I am in two minds about how to rate this place as it has some good points and a few bad points...I am no longer registered with this practice and previously to joining I had been at a really shoddy practice so it was as if ANYTHING was better than that place so I was quite happy with Townhead HC to begin with...
I have to say this review is for the GP service at Townhead HC NOT the dentistry, podiatry or other services that are provided here. I actually trained & worked briefly in the dentistry department and if I was to review them they'd get 5 stars, hands down. Lovely people & great service they're providing. But unfortunately the GP side is another matter...Townhead HC is split into a few differents 'wings' and I cannot remember exactly which wing my GP was based but as you walk into the centre if you head to the right hand side that was my GP reception & waiting room.
Based within the Glasgow Royal Infirmary near the Alexandra Parade/maternity entrance & shopping concourse THC is quite handy for transport to and from (there is a bus stop right outside) but unfortunately they're opening times weren't that handy; pretty much 9-5pm. Maybe that has changed now, I hope so for the patients sake. One of the worst things I found with THC was trying to phone to make an appointment - this has to be one of the most frustrating phone-lines ever! Firstly you are given options for which service you require then eventually you are put through to reception to await a receptionist to take your call & give you an appointment...well, I must've spent HOURS over the years registered here waiting on the phone, trying to get through...so,so frustrating! Many times I would be waiting (phone ringing) and I would just get cut off! I swear the receptionists had a cut-off button so that if the phones rang for too long they could just shut them up with a quick press of a button. Great. Just what you need when you're ill and trying to phone up for an appointment! *sigh* Then when you DO eventually manage to get through some of the receptionists (well 2 in particular) are quite snappy with you & not the most pleasant of people. Turns out in the flesh they're (sometimes) even worse! Hmph. Quite often I have been offended or annoyed by them upon visiting the practice ~ they are also quite rude to people who cannot speak very good English (a lot of non-English speaking patients come here) which used to horrify me when I was sitting waiting to be seen (the waiting room sits directly opposite/beside the reception), don't get me wrong some people they had to deal with were just idiots but those that were just not used to speaking English very well or weren't used to a Glaswegian accent were often treated appallingly.
I must add not ALL the receptionists were like this; just a couple in particular.
The other thing I must add about trying to make an appointment here is please do not expect to get seen quickly! On occasions I had to wait nearly 3 weeks to get seen! Yes, THREE WEEKS. Ridiculous. It is (obviously) a very busy practice. Be aware of this.
Doctor-wise it really was hit-or-miss in my experience...one of the nicest, kindest most caring doctors I have ever seen used to work here but unfortunately for myself (and other patients) she left to work elsewhere. I was truly sad to see her go. She was brilliant with me after my Dad passed away and on other occasions when I really needed help & reassurance. A lot of doctors don't give you the time of day (I realise they don't HAVE the time to give these days...) so it was so nice to have such a caring doctor as herself. I still miss her.
The nurses here are most of the time very nice too, although my last encounter with one of them wasn't a great one...I was basically asked 'so why are you here exactly?!' and then I was told to leave & make another appointment at a later date. Ridiculous! Waste of time for both of us. I was not happy to say the least. But they provide a good service for non-urgent appointments also Well Woman, Phlebotomy, Antenatal, BP, Diabetes and other such clinics are held by themselves.
The waiting room is a good size & the magazines are usually only a year or so out of date (compared to 2 or 3 years) so not terrible. Only one unisex toilet but there is a lift for disabled access. read more