Let me say first of all the clinicians here are probably the best you’ll find anywhere. But the huge paraphernalia that exists between patient and clinician has probably been worse than the anxiety I suffered to prompt me to seek medical advice in the first place. Firstly, the reception team are woefully understaffed. If you are unlucky enough to endure the 1.45 minutes of totally superfluous introductory message about how you can get all this fab information on the fab new look website (and then laboriously go into detail about said info instead of saying we’re on line go to the website deal with it and if you don’t get the help you need ring us back) and THEN don’t get through to a receptionist, be prepared to listen to this for 11 TIMES or so before you get anyone to pick up. I have cleaned the whole house some days with my phone on loudspeaker by the time I’ve got a response. If you are really unlucky and ask them if they’ve requested a script from a clinician and they haven’t done it, be prepared to be hanging on the line (or outside the door in the pouring rain , as I have sometimes had to do because as you can probably guess, this is a common occurrence) don’t expect an admission that actually no, they didn’t actually action the request, or God forbid offered an apology but that it will be done straight away OK? And then when you’re sent packing across to LLoyds Pharmacy next door, where you’re wondering how can they still be in business, despite the fact that there is zero customer service and you are eyed by every one of those white-coated assassins as some evil threat, they answer dead-eyed that nah , we haven’t got the prescription through and would you go away cos I’m on lunch now and then you trot back to the surgery door, dying inside while some Priti Patel like quasi empress approaches the door with barely concealed contempt at your daring to question the information she’s just given you. I have anxiety and depression and I am dependant on strong painkillers because of a hip condition and awaiting surgery.. if I don’t get these meds I can go into unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Despite the fact that these ostensibly knowledgeable people are aware of this both the surgery and the pharmacy behave in such a way that they have merely withdrawn your daily chocolate ration. This has happened to me with depressing regularity and I am preparing to dispossess myself of the twin evils of Lloyd’s Pharmacy and Barlow Medical Centre but not before I have literally been reduced to tears at reception by their passive aggressive and unhelpful demeanour . Sorry Doctors, Nurses all you’re great but your practice absolutely sucks. Oh and by the way, if you’re wondering why I’ve left this review instead of submitting a formal complaint to the practice, guess what?! You can’t

Had an appointment this morning for an ongoing issue with my ears, and saw a consultant physician rather than a GP. His attitude was absolutely abysmal, he didn't listen to anything I said which was obvious as he kept repeating things back incorrectly: 'Well, since you say you aren't getting pain it isn't an infection', 'I said I *am* getting pain', 'right so that indicates it's not an infection since there's no pain...' It honestly felt like talking to a brick wall with the level of attention and listening comprehension I received. Then he acted like I was wasting his time for continuing to ask for help despite him not giving any help in the first place! His eventual solution was to prescribe me something I was prescribed 2 months ago which had no effect, but he clearly did not listen or did not believe me when I told him that I'd already tried it. Totally useless. It's also almost impossible to get an appointment since they have changed it to 'ring on the day and we'll give you an appointment if there are any left' rather than being able to fill in an online form and wait for them to get back to you with a phone call/appointment which is much more convenient if you are working. Ironically, the pandemic streamlined getting an appointment and now they are phasing back to the way things used to be it is much less convenient! Seriously considering switching to a different GP with a better booking system which is a real shame since most of the staff here are lovely!

Contrary to several other reviewers, as a long time user of the practice I feel compelled to stand up for the telephone callback service which I've had no problems with. Sure, it's not quite as personal as it used to be, but it still guarantees same-day access to medical staff. A further upside is that it avoids overwhelming the waiting room with a heaving mass of potentially infectious patients first thing in the morning (a not uncommon sight prior to the phone service's introduction), instead spreading out the appointments of those that need to be seen over the day. In several cases, I've even been prescribed medication without needing to be seen at all, which naturally frees up a bit of the staff's time for seeing those that really require an exam or consultation. Yes, it's fairly obvious the NHS is struggling under the load, but I've been very impressed with Barlow Med's response to the times. The staff have always been professional and polite, in my experience, and the practice is clean and accessible. The adjacent pharmacy is convenient and, although the recent switch to electronic prescriptions seems to be causing some headaches, a pharmacist friend assures me that's a common complaint - not specific to this pharmacy. Hopefully, training will smooth out the issues there in the coming year. Overall, when I compare my experience at Barlow Med to friends and family who are registered at other practices in the area, I'm very happy with the service.

