I was just at The Hollies this morning. It's been my NHS Surgery for nearly two years now, and…read moretoday was my first slightly negative experience with it.
Not being a morning person, I still had to jump at the chance of being offered an appointment within two days of ringing up -- albeit at 8:45am. (Inner monologue: "Oh dear god, what do the hands of a clock look like that early?")
Unfortunately, the receptionist had made a mistake, and didn't have a record of my appointment. I was offered an appointment for tomorrow, which I accepted.
The GPs/doctors are all very friendly, with fine bedside manner. They often spend more than the typical doctor's two minutes listening to symptoms and recommending treatments.
Though I'm not a hypochondriac (honestly, I don't own a single thermometer), I've been to the Surgery about half a dozen times in the past two years.
I've always been seen straight away, with less than a five minute wait. The receptionists are all unfailingly polite and helpful -- not something most patients associate with the NHS!
The Surgery itself is a bit dingy, and the building is dated. Unfortunately, there is no parking outside, and the only options are very poor street parking or dishing out £2 for the car park across the street.
All in all, if one is sick, it's not a terrible place to end up.