Waltham Forest Community and Family Health Services

Lack of communication and information regarding my health records and impossible access to appointments specially with the unprofessional service from receptionist,patients feel unsafe

You have to call at 0800 to get an on the day appointment to see a doctor. It is a lottery as to whether you get an appointment , because if you are fortunate enough to get in the queue of people waiting to get through on the phone, often by the time the receptionist picks up your call, all the appointments are gone.
For example, today, I started calling at 0800, and finally got through to a receptionist at 0831, by which time all the appointments had gone. This was after I had sat in the phone queue twice. The first time I was cut off after waiting for over 7 mins making it from number 10 in the queue to number 4, and the second time I was waiting in the queue for over 15 minutes, and got through finally to be told all the slots had been taken.
I should also mention the other multiple calls I made today when the surgery answer machine could not even place me in the queue due to "higher than normal call volumes", advising me to call back later. Also multiple calls which failed to even connect to the surgery line, I can only assume because it was overwhelmed by the amount of sick people trying to get through.
This experience is not a one off. I dread trying to get an appointment because I know it is a lottery as to whether I will get through in time to actually get a slot.
It is a poor system which treats sick people appallingly.
I am now on my to A&E, which I know is already busy enough without having to deal with people who cant get a simple GP appointment.

I called for an appointment for my 4years old for lump on his neck and constipation. She just kept telling me about e-consult. And kept telling me they don’t have any slots left very rudely even for a child. When I asked her simple question when I needed to call for afternoon appointment, she just kept telling me e-consult and they don’t have any slots left. Can a receptionist even not understand simple question and not answer simple question without frustration? I was treated very disrespectfully by. I know wood strret reception is not great but she is worst and first time I talked to.

As I had an appointment for my son he had a ear infection, the GP did not make any eye contact did not explain what is wrong and how he will treat him just handed me a prescription. I was utterly shocked. I walked and then went back in and had to ask does my son have an infection to which he replied yes.

I had to give in forms while the lockdown was in place. The receptionist refused to take them saying I had to give them in the next day, even though I explained to her I have a small baby and can't keep coming back. Also I was not told this when I was given them. She was so rude and unhelpful even when I explained my situation she kept arguing with me.

The service is quite thorough, although it can be hard to access sometimes.

Our GP service closed down which was inconvenient as we are now at Wood St. The commute is harder and accessing the practice is more difficult for us. Forest Road was much better in terms of location but you could never get an appointment. Wood Street are much better at answering the phone

Large practice, long queues. Busy, but it is still possible to see a doctor.

I needed to get a flu jab.GP surgery wrote to ask if I was coming to my appt. In the middle of September.I feel very well now and am pleased that I had the flu jab.

My husband and adopted son both suffer with mental health problems. My son has schizophrenia. His background is Caribbean. He is under NELFT which is a foundation trust. He has a mental health worker. There are no facilities in Waltham Forest for mentally disabled. My husband is diabetic