I am not registered at this practice however managed to get an emergency walk-in appointment yesterday as was suffering with horrendous flu like symptoms with no improvement after several days. I arrived at 4:45pm and it was very busy . I was shocked that my waiting time was actually less than 10 mins. The place was fairly packed and also a lot of infants. I probably felt the worse I have ever felt in my life, like I was going to die .. but as luck would have it I was treated by a Dr Saeed who is one of the nicest doctors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I ended up staying at the clinic for a good few hours whilst the doctor ran tests and checks .. nothing was too much trouble. You can tell Dr Saeed was made to be a doctor he just has the perfect manner . I left with a prescription and started my meds the next morning . Today .. just 24 hours later I feel so much better. Flu is serious business .. lol Today I missed a call on my phone and it was the doctor checking if everything was ok when I checked my voicemail . 10/10 . I’m considering moving from my current practice. I wouldn’t hesistate to recommend . The ladies on reception are lovely too Thanks to everyone who helped The girl that looked like she was dying In the waiting room in pyjamas . Ha ha

This practice is awful. First, to get an appointment it means you need to call between 8 and 9 in the morning and if you are lucky you might get an appointment that day. If you call at 8:30 you need to wait more than 30 minutes to talk to someone as by that time there are 50 people in the queue and also no availability for that day to be seen be someone. You cannot even hope to see a specialist. We were ALWAYS blocked at the GP level. The last appointments both for my son and myself were with a nurse, not even a doctor. When I was there 2 days ago, I had no voice and obvious tonsils stones (even I could see them in the mirror) and she looked into my eyes and said she does not see anything. She prescribed me stomach pills. Stomach pills! while I had no complaints about my stomach. She reluctantly took a swab test just because I insisted. I have recurrent tonsillitis and I asked a few times to be seen by a specialist and they always find reasons for me not to, even though 2 weeks per month for the last 3 years I have to deal with headaches, temperature, cough, dizziness. They prescribed me antibiotics without any test and they just made assumptions: if penicillin did not work they gave me clarithromycin. I can’t imagine any practice worse than this one.

Spent 14 minutes as ‘1st in queue’ - receptionist cancelled my online services without me requesting so I had to get that reset and lost access to all my medical records for over 24 hours. Queried my GP callback and was told I was supposed to be in for an appointment, I confirmed that it was a GP callback I was waiting for. receptionist checked again and said I’d already been contacted, I confirmed that I had NOT been contacted. I asked if they have my correct number on file, receptionist told me I’m on the callback list. I asked again is my number correct, she again told me ‘you’re on the list for a callback’. Receptionist was not listening to my request, it was clear she was paying more attention to the conversation with her piers in the background who I could hear chatting away, no doubt that’s why I was on hold for 14 minutes despite being the first caller in the queue. I’ve been registered at BMC for 32 years, since I was born! There’s better service and customer/patient care in a Greggs than at this surgery. Get me a sausage roll stat.

"Beacon" Medical Centre that it uses "Barlow" Medical Centre premises: "Barlow" Medical Centre should check out whether the Medical professionals from "Beacon" treat well their patients before they accept them on their premises. "Beacon Medical Centre" has the most untrained Receptionists over the phone. You can ring to "Beacon Medical Centre" for 90 minutes and nobody takes your phone call if it overlaps with eid celebration. And if you are lucky to manage to book your appointment, then at the very last moment they cancel your appointment!!!!! in order to refer you into a different day that you never asked. Then they text you two different times that you have to attend. Which it is getting confusing with the Medical Staff. They can text you to attend at 3pm and at 3.30pm at the very same day. They can tell you that they will get someone to ring you back at the end of which they phone you and tell you they cant help you and then fob you off to someone else. Complete waste of time don't bother with this practice it's a complete JOKE!!!!

