Orchard Surgery - Dereham

Lorraine

I’ve been with Orchard Surgery for many years and have found the service in the past few years to be extremely good. The staff are pleasant and efficient on reception and the GP’s & nurses compassionate and thorough.
Well done 👏🏻

Sandra Newitt

Excellent, professional service. Needed an appointment over the Christmas break. Went in, given at time and all sorted within a few hours.

Samuel Hayward

Twice now haven't seen either of our children for rashes they had just asked for photos and got the diagnosis completely wrong they said one of them had heat rash which was diagnosed as scarlet fever the next day when we eneded up taking her to the walk in centre in Norwich second time they said it was chicken pox and it turned out to be hand foot and mouth they used to be really good with the children and now they seem like they either just want to palm you off or they just tell you to go a and e or walk in centre

lee morant

Was almost certain the place had changed for the better, was told I'd get a follow up call for my blood tests and I believed them. Never materialised though luckily I'm able to look at my tests online and Google to check my results. I wouldn't go back here again, and they wonder why a&e is always full with trivial issues. Veteran's charter my great aunt fanny.

R Lambant

Not sure what's happened to this place. The staff seem to change like the weather. Doctors details posted on the door are no longer even at the practice. What happened to the website? They had a wonderful, informative website with photo's and staff info etc. but that's gone - replaced by a "cover-all" NHS template that has very muddled info. No picture of surgery. No details of Doctors or Practitioners. In fact, the Facebook page seems more "current" (and I don't even use FB) but not really that helpful. The photo they use on Google isn't even of the surgery anyway (it's a side shot of Lloyd's Pharmacy!) so I'll attach a better one.

Ok. I'm know I'm getting older (and grumpier!) but I remember the "good old days" when you went to the surgery - were greeted by a nice smile and a "hello" but now it's a touch 'screen' and book yourself in. I'm now just waiting for the "drive thru" service! Trust me, it'll happen. Hehe. Window 1 for consultation - window 2 (arm out) for blood test - window 3 for prescription! Off you go. If you're really unlucky, It'll be window 4 - to pick out the lining for your pine box...

My other gripe is: why does no-one ever seem to know why you are there? Ok, I may be being a tad melodramatic here but it seems as if the hand doesn't know what the foot is doing. My last appointment seemed somewhat a mystery to them. I said "Is is not in my notes" to which they replied "Well, (sigh) sometimes the notes are more like 'code' than actual notes." ((Shock!))

On the plus side, (yes, I know - a plus!) the staff do seem very kind and considerate. also, I've never experienced the problems with getting an appointment as others seem to. Just blind luck maybe? I have spoken with others who have had a terrible time though. The one thing I will say is I have always been baffled by how "busy" they always say the surgery is. Not once have I ever visited where the waiting area(s) have had more than a handful of people in - and even then you seem to wait quite some time (over your appointment time) to see someone. I'm a patient person (no pun intended!) so I don't mind waiting all that much but no-one seems to ever be in a rush or overstretched so - what are they doing? I can remember many moons ago when the old surgery would be at bursting point with patients but now - maybe 5-10? That's all I've ever seen on MY visits...

As someone else mentioned - seeing an actual Doctor seems to be fast becoming a rare thing today. It's either a Healthcare Professional, Nurse Practitioner or even the receptionist who seem quite 'skilled' at diagnosis themselves these days with asking you what the problem is. That used to be the sole domain of the Doctor - not the desk-jockey! I know, I know - it's all about "time management" today - but still, I'd rather not have to tell a receptionist about the funny size, shape and colour of my 'who-jimmy-whatsit' thanks! Haha. I've also recently been informed that they no longer do ear-irrigation at this surgery (could be mistaken as it's still on their list of 'services' ?) - they ship you off somewhere else for that too. How much more work can they offload? Anything more than a dickey tummy or a splinter and - off to A & E with you...!

Orchard Surgery. If you read this: For the love of God, bring back the old website. Straight forward, informative and well laid out. If not, at the very least get up-to-date with your current info. Surely takes all of five minutes to post a roster of your current "employee" details on the door! Can we not also have some "staff" details on the current (atrocious) site?

( TL:DR - Yep, it's a surgery - but it ain't what it used to be... )

Ellie

Shocking surgery. Impossible to get an appointment with the doctor even for the child. Online booking system is not fit for purpose and not working. Just waited for 40 minutes in a call just to be told to go the pharmacy again who cannot advise on a proper treatment.

Michael

Not a very good experience for several months at all! You can't get an apointment to start with. You don't receive any help when you are trying to book an appointment and many more concerns. You receive quite rude responses when you need help.Not helpful at all. Shocking standards.

TM Bowmanwood

Wish I hadn't transferred from my old surgery. People are nice but not sure it's well run. Inadequate CQC rating says it all. Phoned up with an issue. Was told I couldn't have a Dr's appointment. Instead see a physio over 3 weeks later. Terrible. AVOID.