I've never been one to gush about doctors surgeries - mainly because my past experiences haven't…read morebeen great. But I am currently in love with my new doctors surgery. I am an extremely infrequent visitor to the doctors and like most men I tend to let things get excruciating before I finally admit that I need to see a doctor. With this in mind I wasn't actually registered with a doctor it had been so long since my last visit. So just before Christmas I decided to get registered somewhere close to where I lived. I firstly went to a practice at the bottom of the Antrim Road which resembled a prison, luckily for me they weren't registering new patients, so I wandered further up the road and came to Salisbury Medical Practice. The practice itself resembles an old victorian manor house, welcoming, grand and warm. The doctors and staff evoke the same feelings. I went in to the practice on my first visit and to be honest I didn't even expect to be able to register but to my surprise they asked me to come back that afternoon to new patient registration (Thursday's). Once registered which was a simple process I was then able to book an appointment. To my complete and utter shock I was able to get one the next morning at 10am - Let's put this in to perspective. In 24 hours I was registered, booked and seen by a nurse and doctor. I can not recommend this practice enough - highly professional and caring. Easily the best medical experience of my life. For anyone worried about me, it's just a football injury!

This has been my GP practice for almost 20yrs now, the surgery has evolved during that time into…read morethe slick operation it is today. Routine appointments are often booked up well in advance but they have a triage system whereby when you phone in the morning you receive a call back from either one of the GPs or the Nurse Practitioner who will discuss your symptoms and decide how soon you need to be seen, appointments are kept specifically for this purpose. I have lost track of how many GPs actually work here but there are 6 consulting rooms around the main waiting area at the back, a small room opposite a treatment room & a larger treatment room beside reception. Most staff are polite, friendly & helpful. Self service check in allows for quick check in and a reduction in queues at reception. You can register for online services too which allows you to securely book/cancel appointments and order repeat prescriptions. You can nominate a local pharmacy to collect your prescriptions too to save a journey, very handy service indeed.

I turned up for a pre arranged MRI scan. It was arranged by phone and a follow- up confirmation…read moreletter was promised. I got there almost an hour early. Parking anywhere nearby was a nightmare particularly with the extensive on - street roadworks that never seem to ever end. I was kept waiting 20 minutes beyond my appointment time without any acknowledgment or apology and this was despite the fact I'd been fasting for 5 hours. So by the time I got into the polo mint MRI contraption I was very far from impressed and a tad testy - this is private medical and the administration is shoddy. I was within 20 minutes. I held breath 10 times for between 15 and 20 seconds each time. I had headphones on to hear the stop breathing instructions from the radiographer and piped music in - between. A radio station. Once done I was told the results would go back to my consultant in 5 days. I had phoned them earlier in the morning to check which place I had to go as I didn't get the promised letter. I held on the call for 25 minutes before a human spoke. I told her I'd been holding a long time but she said 'oh you came through on the NHS referral number not the private patient one'. I was almost lost for words. A two tier private medicine service and I've no doubt the NHS is paying handsomely for this crap attitude to ill people. So I was then put through on the private patient line and only waited 8 minutes for a matter that took 12 seconds to complete. The most galling thing is we have a perfectly good NHS but it's being deliberately starved of resources by a lunatic Tory dogma for 13 years. They remain happy to pay 3/4 times the cost, using our tax pounds, to the private sector to undermine and destroy public medicine while the private sector donates to the Tory party and the boards of these places are populated by Tory supporters. The sooner all these bastards are sent packing the better.

Operative care was excellent. However pre and post surgery I was offered physiotherapy which I…read moredeclined. I did not receive physiotherapy. A skateboard was left in my room and I was told to use it, no supervision or advice. I was billed £139 for a view of the skateboard I didn't request or want. Having had a poor service from physio on a knee op six years earlier I had arranged for competent physiotherapy outside the UC. At no point did I sign for the service or was advised that I would receive a chargeable service. Needless to say I won't be paying and will forward the issue to my solicitor. To rub salt into the wound UC want to charge me for crutches which I had from my previous knee surgery. I begin to understand to meaning of the "Till on the hill" label. If they wish to persist I will se them in court.

If Dr Beattie wants to share this email with The Ulster Independent he can…read more I'm sorry for taking up any of your time in voicing my feelings. I'm much more comfortable flying back and forward to England to receive any treatment. Best Wishes Canx A Booking for Colonoscopy with Dr Beattie. Staff on Booking line overly assertive, spoke over me, insisted information that was not correct, hostile attitude as if hate their job there. Not reassuring, I was very ill and subsequently became wary of Booking in here going by staff attitudes. Never Experienced such at Kings Bridge Elaine on Bookings is excellent as are other staff.