The River Surgery - Buckhurst Hill

Iako Demetriou

Doctors are okay. Don't really check your medical records and are completely unaware of your medical history. But once you go through everything they are okay. Though some have order medication changes which have directly gone against hospital orders without even checking with the consultant. Very dangerous thing to be doing.

The receptionists are the reason for the low rating. Rude, ignorant and totally unwilling to help. Make sure you order your repeat prescription at least 2 weeks in advance so you have time when they don't order it.

Addition: Now they will ignore emails from hospitals and patients. My mother nearly got kicked off a trial because the GP would just not respond to the hospital and refused to order a blood test. I had to call 111 to get it done in time.

They also absolutely refuse to order certain vital prescriptions. They do this every month.

The receptionist only seem to get worse. I have heard them talking about patients in a very rude and derogatory manner. They are always in a hurry to get rid of you yet they will ignore the phones in order to finish their chat. Truly disgusting state of the surgery. And it only seems to be getting worse.

If you're new to the area and are likely to need regular visits or prescriptions, I recommend looking elsewhere.

Zakariya Awan

Dr Rizvi yet again was extremely helpful today. He is incredibly professional, knowledgable and really makes you feel comfortable when assessing you. The team here have always been a joy in my experience, the reception staff are super polite and when the lady on the front desk had to take a phone call, another very helpful lady swiftly came to my assistance which meant I didn't have to wait to check in. Its the little touches here that make this surgery so much better to deal with, I used to be with a surgery where the doctors were great but reception staff were rude so I understand the stigma, but I can assure you that is not the case with The River Surgery. They are polite on the phones and just as pleasant in person. Many thanks to all putting in such hard work to keep standards so high.

Jonathan Briggs

My review concerns reception staff as I have not managed to see or speak to a GP. On both occasions the receptionists were offhand and seemed disinterested.

I phoned last week regarding a health problem that had developed suddenly and I wanted to see a GP for help, advice and a possible referral. I was offered an appointment 2 weeks hence for a consultation only and actual diagnosis and treatment would take considerably longer I declined this as I felt that I needed more urgent help: I saw a physiotherapist privately 2 days later.
I phoned the surgery again today as I need a GP referral for x-rays and scans but was told that no appointments were left, no future appointments could be booked and that I should phone at 8am tomorrow when I might get an appointment. I should keep phoning at 8am daily until I do.
So which is it? Can future appointments be booked or not? What would I be offered from 15 May?

Helen W.

Receptionist outrageously unhelpful. Expect to waste a ton of time and only get somewhere once you are either dead or develop chronic disease.

Was sent to 3x places to book a simple blood test, none of them successfully, and had to come back to the surgery to get another form. I had both a call and a text to ask me to collect the form that day. When I went later that day, Tracy at the reception just printed the old form again and insisted that's what I needed. When I told her the doctor had emailed the new form, she refused to check the emails because the inbox "is only used to receive and not to send out emails". She insisted that I came back Monday when her colleague is around instead of helping me out.

Having made 5 trips already at that point just to BOOK a simple blood test, I was not willing to waste more time on this at this surgery.

The surgery is only recommended to those with endless amount of time at their hands.

Susan Fuller

So this another review which is very different from the one a year ago. It seems that you can't get a normal appointment any more, I really don't see why it is still as bad as when Covid first came about, it seems to have made the surgery change their way of working for good. I always found the receptionists really nice, I suppose it is because of all the unhappy people they speak to that now makes some of them sound so awful, it make feel like going somewhere else. There are no restrictions any more, people are mingling everywhere, I see no reason at all to keep the practice running like this, people where a mask when going in so I just don't understand.

I love this surgery, the staff are all lovely, so much better than a large clinic, really caring doctors that treat you like a person and not a number, it actually makes going to the doctors a not so bad experience.

Leah Biller

10 May 2023
Follow up appointment and other things to discuss with the doctor. A different doctor this time but it made no difference as all the information was there and up-to-date. Nothing was rushed and I was listened to and included in the decision-making on next steps. Everyone kind and helpful. Thanks very much, River Surgery Team.

10 April 2023
Had another good experience with the River Surgery people - front of house team and the regular locum I saw on 06 April 2023. I don't think people realise the level of demand the River Surgery staff face day in and day out - and Covid made things so much worse in every way especially with all the catch up and unmet need they are still facing and having to deal with calmly and patiently. Thank you all again.

31 December 2022
Had great service from the reception team (who had come in early to cover sickness to ensure patients had access to the surgery from 0800) and high quality care from the member of the clinical team I saw - and all just before the New Year bank holiday. Saved me from being unwell over the holiday period.
Thank you River Surgery team and a very happy 2023. Let's hope things don't get any harder for you or your patients.

15 September 2022
Just had another excellent experience at the River Surgery. The whole team always do their best, try their hardest and are as accommodating as they can possibly be especially bearing in mind how difficult things have become for GP surgeries everywhere over the past couple of years and more recently with all the challenges and the extremely high expectations of many people. Thank you everyone. You're doing a fabulous job in tough times.

Previous review:
I had two really high quality, patient-centred experiences with The River Surgery. Drs Tanna and Tanvir were both exceptionally helpful and demonstrated well-grounded, human empathy as well as sound clinical knowledge. Added to this, the admin/reception team were excellent at front of house and first contact. Really great customer care all round. Thank you Dr Moss and team. It's sad that reviews are rarely left by people who are satisfied.

Clair Miller

I would like to say a big thank you to all doctors and nurses at the River Surgery they have looked after my family and me for over 23 years and think this is an amazing surgery. Also not forgetting the lovely reception team who always help they are lovely so thank you all. Will also miss the lovely Debbie thanks again.
Clair Miller

chenu patel

Amazing service for my daughter since birth (now 2 years old). Always accommodate last-minute requests when she has been unwell. Very grateful for the doctors at this surgery.