Sheringham Medical Practice

Feb 21st, 2023

Been waitng 5hrs30 mins for a nurse to call me SHOCKING
Jan 26th, 2023

Just seen on the website that this practice is considering a delivery service for patients who live outside the one mile zone. Does this mean that theyll be getting red carpet treatment while the rest of us living within a mile are dependent on the two most inefficient pharmacies in the country, Lloyds and Boots? More than ten working days waiting for repeat prescriptions, shops closed whenever it suits them, queuing outside for up to half an hour, pharmacists taking extended lunch breaks, the list goes on. By all means set up a delivery service for those who really need it only, but first help to sort out the mess with the local pharmacies. I have to depend on an unpaid carer to pick up my medication and it is the cause of great embarrassment when they are told to return later. It makes me feel very guilty. Even worse, the frustration is affecting my mental health and that of my neighbours and friends, all elderly and frail and most of them with some sort of disability or serious illness. If everyone outside the one mile zone gets their medication delivered, it would clearly be a case of discrimination. This scheme should be given a lot more thought before its put into practice. Ive given one star because the nurses and admin staff are friendly and doing a good job under difficult circumstances. I have a lot of respect for them and they deserve better. As for the management and the doctors, they get zero stars for showing no empathy whatsoever with the patients.
May 2nd, 2023

This practice is completely tone deaf to the needs of its patients. Much to my horror they are now proposing to trial a delivery service for the patients who live more than a mile from the practice. Meanwhile, the mere mortals who live within the one-mile radius are forced to wait at least ten working days (but frequently much longer) to collect their prescriptions from the two local pharmacies, Boots and Lloyds, where patients are treated with shocking disrespect. As for Boots, customers, including the frail, elderly and disabled, are forced to wait outside in all weathers, sometimes for 20 minutes or more, to get their medication. When you eventually get to the front of the queue, chances are that the pharmacist has just gone out for an extended lunch and youll be asked to return later in the day, only to find the shop closed at regular opening hours. Theyre not even open on most Saturdays. I am disabled myself and find it very frustrating that I have to inconvenience someone else to collect my medication under these circumstances. The boundaries of Sheringham Practice arent even that big and overlap with the Cromer and Holt surgeries. There are very few true rural properties outside the one-mile radius and most of the patients who live there will come into Sheringham to do their shopping anyway. This is a waste of money and resources and not very energy efficient. In an ideal world we would all love to have our medication delivered to our front door but the current situation with the pharmacies in Sheringham is causing a lot of stress and anxiety among patients and local residents and will no doubt lead to mental health problems. It would be better if the practice worked with Boots and Lloyds to sort out the frustrating delays. In the holiday season it gets even worse because our beloved government wants pharmacists to diagnose patients to take the stress away from GP practices, so the delays will only increase. This situation cannot continue and the practice has to play a more pro-active role in sorting out this mess. Together with the pharmacies they continue to let their patients down. As for the recent changes in doctors, my experience is that they are just as tone deaf and show not an ounce of empathy. After Dr Welfare-Smith and Dr Becker left a year ago, I have been let down on numerous occasions. When the patient has to educate the doctor on basic health issues, there is something seriously wrong. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for most of my life due to a number of traumatic experiences and this has caused serious physical health problems. Unfortunately the two male doctors who last joined the practice have not taken me seriously at all and driven me literally to the edge. They couldn't even be bothered to look at my history. My trust in this practice has completely disappeared. My only option is to move, even though this will take a massive toll on my mental and physical health. Thank you, Sheringham Medical Practice!
Apr 29th, 2023

Ive had numerous bad experiences with the staff here. Many individuals (receptionists, dispensary staff and even some doctors) have been dismissive and rude. One receptionist visibly rolled her eyes at me for approaching the counter so I could leave my ID when I initially joined the practice and complained to her colleague about not being able to work while people kept coming to disturb her (she was on the front desk?!) I just got off the phone to dispensaries and got told off for misplacing my medication (only time this has ever happened in 15+ years) as if I were a child. A couple of the doctors have been awful when dealing with mental health related difficulties. One suggesting doing something you enjoy to solve chronic MH issues (he was a warm and caring man and generally made me feel at ease but seemed to be lacking some training!), one leaving me in tears when approaching their tick-list of are you poorly enough to have X intervention with zero empathy. One genuinely laughing when I told him I was going abroad for family reasons while suffering with MH problems with a strong undertone of well you cant be that bad then. Can only assume the underfunding of the NHS means little time is taken to recruit people suitable for these jobs. When you are unwell you would rather not have to struggle against unnecessary impatience, condescension, and dismissiveness. Staff should be trained to assume at least basic intelligence and awareness of their patients. Its a shame as some of the receptionists, doctors, and nurses have been really helpful and kind but Id say its about a 50-50 split from my experiences, which is not good enough! Glad to have moved away and to be leaving this practice. By far the worst Ive ever had to deal with.
Jan 18th, 2023