Excellent GP practice with caring and helpful staff. I know they are working flat out to provide the best service they can. However like virtually all GP surgeries they are stretched thinly. The government promised 6,000 extra GPs but there’s actually now LESS full time equivalent GPs than before. All the while the population is getting older, sicker and medically more complex. The demand goes up year on year but GP surgeries are expected to provide unlimited access for no extra money. It’s unsustainable. So when you can’t get an appointment at the surgery or something isn’t done right away; don’t always blame the GP. Because the relentless GP bashing drives more and more away. The ones who are left are already working longer and longer hours. Blame the Government who underfund and undermine General Practice. P.S. I do not work here; have no personal connections here and am a mere patient here who appreciates the hard work staff are putting in. Thank you.

I myself am a Ukrainian, our polyclinics in Ukraine are bad enough, and I thought that it was impossible to get through to my Ukrainian polyclinic. I thought that they never answer the phone, but after I moved to England and began to live near this clinic, when I needed to go there, I was in line for a call at 56th place. I don’t understand why create a special time for recording, if there are no special specialists there, can’t they just take some people to the registry? Why don't they think about people? as I understand it, you only need to call there, I have been waiting for 24 minutes. From 08:04 to 08:29 I'm still waiting and I'm in 43rd place. Calling the king himself is easier than this clinic, as for me.

I have been with this surgery for 6 years, and almost every time I have seen a different Doctor. The conveyor belt of young training Doctors through this place is astonishing. There is no consistency in care. I have also had to complain twice about poor treatment from staff and inadequate advice/diagnosis/treatment. I am a healthcare professional myself and my husband is a Doctor, stay clear of this place and find a better GP with staff who actually care. Speaking to staff here is like speaking to people who think they are doing you a favour. We don't have any long term conditions so never bothered changing but thankfully we are moving soon and look forward to being rid as we now have a young child.

Arrived for my appointment on time, however the queue was enormous to check in so waited 10 minutes to check in. Was told that the doctor was running late and may not be able To see me now (albeit the receptionist did accept it was her fault as she was alone and backed up). However I was told to take a seat whilst the receptionist checked the situation. I then waited a further 15 minutes to then be told she cannot see me. I am extremely upset by this as I work full time and went out of my way to attend. This could have been avoided with more staff on reception. I wish to update my review as the practice contacted me and sorted this very efficiently. I am now very happy. Thank you.

Terribly difficult to get anywhere with this practice, doctors and nurses ok when you see them but trying to get appt or consultation is appalling, answer machine asks you to go through Patches as it’s the SAFEST route (what does safest mean, it condescending wokeness but actually means they don’t want to pay to staff the lines) then you go to Patches and it says NO Appts today( for the second day running) is the computer WFH?. So going round in circles again and they are not interested in supplying a service for tax payers. I have private health care but you need a referral first, you can’t make it up. Is it the NHS that’s the problem or the practices??.

I was a patient here for years, in my opinion it is a great surgery. People have mentioned issues with the telephone callbacks, I used this service a few times and had no problems, including on one occasion being given a same-day appointment after speaking to a GP when I was very unwell. I also used to request my repeat prescriptions online and never had any problems. I have moved to north Lancashire now where my (highly rated, and good) new GP can take a week to give you a telephone callback so I now appreciate the same day callback service. NHS choices will give you a better idea about this surgery, 96% of patients, like me, would recommend!

The Nurses are really helpful and efficient. Unfortunately, Reception is atrocious. They text me to ask me to book a flu jab. You can't do it online and when you phone to try to do it you get the same message played over and over again telling you that most things can be done online or you can do "self care!" As I couldn't get through on the phone I sent a message via the website and they replied to tell me to phone - on the line you can't get through on... They also send out lots of texts telling you not to phone them if you're ill! Funny that as I thought they were getting paid to treat people who are ill.

A complete joke to get through to speak to anyone. On the phone at 8am with 34 people in a queue. How on earth is this place ever going to function when that is the way appointments are made. If I was lucky to get through on the day, which wasn't the case, I'd then have to wait for a call back to assess whether I'm considered sick enough to see that day. I think this is designed to make it hard work, so that it reduces the amount of people who get seen. Of course, it's now a case of trying again each day until someone eventually picks up the phone to me. A broken system, really needs looking at.

