If there were Awards handed out to the worst GP surgery in Northern Ireland, Dundonald surgery would be a clear favourite. This place has it got so bad it is basically become just a dispensing pharmacy now. It's virtually impossible to see any doctor or get talking to one. As a member for almost 20 years, I've watched this place slide into complete disarray. You have half an hour on the phone between 8:30 and 9am to get through to speak to a doctor... It's like trying to win the lottery. The odds of even getting through to the receptionist, (let alone speak to a GP) are stacked against you. You can ring for 5 days in a row and never even get through. Covid was the best thing ever happened to this surgery, it has allowed the doctors to hide away from the public (they are still doing it) and make it virtually impossible now to speak to, or see a doctor. The surgery is a disgrace.

I feel I should add my own reflections and frustrations. Many criticisms pre-date the COVID19 pandemic, which has magnified weaknesses - there are key problems, especially LACK OF ACCESS and POOR COMMUNICATION: - totally inadequate phone line(s); - inadequate time-slots for specific inquiries; - disabling useful functions of 'Patient Access'; - poor communication (eg: not passing-on info); - lack of continuity about ongoing matters; - won't act-on patients' e-mails, even if desperate as a means of getting-in-touch; - very variable attitude/competence from reception staff, from good, to OK, to dire. With all the restrictions since March 2020, one would have thought an vital facility would have sought to maximise other 'virtual' means of providing an essential service - but no ... The practice also has a pharmacist, who also just appears to make things even more awkward, necessitating more calls to doctors, then it's nearly impossible to get-through, and on and on it goes .... It's a lucky dip, and can feel as if patients and others can like it or lump it; but: it's not like a café or shop where going somewhere else is no big deal. When you do get to speak with a GP or nurse, some are excellent - and it's important they know this. But: it's all just so inaccessible, and obviously I'm not alone feeling this way. Surely it has to improve: especially access, as GP services are the ONLY gateway to the Health Service for most people. (PS: edited to reflect my experiences upto end-September 2021.)

absolute disgrace, they will say anything to get you off the phone and deny you an appointment. Rang after being advised GP antibiotics by dentist for infection, advised after being on hold that they don't do that, so no appointment. Ok then, I have a prescription I need to discuss with the doctor. Ok, on hold. comes back. Can't do that. We don't do appointments. Ring back tomorrow at 8:30 They are borderline negligent, they aren't even fully aware how to use their own systems as they can never find you on it and you have to insist you area patient until they do find it. Absolute joke and the entire staff should be ashamed of themselves. Reception staff in particular. No idea how to do their job or deal with patients. Insane this place hasn't been come down on hard by some kind of governing body

Called 58 times in ~30 min and still cannot get through. One has to wonder if the line is even on...

If you don't call non stop from 8:30 you wont get seen and half the time when you eventually get through you are told youre too late and needed to call at 8:30, when youve been calling them the past hour over and over. They have no online booking services, just call and hope for the best. I had to call 244 times to get a gp call back the other day. Non stop from calling from 8:30. The actual doctors have more than once completely ignored any medical problems i inquired about due to them being busy and over worked until the problem got so bad i had to go to a &e for it. Blood and test results are never told to you, no one ever rings you back, and if you test negative for a test they do for you they wont try another test to see if its something else. Youre just left to fend for yourself, as if the medical problem will just go away because it isnt the one they tested for. Left living with pain and illness they cant be bothered testing for. If i could give it no stars i would

This doctors practice is a disgrace, you ring your on hold for 30 mins. Then nothing happens you ring again in a queue of phone calls for 7.then you ring again your number 1 in the queue they still dont answer 30 mins later. The surgery should be closed down. They say there busy. Busy doing what. They shiuld beashamed. I even got on to my own mp. This is why people go to a&"e its anot a proper sur. Yery the staff need to be re trainned

I'd give 0 stars if I could, the reception staff are the most UNhelpful people I've ever spoke to- particularly one called Jean. I would not recommend anyone attends this surgery as you will not receive proper care. I was on hold for over 20 minutes, I honestly think the staff leave the phone ringing on purpose. Completely horrible service, do not register here.

