problem with Royal mail deliveries in ED has been going on since before Covid, when they closed our local sorting office. There are very some real consequences to residents. For example, for the 3rd or 4th time in recent years, I've recieved a PCN notice, 2 months late, so that the fine has increased from £65 to £195 in the interim. Our previous MP, Helen Hayes was fully aware of the mail delivery problem and tackling Royal Mail about this. The new MP, Ellie Reeves, seems less active. My emails are forwarded to Royal Mail, who give the same generic excuses they've used for years, sickness absence, recruitment problems, blah blah, all of which they say they are 'resolving'. My suggestion is that you email Ellie Reeves MP (or whoever your one is since the boundary changed) and ask them what they're doing about it!

The issue with mail delivery is getting ridulous. Once again, I've had a late dump of post, some of it over 3 weeks late. Like others, yet another parking fine which has escalated because it wasn't received on time. I'll now have to pay £170; and a Vehicle Tax reminder, the date of which has already past. None of us will get anywhere appealing these things with the issuing authorities by simply saying that the post was late. We ever can't prove that letters weren't delivered. I've emailed my MP yet again but I'm at the point of going to the Peckham sorting office with my protest placard!! Anyone else?

Same thing has just happened to me. Apparently, the Court issued a notice of enforcement for a parking fine that I'd already challenged. Didn't receive that correspondence; possibly it will come through the letterbox eventually, so I couldn't act on it. In the meantime, it's gone to enforcement agents. All of these processes are time sensitive and rely on post being delivered on time. Of course there is no action which can be taken against Royal Mail since it's impossible to prove that a specific item wasn't delivered. I've emailed our MP yet again on this issue (now Ellie Reeves MP) but I'm again left sorting out the mess created by our persistently unreliable local mail service.

Hmm. Had already realised that drugs for pets are way cheaper bought online from legit providers. Asked the Neighbourhood Vet for a repeat prescription worming tablet and this time they've quoted me £30.00 just to write the thing out! Have attended there regularly with my dog; boosters, spay etc all very recently so I think that charging £30 just to issue a worming prescription is excessive and unjustified. Wipes out most of the savings I make from ordering the drugs online - but maybe that's the point! Anyone else had this experience? Is it same at all local vets? Thanks all.