Since registering here after being very dissatisfied with my previous doctors surgery, I have been exceptionally impressed by the warm personable reception staff. They are efficient and helpful. The call back service is very convenient. The Doctor was polite and listened to my request with a few questions. The prescription was forwarded to Lloyd’s chemist, and was ready for collection within a few hours of my consultation. The surgery is modern, light and airy and has pleasant clean waiting areas. Everything you might expect but with a patient friendly approach. Excellent!

I called medical centre with really bad cold and chest pain. Receptionist asked what's the problem when I state I have really but cold and nothing is helping, without listen all symptoms she asked what is your phone number? , someon will call you back This is not the first time I’ve had a problem. I used to walk round to surgery and make an appointment straight away. If I needed to be seen straight away. I’m going to doctor maybe once a year, when I’m feel really bad. After receiving call doctor was more concern about bad review on google than patien health Well done

The reception is always completely non-cooperative. Most of the time after endless minutes of waiting after the greetings the ladies drop the line. Any request, especially emergencies, refers to the website and is not available to help patients. They keep sending files with programs that any computer (mac or windows) does not recognize, so every time you have to call ... wait and hope they respond to ask you to send the files back. If all the operations are to be done through the website, I ask myself the sense of having a reception that pays the taxpayer.

I am reading a lot of comments about problems trying to get through to make an appointment. The NHS is being privatised, and there are fewer GPs. It's the same issue in every GP practice in the UK. Stop moaning about your underfunded and under-resourced NHS GP surgery and tell your MP to do something about the stealth privatisation of the NHS and don't stop moaning to your MP until the NHS is safe. Thank you to all the wonderful staff working flat out to care for me and all your patients under a government that is systematically dismantling the NHS.

The admin team are the most loveliest, supportive, caring team I have spoken too. They're friendly, chatty and understanding. They deal with a lot every day, so to keep happy and positive over the phone is admirable. Julie (Scottish GP/Nurse?) is THE MOST wonderful GP I have ever spoken too! She's understanding, friendly and cheerful. I cannot thank her enough for being sensational, both professionally and personally. I feel very lucky to have such an admirable GP Practice. Thank you for all your support and care you all provide!

I've been registered at Barlow Moor for many years and have always enjoyed an excellent service on the infrequent times that I have used it. However, today I had to try and navigate the current website which doesn't appear to have been designed from a user perspective, and when I finally called the practise I can only describe the administrator as a bit curt and sounded exasperated. However, the portal service does work, and when I received a call from the GP they were very considered and helpful. Excellent as always.

Friendly hard working staff who always try to sort queries quickly - I've always been so impressed with how quickly I get an appointment/ an Answer. They had a great on-the-day respiratory clinic I took my son to where the doctor was really reassuring and easy to talk to, he rang me the following week to check how things were too. Dr Ho and Dr Gomes have been brilliant in the past too. Sister Helen is also really nice and great with little ones. Grateful to have such a brilliant local practice.

This used to be a good service but now it's failing its patients at every level. The appointments process is a total joke, call at 8am or book out of hours but you can't book out of hours because they don't know the slots yet. You can't get any sense out of the reception staff, they seem to talk in riddles. The only thing this practice achieves is to put even more pressure on the NHS by not seeing people early enough to intervene before their condition worsens. Its not a service.

Almost impossible to get an appointment with a nurse/doctor due to the system currently in place which obliges patients to call on the day only and wait on the line, often unsuccessfully, for long time during early morning in order to book an appointment. Extremely difficult especially for those that work and/or have caring responsibilities and it's very disappointing that a medical centre didn't consider such issues before implementing such a system in the first place.

GP has advised for urine test of my daughter to check UTI and its been 7 days but haven't got the results. The reception is clueless. Upon follow up one will say 'will chase the lab' .. other day they say 'we don't chase up and need to wait'... absolutely ridiculous! My daughter is complaining of stomach pain and we don't have know what is the underlying problem until the lab share the results. Doctors are good but reception staff is completely clueless and not helpful.

