SHP - Monkspath Surgery

I find it impossible to get appointments for myself or for my husband who I care for. We have at times been sent to other surgeries in the SHP group but this is not convenient, and we want consistent care which means that we want to see the same doctors not different ones. I care for my husband and it is difficult getting him out. I have not been able to get a routine appointment for my husband for two years now. I have queries and concerns about medication that he takes and we have been unable to discuss this because we cannot get an appointment. I do not feel helped or supported at all by my GP.

I find it very difficult to get doctors appointments. I have a mental health disorder, and my medication could be managed better if appointments were more readily available. My wife cares for me which is difficult for her and we are lacking any support from the GP.

Ring at 8.00 am every day and told lines are busy full to capacity, call back later!
I call back various times, various days for weeks. Told to use e-consult online. (I have bone pain affecting my arms and every day activities! ) Just want to see a doctor not spend half my day trying to get an appointment. Popped into surgery, one afternoon. Only nurse in for injections, bloods etc. Not anyone around, no queues, no people?
Asked receptionist for appointment, told to call tomorrow morning??
A complete mess - I am beginning to think someone is being paid a lot of money for a system that is definitely not working. It needs drastic overhaul.

It is very difficult to get an appointment, which was not a problem before the SHP merger. I suffer with depression and I have had a very difficult few weeks due to a health concern. I tried to get an appointment with my GP but I was told that there were no appointments available. The receptionist was very helpful and booked me an appointment at Solihull Hospital's Urgent Treatment Centre.

I waited on the phone for an hour only to be told that there are no appointments available. If you visit the surgery in person there are long queues and you still can't get an appointment. I recently had a bad case of eczema and sent photos through the online system to again be told that there are no appointments available and I should book in at the UTC.

This surgery manages demand by having hour long waits on the telephone and by saying if they are fully booked you could turn up in person and maybe get a cancellation. If it was a modern business it would improve efficiency by improving processes and embracing technology. Many people don’t need to see a GP and can be sorted by nurses, nurse practitioners or pharmacists whose capabilities should be expanded even further. New technology such as email, Teams and Zoom could be used to debottleneck access. This approach to accessing services is damaging the reputation of the NHS. My dog has better access to healthcare than I get from SHP Monkspath.

The doctors at Monkspath surgery are very good but it is very difficult to see them. It is very hard to get an appointment. I am not happy with how the receptionists handle my requests. I am just told no appointments, and I have never been navigated to any other services. Overall I am not satisfied with the service at all.

I have found the mental health support poor. It could be improved with more emphasis on continuity of care. It is very hard to see the same medical practitioner/GP, which means that you have to continually tell your story and talk about your past trauma. I find this very difficult. To access services we are told to self refer, again this is difficult when you have mental health problems. Building the confidence to contact services and charities to seek help is very difficult.

I find that the surgery is quite good when you need an appointment for a child, compared to if I need a general appointment for myself.

The appointment system is unfair. Routine appointments are released in the mornings for a fortnight's time. If you have caring responsibilities and/or work you are disadvantaged in accessing appointments. Why cant some 'routine' appointments be released in the evening? This would allow people who work and/or care to access appointments,. The e-consult has always directed me to 'routine' appointments. There is no joined-up system.