Chelmer Medical Partnership - Humber Road Surgery - Chelmsford

Jim Hawkins

The doctors are great...when you get to see them. Unfortunately, they've introduced a triaging system to decide who gets appointments. Those doing the triaging don't have medical experience, do not take into account other health conditions of the patients and often do not take into account NHS guidance for when someone should be given an appointment, often inappropriately applying a one size fits all approach. When you do get allowed an appointment they often send you to partner surgeries on the other side of the city regardless of whether the patient has mobility issues or access to a car.

I've been sent to pharmacists by them only for the pharmacist to tell me that I shouldn't have been referred to them and should see a doctor (as per NHS guidance) by which time all of their appointments slots are gone.

As an example, I reported symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency to them (repeated blood blisters in mouth)...They wouldn't give me an appointment as I didn't have a blister to photograph at that very moment and I couldn't get past their gatekeepers, sorry i mean triage process. Turns out the blood blisters were a symptom of a serious B12 deficiency that was causing my nervous system to shut down and lose use of my legs! In the end, it was ChatGPT that helped me work out the cause of the problem and I got the help I needed elsewhere.

It's a shame as before the surgery became part of Chelmer Medical Partnership it was a great little surgery.

Maysheela Olliver

Cannot get an appointment- even though I have filled out triage form 3 times. Everytime I get a link to book there are no available appointments. They say contact the surgery if there is nothing available after 24 hours, when you call they ask you to complete another triage! This is becoming a joke. I even got a text message from surgery this morning saying that I need to book an appointment in regards to letter they received from specialist, but the surgery can’t book an appointment- I have to complete another triage and wait to get a link to book a nonexistent appointment!

Emma Burns

Awful experience from start to finish. Humber Road used to be a surgery to be proud of. Unfortunately it seems that Patients are now held at arms length rather than being at the heart of the surgery...a far cry from the high standards of care the surgery used to embody.
Clearly they are distancing themselves from those with complex needs and employ care navigators that have no idea how to triage or prioritise. GP requesting to see a Pt before re-issuing a prescription and as a result of this triage system and no calls being answered, this Pt will now be without important medication for several days.
Not the kind of service that I would have ever expected from this surgery. Very disappointed to say the least.

SirPoopsiePants

This used to be a good surgery with great doctors, who genuinely cared, but since the new doctors took over, it is a complete shambles. Rude incompetent doctors who put their patients at risk. They do not listen to you and have zero compassion for their patients. I dread when I have to get a doctors appointment now. (That's even if I am able to get an appointment in the first place!) I would've given them zero if I could.

Nev Clifford-Mason

Humber Road Surgery. Situated on housing estate with no car park for patients and very limited roadside parking spaces. Once a very busy and efficient doctors practice and post covid only handful of patients in waiting area when we do manage to get an appt. All doctors and staff are new to the practise and, with new booking system it is harder to consult with same doctor twice. The On-line appointment system has been detrimental to those people who need assistance and it has severely disadvantaged those patients not able to access it for whatever reason. The pharmacist's are going to be able to help ease not being able to get a doctors appt but, whatever they recommend for a ailment, there will be a charge. Not sure this will help the poorly child of parent on benefits!

Georgel Iftime

Really unprofessional receptionist yelling at you when you try to tell her that the online booking not working before 8pm. She's not even listened to me. Even if triage been submitted correctly. I told her that I'm concerned about my ongoing health issues and she simply does not care! I believe that through the "triage" they decide who's going do die and who's going to live...... Not happy with the service at all and since with this new online system, people will suffer. It's not all about me, there is out there old people which can't use the online... think about them!

Agnieszka Buza

It used to be a good surgery not anymore. After implementing a new system for booking appointments you can't get to any doctor even if you are about to die They assess your problem and send you invitation for booking an appointment but if you click the link no appointments available. This is very disrespectful towards patients. I would go to private practice but on the other hand what is the point of deductions for insurance.

Julie Gadsby

Yesterday I was feeling very unwell, I booked a "triage" on the online system, within 5 minutes I had a call offering me an appointment that morning. I can only say thank you for this as the lovely Dr I saw (I cant remember her name) advised me to go to Broomfield, we hear a lot of negative about the NHS at the moment but yesterday i have nothing but praise. Than you Chelmer Medical Partnership for your speedy appointment for a problem which would have got worse if left.