I've had a terrible time trying to get in contact with a GP there online system simply doesn't work, so many prescription requests have been lost/ignored. It's extremely difficult to get an appointment due to their inflexible booking system. They really need to review their online services and interface. It's a shame because the few occasions I've made it far enough to see a practitioner they have on the whole been very helpful. But accessing services is a problem.

I have been a patient here for over 10 years and I have always been well looked after. The telephone call back service is great and when I have needed a same day appointment I have always been booked in. I like the online appointment booking system and ordering repeat prescriptions online, it really makes it easy and helps me to keep everything organised. My Dr is brilliant but when he's not available the other Dr's I have seen/spoken too have been good too.

I have no complaints with the reception staff, nurses or GPs. Every time I’ve seen a member of staff they’ve been great. However, getting to see or speak to medical staff is extremely difficult of late. I know the NHS is under incredible pressure, but is it really necessary to send regular messages asking patients not to contact the practice unless absolutely necessary? The management need to make it easier to contact the practice, not more difficult.

Got a call back from nurse Leola - not friendly and quite unprofessional. Have uploaded my photos as requested before the call, her attitude was bad when dialing in - she accused of me not sending in advance which turned out she overlooked them. After looking at the photos, she did not tell what I’m suffering from and just prescribed some me creams. Not informative which makes me uncertain of her judgement.

Really disappointed with the centre's response to the pandemic. It is nigh on impossible to get hold of anyone on the phone, and TOTALLY impossible to get a face to face appointment. Using their online query system results in a call from a nurse who always says "I hear from you a lot, don't I?" and will prescribe things at random until you tell them not to (ie steroids for fungal infections). Rubbish.

Really disappointed. I booked for an interpreter 2 weeks before the doctor's appointment and the receptionist was very kind and available to book that for me. The day of the appointment I was on my own: if i had known it in advance I would have booked another appointment; no one called me to say that the interpreter was not available. what's the point to have a "not fully clear" medical appointment?

Just wanted to take the time to leave Katie a 5 start review. Katie is a receptionist at Barlow Medical & was super thorough, polite and helpful on the phone today. In a time where docs receptionist get nothing but bad press, reception staff like Katie are shining lights of hope for us all that one day we'll call the docs and the person at the end of the phone is a s nice and helpful as her!

Most of the time very good , the nurses are always lovely and the practice have even been able to fax prescriptions over for me instead of me travelling to the surgery which is great. My last visit however the doctor wasn't the best and she did not really make me feel like the issue would be resolved after me waiting 45 minutes past my appointment time. Didn't seem interested in helping me.

I ordered hydro mil shower cream a week ago. After making five trips to the boots and the surgery I was told that prescription is on its way it turns out that the prescription was for the cream and not the shower gel then I was told that they do not give prescription for the shower gel why could they have not told me at the outset this is absolutely unacceptable

Had a very lovely lady take blood, then a bike rider nurse gave me a flu jab. Blood results checked by a doctor, then conveyed to me by the delightful and helpful receptionist. Can give nothing but praise. Recently seen by Dr Barclay. Fantastic care and attention to detail. Further praise. And Nurse Hayley is excellent and kind. Marie Louise at Reception too.

I've had serious abdominal pain for the past 3 days now and can't for the life of me get hold of this doctors! I've been literally trying all day for the past 3 days since 8am to get help! This is absolutely ridiculous! I hope my problem isn't bad or serious as it is almost unbearable at times! If you need help call 111 or 999 definitely not 445 9000!

Vile. They lie, mislead and threaten . They happily flaunt the 2010 Equality Act which I happen to come under, a fact they are fully aware of. You can't complain via email either. Convenient if you ask me as it's easy to disguise complaints made over the phone or via snail mail. Avoid especially if you value your mental health. They certainly do not.

Their booking system is horrendous. I can never get an appointment. Stupid system, you have to ring at before 8 am and wait for a doctor to get back to you but then most of the time, you don’t get to speak to anyone because the lines are too busy for the day. This needs to be sorted out. I was in hospital last night and need a check over.

