I had to transfer Surgeries after moving to Ards and being too far from my previous surgery at Knock Medical Centre.There are a few things that strike me as sub-optimal about the service. Some are just things which aren't particularly professional in terms of admin, ie. My appointments have either been scribbled on the back of an envelope or given verbally. I would expect at the least to get an appointment card, or an email confirmation of the appointment.What should be happening in this day and age is an online booking system where you choose your appointment. Hairdressers can manage to offer that service these days, why can't a large publically funded surgery. The one appointment I've phoned up to book, was 3 weeks and 2 days from the time I phoned. I didn't get asked about my condition, or given any acknowledgement that that was a terrible turnaround time, and given further guidance in case my condition couldn't wait that long.I walked into the surgery 3 days after that call for an asthma appointment at 9:45am, which the health visitor had helpfully arranged, and I was the only person in the surgery, which clashes with the impression you'd get about how busy the place would be bearing in mind the appointment waiting list.The repeat prescription booking system has so far refused to accept the registration details I was given. I took a punt on trying the 'forgot username/password link' in case I might be able to get some guidance, and that service said it was only available in England. I'm almost sure if you asked the staff they'd say the generic NHS system they're using forces their hand in terms of the workflow of administrating the service, and I doubt the customer facing staff are the issue. I can imagine that the system doesn't provide an email confirmation facility, and if it does them it must be a management decision not to use it.The contact I've had with staff, especially the medically trained staff has been ok face-to-face. So assuming you can see one of them, you should be sorted out just fine. But I can't recommend the user experience of trying to get to that point.The pain and discomfort I've been in for weeks is probably doing most of the talking here, and pushed me to write this review. I hope things improve. There are some good points.. So far the parking is free, and right at the front door. The appointment check-in system works well, although in general I wonder about the use of a touch-screen in a building full of sick people. It's in a good location, and the building is clean and easily accessible.Edit: I believe the car parking is now charged unless you are there for less than 30 mins, making it free to pick up prescriptionand test results etc, but not necessarily for appointments, and definitely not for open surgery.
While the staff are very helpful getting a appointment on the website is a different matter, I was offered just 3 available time slots on a Friday afternoon for the next three weeks with a Doctor unknown to me. What is the point of offering online appointment booking when there is only three appointments available for the next three weeks !!!!
Very difficult to get an appointment, at least a 3 week wait! I must plan my sick schedule further in advance!
The Best
Good Doctors. Great service, clean tidy and modern building
Old Mill Surgery is a UK Doctor based in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Old Mill Surgery is located at Church St, Newtownards BT23 4AS, UK.
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