Anyone experiencing even greater issues securing a GP appointment with Tessa Jowell GP practice?

[Azalea]

14 hours ago, sandyman said:

Are there catchment areas for surgeries ? I thought you could take your pick.

Yes, unfortunately there are catchment areas for surgeries.  Have a look on The Gardens website.

[Guest]

You can only make appointment requests between 8am - 4pm daily, seem to make it as hard as possible for patients.

[Sue]

Just now, jazzer said:

You can only make appointment requests between 8am - 4pm daily, seem to make it as hard as possible for patients.

Which surgery?

[Guest]

What's the title of the thread??????????????????????????????????????????? Keep up. 

[Sue]

5 minutes ago, jazzer said:

What's the title of the thread??????????????????????????????????????????? Keep up. 

The last surgery being discussed on the thread was The Gardens.

Keep up 🤣

 

[Guest]

Don't kmow why I bother typing sometimes, fingers could do with a rest.

[Sue]

4 hours ago, jazzer said:

Don't kmow why I bother typing sometimes, fingers could do with a rest.

It's all those question marks 🤣

Edited August 27, 2025 by Sue
Typo

[Guest]

nah, that's not the answer either, try again!

[Azalea]

Called Tessa Jowell GP Surgery today after failing to get two repeat prescriptions from the pharmacy.  When I asked the pharmacy, I was told that they had been requested but not sent by the surgery.  After speaking to the surgery I was told that those two items were no longer on my repeat prescriptions.  I was told I would need a prescription review. Earliest date would be the 22 September.  That is utterly ridiculous.  Surely someone from the surgery should have contacted me to tell me this after requesting the repeat prescriptions two weeks ago. 
 

Also, apparently, there is no point sending an email regarding prescriptions as they are not actioned nor replied to as I have discovered. 

[Guest]

Try using their ask my GP an raise it as urgent and see if you get a quicker response. 

As an example had a telehone consultation on 4/9, was told by the GP to book a face to face which I did and that doesn't happen till 23/9. Why so long to be seen??????????????? Answers on a post card to Wes Streeting. 

 

[beansprout]

Find another gp

[Sue]

14 hours ago, beansprout said:

Find another gp

Unfortunately posters on here complaining for months and at length about this surgery seem totally reluctant to move elsewhere, despite how easy it is to do that.

They think things will somehow change, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

 

[Azalea]

On 02/04/2024 at 01:12, trinidad said:

I am expected to receive a written response for my complaint with the ICB on April 23rd 2024. I am not really expecting any major changes, other than escalating the complaint again. I notice the Practice manager is no longer responding to comments on this forum. 

There is also alot of one star reviews on the NHS review website. these reviews. These issues seem to be going on to at least January 2024. Look for yourself:

Ratings and reviews - Tessa Jowell GP Surgery - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

 

I clicked on this link and found it no longer exists and has been decommissioned.

 

 

[ianr]

And you are now offered a link to https://www.nhs.uk/give-feedback-about-the-nhs-website/find-out-how-to-review-an-nhs-service/

Edited September 18, 2025 by ianr

[Azalea]

On 12/09/2025 at 14:17, Azalea said:

Called Tessa Jowell GP Surgery today after failing to get two repeat prescriptions from the pharmacy.  When I asked the pharmacy, I was told that they had been requested but not sent by the surgery.  After speaking to the surgery I was told that those two items were no longer on my repeat prescriptions.  I was told I would need a prescription review. Earliest date would be the 22 September.  That is utterly ridiculous.  Surely someone from the surgery should have contacted me to tell me this after requesting the repeat prescriptions two weeks ago. 
 

Also, apparently, there is no point sending an email regarding prescriptions as they are not actioned nor replied to as I have discovered. 

I’m happy to report that I got a much earlier prescription review than the 22 September.  Not sure what that was down to but I was sent a text to say to expect a telephone call on a certain day and time for earlier this week.  It was with a pharmacist and not a doctor.  I was later told to expect a telephone call on call on both the 19 and 23 September.  They are really pushing the boat out. Not complaining. Also, Dr. Shivji is back working.

[heartblock]

Are there issues with the evergreen app that TJ uses? 

[Guest]

No

[Azalea]

Just tried to call TJ GP Surgery and a message says they are closed for staff training from 1230-1830.  Do other surgeries do this?

[Penguin68]

I think Forest Hill Road also does training on Thursday afternoons. They all have to do it sometime. They will be assessed on their continuous improvement/ training plans for staff. 

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Azalea said:

Just tried to call TJ GP Surgery and a message says they are closed for staff training from 1230-1830.  Do other surgeries do this?

I think The Gardens do as well, but if memory serves they have a recorded message re what to do if it's an emergency.

[ctovey]

Our surgery (Camberwell Green) is also closed for staff training today!  Not very clever, given the doctors strike!

[Azalea]

2 hours ago, ctovey said:

Our surgery (Camberwell Green) is also closed for staff training today!  Not very clever, given the doctors strike!

The same company who own TJGP Surgery also own one on Camberwell Green.  

[Sue]

3 hours ago, ctovey said:

Our surgery (Camberwell Green) is also closed for staff training today!  Not very clever, given the doctors strike!

Doctors' strike is hospitals isn't it?

You wouldn't normally need a GP for what you would be going to a hospital for?

Have I missed something here (quite likely)?

[ctovey]

Sue

My point being that if you experience something that could potentially be sorted by a GP, you might feel it necessary to go to A&E, which would be clogged up due to the doctors strike.  Just my opinion, but I don't really see that its necessary to close a surgery for half a day for staff training.  

[Sue]

3 hours ago, ctovey said:

Sue

My point being that if you experience something that could potentially be sorted by a GP, you might feel it necessary to go to A&E, which would be clogged up due to the doctors strike.  Just my opinion, but I don't really see that its necessary to close a surgery for half a day for staff training.  

If you had something which was serious enough to go to A&E, you should have gone to A&E in the first place!

You would be highly unlikely to get a GP appointment on the day you phoned, in any case. 

I'm assuming that if you phone a surgery during  staff training it is still possible to speak to someone. But even if not, the automated message at my surgery says at the outset under what circumstances you should be going to A&E.

Hopefully the vast majority of people are sensible enough not to just turn up at A&E unnecessarily, and if not, hopefully they would be turned away at the triage stage in any case.

Would you prefer it if your surgery did not train its staff?