Mine and my husband's professional life has seen us move houses x13, all over the country, and each time registering with a local GP practice. Barlow Medical Centre is by far the best one! They have a highly professional, efficient and caring team all round. I cannot fault the care my family has received so far, at this medical centre.

Best GP practice I've been at. As a doctor myself, I'd thoroughly recommend this practice. Dr Ho and Dr Sayed have been exceptional, and have gone above and beyond for the care of my whole family. I have always been able to get same day appointments when needed. Reception staff is also very helpful and efficient.

Online system of booking appointment doesn't work and even calling first thing, the automated message says no space straight away. Whenever I speak to receptionist they just say call first thing or try online. It's like they're actively trying to stop people from booking appointments

I feel like I am talking to a robot and not a doctor! We don’t get appointments but telephone consultation then the irony is that the call back system sends you a text message to read your symptoms online as a bedtime story! Ridiculous . I am trying to leave this practice!

Lovely practice, booking via patches was initially a little tough to find registration, but it's there if you look for it. Reception was friendly and kind, and the dr Morris was approachable and tackled my medical issues professionally and effectively. Thank you all

Dr Littler, very pleasant chap and efficient doctor - I thought the NHS had no time or energy for anyone, not Dr L at Barlow Medical Centre at least. I’d not seen a GP since 1993, but having moved thought I’d better register. Great experience so far, thank you.

Just checked in for a flu jab. In and out in 1.30 minutes?! Unbelievable efficiency which included a warm welcome, incredible organisation and a frisson of fun - for a flu jab?! Well done Nurse Julie Nylan and her team . You should be running the country!

Been a patient for since 2008 with generally favourable experiences. More recently however, the near impossibility to get through the new phone system render the care and the competency of the care and competency of the medical staff largely redundant.

When you see a doctor they are good, however the pre and after service is very poor, I have been waiting for a referral letter for over two weeks, would hate to think this could be happening to other people if it was important. Not great service.

The best Doctors I've ever used having lived all over the country. Been with them 10 years now. Of course the system isn't always perfect given the massive pressure they are under but in most of my dealings with BM they have been absolutely

Dr Doug Jeffery is great! He really cares about his patients and hears you out without making you feel like a hypochondriac. He also follows up and gives great medical advice. I've had some unpleasant encounters with gps at other practices

This practice is a joke. Poorly organized with poorly skilled nurses and GPs. They misdiagnosed my son twice and the most you can get from them is paracetamol and a flu shot. I now need a referral and I have called multiple times with no

Registered in this medical centre in July, it took me three weeks to get my first appointment with the GP and few days before my appt I received a letter saying that the doctor wasn't able to attend any appointments in the entire month,

I got a wooden splinter in my eye at work, which was red, weeping and causing me severe pain - so popped in to BMC to see if someone could help me. I was told very abruptly that there wasn't a single medical professional in the building

I just came from there and it is awfull! I need an appointment and I have been following all their instructions (calling and calling and never got an answer). I told why I need an appointment but they do not care at all! It s a joke!!!

Excellent Practice! I've been registered in several GPs and this one is the best so far. The staff is very professional and caring. The booking system is efficient and allows you to be seen the same day without long waiting times.

My dad is new to the practice since December. So far can only say positive things about the practice. Would like to give a special mention for Sue on reception who was extremely helpful and friendly with a problem this morning.

Completely impossible to get a doctor callback. As other reviews mention, system is ludicrous and doesn't work. City centre practices have an online booking form for GP calls, which is incredibly easy to implement.

The reception staff were so lovely and kind. They offered me a room to breastfeed, when I had a crying baby that needed to be fed whilst passing the practice whilst walking. Thank you so much

Consistently good communication and well run medical practice. My only gripe is that the car park always seems to be full even though there doesn't appear to be many people inside.

GP are rubbish especially the females they want to cause disruption so the heart patients die immediately the way I been treated is disgusting by Jessica Bradshaw.

This isnt a book i promise, long read maybe but gives you a better understanding of why Barlow Med Centre is THE best med centre. Grab a cuppa and have a read.