Virtually impossible to get access to doctors. For 3 consecutive days I been trying to get a telephone consultation. Day 1 repeat dialling for 1.5 hours to only get onto reception answer machine queue, (for another 40mins! ) to be told all the spots are full, phone back tomorrow. Did so, Day2, repeat dialling for 2 hours, didn't manage to get connected 🤷 Day 3, got connected after 40 mins, 30 mins in queue, to be told at half 9 all appointments taken. Emergencies only you'll probably need to ring back tomorrow 🤬

Wish I could give a 0 stars. My 2 year old has been in A&E twice now and is having severe reactions to something been sick on and off for 4 weeks. I put off phoning because you're on hold for, at the very least, 45mins. I couldn't put it off any longer as hospital doctors told me to take her to GP for further tests. I called this morning at 10am took over 100 redials to even get through. 45min long wait to talk to a receptionist who said 'no more appointments' she said try again tomorrow from 8:30. Not everyone has time to stay on the phone for over an hour. Is it any wonder A&E is full, everything over the phone it would take them 10mins to call me. Continuing to hide behind covid is not an excuse as none of the reception staff have been wearing masks for 2 years.

If I could give it a 0 I would. Just tried to get through to them from 8.30, it is now 12.18. 195 tries before getting into a queue... waited another 30 mins until my call moved up the line. And they just dropped the call... tried again. This time it took 50 mins on the line for me to be moved up the queue. Then got to the person and they hung up on me again. WHAT A JOKE! Honestly place has just been going down hill... seriously considering changing doctors.

I would not even give this one star. I realise they are over stretched but I have been phoning for 6 days and have not once got answered. I honestly don't know what to do. This is not fit for purpose when you cant geta phone call back.

I know that GPs are under extreme pressure, but I have been calling frequently and all I get is a busy dial-tone. It's beginning to feel as though the receptionists just leave the phone off the hook to avoid picking up. My husband had a chest infection, and it took 3 weeks to get through, only to be told "call again tomorrow morning at 8:30". Again, I understand the pressures, but who else are we meant to call? That being said, when he did eventually receive a call from the doctor, they were incredibly helpful and able to prescribe him and get him sorted incredibly quickly. I don't blame them at all for this - but this was a stressful experience.

I don't actually know who gets through to either of the 2 receptionists at 8.30am when you are told to ring for an appointment. Can't get through ANY day of the week,. Though I did one day after (8 days of trying) at 10am, only to be robotically told no appointments left and to try ringing at 8.30am next day. The stress of trying to get an appointment means you will need to try and get another appointment for stress. Avoid!

If I could drive I'd register somewhere else but unfortunately this is the only doctors surgery nearby. I've had countless issues when ordering repeat prescriptions, between not getting things I've asked for and having to ring up chasing them, being given meds I haven't even been on for months and me not being given antidepressants on time sending me into serious withdrawal and as a result causing a suicide attempt. Not to mention the fact that my last docs were giving me a box of 100 painkillers per month and since registering here they've been decreased dramatically and refuse to give me the amount I need for chronic pain. I've only been registered here for a year and I've had more issues than I ever had with my last doctors of 28 years.

Just tried for over an hour to get through.Was number 5 in queue for well over 20 mins then receptionist suddenly came on and said all appointments fully booked! I don't understand why you just cannot make an appointment without a GP having to ring you back. I don't mind waiting to be seen for a couple of weeks as not overly urgent!! Just dreadful

Impossible to get an appointment. Clearly they have too many patients for the amount of staff. It's just very frustrating trying to phone every day and when you are lucky to get through you have to wait in a queue for at least 30 mins and all appointments are gone.

Phone system not for purpose. Impossible to get through in the mornings, been trying for weeks to get to speak to a doctor. The practice is clearly over subscribed, too many patients and not enough staff in the practice to deal with them all.

If I could vote less than 1 star I would. Have to phone through all the time now since covid because its the perfect excuse for doctors not to work. Call takes hundreds(not joking) of attempts to go through because their queue system is only 6 or so people long. When you finally get through they say no call backs available and to call back at 8:30 the next day. I started calling before that every time I try calling. Pathetic.

This is the second day I'm trying to phone gp. I wonder how the phones go line busy at 08:30 even though I tried from 08:29. Very poor access and communication. They won't accept phone calls after 0915 even if it's something urgent. This has to change because this is the only gateway and access to health services.

Have been attempting to book an appointment with my GP since JULY 2021. Every time I can it just says the line is busy, doesn’t even place me in a queue. I try multiple times a day and no matter what time, always the same. And yet they have the cheek to send me a text saying I need to book an appointment. Disgraceful.