"Gold Standard GP practice"

I am perplexed by the negative reviews because as far as I am concerned, the Burdwood Surgery offers a gold standard of patient care and accessibility.

I am no great fan of the NHS as an institution by any stretch of the imagination, having been let down by various specialists time and time again. However, the one constant on which I can rely is this GP practice.

My own GP genuinely listens to me when I am discussing my complicated medical history and he has been so helpful in obtaining referrals, chasing up delayed hospital care and ensuring that I have the medication I need.

I have never had an issue in obtaining a face-to-face appointment when it is needed. The staff at the front desk are genuinely kind and helpful (which was a shock to me when I first joined the practice 10 years ago!). At my previous practice, I was used to the stereotypical gargoyles that would do everything possible to prevent access to GP care. The ladies at Burdwood could not be further from that and they always do everything possible to assist me.

In fact, I needed help today as I have developed an infection at an old fistula site. When I contacted my colorectal surgery team at John Radcliffe hospital to ask for help, I found out that it has discharged me from my ongoing care without telling me or my GP (despite the fact that it did not see me during COVID). I rang up Burdwood today, explained my dilemma and my GP saw me in person within a matter of hours. As well as examining me and issuing antibiotics, my GP is going to contact JR and make sure that I am re-referred to the colorectal clinic. Therefore, when I read comments that suggest that vulnerable patients will not been seen urgently, I have to state that my experience is vastly different (not just today, but on several other occasions over the years as well).

The prescription team are also incredible. It is not the first time that I have lost track of my medication and needed to make an urgent request because of my poor time-keeping (with my own poor health and an unwell mother, I am prone to lose track of the days). However, it has always been extremely understanding and I have never been without my medication, no matter how fine I have cut my deadline!

Post-pandemic, we are living in a very different world. Everybody seems to be less understanding and more demanding and I know that some of the staff must feel so demoralised at times. However, I am very, very grateful for the service I've received at Burdwood over the last 10 years and I thank all of the marvellous staff at the practice.