Changing Doctors - advice please

[prdarling]

We would like to change our GP practice after much poor service from Forest Hill Group Practice. They used to be excellent and of course the Oakwood Midwives are superb, but we can take no more of not being able to get through on the phone, the impossibility of getting an appointment and the latest affrontery of my husband having to wait two weeks for his appointment, leaving work in WC2 early to get there for 4.50pm and then being told that the doctor was off sick, so err, sorry. It's just not an acceptable way to run a modern practice.

Can anyone please offer some advice what to do please? All we want is someone who will answer the phone (preferably not on a number that costs us ?5 a second) and see us within a few days if necessary...

We are on Wood Vale so SE22/23 borders

Thanks for the advice

[Dee Woffaz]

Whatever you do don?t go to DMC on Crystal Palace Road. I had to register with a Dr before I could go in for a knee reconstruction..........The day before the operation I went in to make an appointment (couldn?t get hold of any one by phone!)for follow up treatment after the operation. They denied even having me as a patient. After investigation they said I wasn?t in their area. I live on Wood Vale! I refused to leave the surgery until it was sorted because No GP = No surgery! I needed an appointment 2 weeks after the surgery. Apparently i couldn?t book an appointment that far in advance. (Unless it was an emergency as that is their average appointment time)

I have tried to phone the surgery on 2 occasions since, once it rang for such a long time I put the phone down, on the second occasion I was told to go to casualty as it was deemed to be an emergency, which it clearly wasn?t. Couple of brufen & tubi grip did the job temporally trouble is im still suffering.

[titch juicy]

sounds like your problem is symptomatic of the modern nhs gp service full stop; not just that practice.

[Sue]

In fairness, I know there have been a few disgruntled DMC patients venting on this forum, but I have been quite happy with them.

Surely it's not DMC's fault if you're out of their catchment area, Dee Woffaz??

[PeckhamRose]

I highly recommend the Nunhead Surgery, Nunhead Grove, up the road from the Man of Kent pub.

They are a great bunch and the receptionists are helpful and friendly too.

I have been a patient there for about 20 years or so and my health needs mean I have to go regularly.

I attend their Patient Forums (All surgeries should have these now, so all the GP surgeries who you feel agrieved by, you should have the opportunity to complain in person at these forums.) Nunhead Surgery has people who answer the phone, and 020 landline numbers unlike some who have 0845 numbers and call centre type answer systems.

Nunhead Surgery regularly comes top or near top in the patient satisfaction surveys of the surgeries in Southwark.

Hope they're in your catchment area now I have praised them so highly!

[Chick]

Or Dr Doha opposite the Dulwich Library.

[Dee Woffaz]

Sue, Vood Vale is indeed in their catchment area! When i initially rang they asked where i lived before they would register me. Register me they did then 'Lost me in their system' If i wasnt in their catchement area i would have registered somewhere else!

[Sue]

Fair enough then, somebody at DMC was totally incompetent and I understand your fury :)

I would have been annoyed too.

[Strawbs]

No idea re your catchment but the gardens surgery is great.

[oboe_player]

It sounds like a lot of doctors surgeries in East Dulwich are not highly thought of. I've just moved to the area and need to sign up urgently, but now not sure which surgery to go with.

I live near the bottom of Melbourne Grove, so my nearest is DMC, but lots of people seem unhappy with them. Anyone have any recent reports of Melbourne Grove surgery? - NHS direct has some bad reports so now not sure about them either. The Gardens seems a bit far away for me, given that there wouldn't be any buses going that way. The other option is probably 306 Medical Centre - again, any opinions? Or there is the surgery at the hospital, but can't find out much about that either.

[Jessie]

DMC aren't always bad. In fact, they were fantastic with me last week. But it can be v frustrating trying to get an appointment for a same-day spot.

[tfwsoll]

I've been with DMC since they first opened. I've always had very good medical care from them but I'm becoming equally frustrated about the appointments system. Many of my friends and colleagues across London have similar complaints so it isn't exclusively a problem in SE22.

[Pugwash]

Dr. Dewji at 306 is rubbish also Dr. Doha. Dewji has a good female Gp though and good reports. Is melbourne Grove in the Elim Lodge, Burbage Road area?

I am with The Gardens after defecting from Dr. Dewji - got through on Monday morning within a few rings and appointment for this morning,