Disappointing
I was a patient at this surgery for over 8 years and, during that time, I was fortunate to be under the care of Dr Macallam. He was one of the kindest, most compassionate and thorough GPs I have ever met. Sadly, since his retirement, my experience of the practice has changed significantly. I have found some members of staff to be rude, dismissive and condescending, particularly when dealing with patients who have disabilities, chronic illnesses or who are from mixed-race backgrounds. In my experience, my concerns have often been minimised rather than listened to, and I have felt medically gaslighted.
I am also concerned that when parents question medical decisions, ask for a second opinion or challenge the practice’s views regarding their children, there appears to be a culture of closing ranks rather than engaging openly with those concerns. A close friend of mine also experienced what they believe were serious prescribing failures, resulting in serotonin syndrome, which further affected my confidence in the practice. Based on my own experiences, I would not feel confident recommending this surgery to families with neurodivergent children or to people living with complex chronic illnesses who need collaborative, patient-centred care. It is disappointing because the standard of care under Dr M was exceptional, and I feel the practice has changed considerably since his retirement.