Needham Market Country Practice - Ipswich

Matt L.

Like most GP surgeries in the UK, NMCP suffers from very long wait times to get an on the day appointment when calling through on the phone.
Submitting an online e-consult form is the most effective way of getting in contact, but you must do this at 0800 as there are a limited number of appointments.
As a family we’ve usually been quite lucky to get decent attention and advice from doctors at this surgery.

Jenny

The staff are so helpful and kind, can't fault them. Excellent !
Only niggle is that I feel there needs to be a booking system for appointments that is a little fairer for those who can't access the 8:30 am scrum.

Roger B.

What a pleasure it was to talk to Karen on reception she listened to my enquiry about a prescription. She then said she would get it sorted out. A few minutes later she called me back and told me the prescription was in the pharmacy and could be collected tomorrow. It is so good to see someone take ownership of a problem and sort it out for you. Thank you.

Richard M.

I’ve been going here since moving to Suffolk in 2013. The GPs have always been good and on the rare occasions I went, I was diagnosed and my issue resolved quite quickly.

More recently I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and needed monthly medication.

I have to say I have found the pharmacy staff to be a really mixed bag. Sometimes lovely and chatty and other times rude or giving poor advice.

On one occasion I approached the window and greeted the pharmacist with a warm “good morning”. She looked at me like I was speaking Martian then very sarcastically just said “NAME?” No excuse for basic rudeness in my opinion. I work under pressure myself daily and a smile and a hello cost nothing.

Later I collected a prescription and was told my annual prescription payment was expired by 2 days. I offered to pay and was told because it was so close then it shouldn’t matter. One month later I get fined by the NHS for taking the medication outside the payment window.

That was enough for me to go elsewhere.

Not awful, but long waits on the phone and sometimes even the E-Consult is closed due to volume. Combined with the above examples, I really can’t recommend it.

Neil H.

I had symptoms that seemed drastic. I used the online booking triage system at 0830. I was contacted by healthcare staff at 0900 to arrange a 0940 appointment. Fast, friendly & efficient service. NHS at its best.
Thankyou Needham Market Country practice.

Elly S.

This surgery worked hard to keep open during extreme staff shortages and tolerated unnecessary abuse for events beyond their control. I can honestly say the improvement is incredible now that staffing is improving. Receptionists, nurses and doctors have always been helpful, kind and pleasant to talk to.
Only negative mention is that I wasn't told my weekly prescriptions switching to monthly would not automatically be repeat, and I'd have to request each month (I've been on weekly for years so not sure if this is usual for surgeries?) and so I'm currently cold turkey on a medication that specifically states not to go cold turkey: not nice. I trust a visit today will resolve the issue and it hasn't put me off using the surgery at all. Fantastic efforts team. Thank you!

Susan B.

Econsult never working. Ring at 8.30 and am 30 in queue or better still you have to ring back later and try again. I haven't seen my doctor in years. Always a battlefield trying to get an appointment. Then when you do finally get one, the waiting room is empty.The service is appalling now. So many new builds in the area you cannot get an appointment anyway. The situation is only going to get worse. Expansion needed or another surgery needs to be built. Very disappointed with the situation now.

Hilary B.

Karen was very helpful and polite
It’s a good service now we are able to press one for a call back.. as the wait on the line is sometimes horrendous..
Thank you