I came to Sevenoaks 13 years ago and registered at this surgery. The service, starting with receptionists right through to doctors was superb. I would have recommended them to anyone. Now, however the service is virtually non existent. I can't see a doctor, phone appointment only and there's at least a two week wait for that. How can the doctor check my heart or chest over a phone? The covid pandemic is not an excuse, it was moving this way long before the outbreak. It feels like a never ending battle to get my prescriptions organised. Letters from hospitals seem to go missing on a regular basis. Waiting for a doctor to sign a prescription can and has, taken a week. When I asked why the 'prescription lady' told me there's a lack of doctors. Only locums. Apparently the doctors have gone to other surgeries. Like rats leaving a sinking ship. I think I'll join them. DO NOT SIGN UP HERE

Update: called the prescription line this morning because my prescription details haven't been updated and I've been unable to get my medicine for several months. Spent 22 minutes on hold. When the phone was answered they said, I'll just transfer you to the relevant department and then hung the phone up. I'm so angry. Tried to call back and am now 8th in the que. Took 22 mins when I was 5th.... this is an absolute joke Called in the afternoon for an appointment and was asked to call at 8am the following day, so I did as requested. 15 callers in the que ahead of me, not a problem, I’ll hold. Waited for 40 minutes to become number 5 in the que, then all of a sudden the call is answered. There seems to be a commotion at the other end. “I’m terribly sorry, but I knocked the phone by accident, I’m not on reception, I can’t help you, I’m not near a computer that works, you’ll need to call back but the appointments have probably all gone by now,” I replied that we have been trying to register with them for the past 3 days and have been trying to get an appointment because my 8 year old son has trouble breathing, the uncaring reply was “I can’t help you, go to A&E at the hospital” I ask if this is the best that she can do. She then transfers me to another line and the line rings off. I can’t express how frustrated and sad this makes me feel. If you can’t trust a doctor for care, help and support, who can you go to?

This doctors surgery continues to fail patients, I was left many weeks before I got through to a doctor and ended up having an MS flare up. I raised a complaint with NHS England and in there response they lied. I also raised a complaint with the ICO who upheld my allegations. Rude, unprofessional and uncaring admin staff. Doctors and nurses are fab when you see them, but usually you can't get in the door. Only way to get an appointment is E-consult, but even then you wait for a call and then get a text.

Sorry to say having little faith with this practice. I have a recurring problem, to their credit they did do one test to try and find the problem, the result was negative so no further action required. The problem persists. Called for an appointment. Cut off twice. On third attempt after a long wait got told I needed to speak to the doctor. Phone tomorrow at 8am, this is when I am at work and not able to be on hold for the hour and a half it usually takes to get through. I am beginning to understand why the two hospitals I have visited recently have staff that roll their eyes when you say what practice you are with. If you can get to see a doctor - they are brilliant. Unfortunately trying to speak to anyone about anything here is an uphill struggle. I got a text asking to book some tests. On the phone on hold for an hour and a half. It then started ringing but as it was 15 mins before the end of the day no one picked up. So much for the your call is important to us message.

The online registration doesn't seem to be functional. You have to visit the GP to register. Once you are register and you can create an online account using a provider like Patient access, but still you won't be able to access any test results online. That feature is not enabled by the GP. Initially I had to wait in the line for around 1 hour 30 mins to make an enquiry but the call got dropped in the end. Not sure if this is something wrong with their phone system. Also, taking same day appointments is really difficult and you need to be lucky to get one. We managed to get one on the third attempt only to get a telephonic one. However this has improved in the subsequent bookings. The key is to make the call exactly at 8 am. Yet to see a doctor face to face and I will update my review. When I visited the surgery for registering, the lady at the reception was really helpful. If there is a prescription medication and you are doing it at the GP form instead of using the online account, please do it at least a week before. Might be a good idea to ring the reception to follow up. Updated Review Visited the doctor for 6-8 week appointment for the baby. Finally got a chance to meet the doctor and it was very good experience. She spent a real good time for the consultation and we were extremely happy.

After waiting over 1 hour 30 mins on the phone to get to talk to someone it disconnected , so decided to go there in person to make an appointment for my 82 year old mother who is fragile losing weight not sleeping and is very sick and needs to see a Dr. The receptionist told me 10th September no where near quick enough , or I can phone back at 8am in the morning to wait 1 or more hours waiting for an answer. Bearing in mind the surgery had 1 person in the waiting room , the level of care is just not there receptionist was quite rude and uncaring.

What happened to this once lovely practise ??? Absolutely rubbish at answering their phone, I had tried for two weeks to get through, waiting up to half an hr at a time and when I did eventually get through they had no spaces left and I was told to try again the next day. so I called the next day and waited half and hr, I then drove up their still on hold and when I arrived their was one person on reception not answering the phone, I held my phone up and asked why was she not answering the phone to which she replied they had been very busy. Unfortunately my only other option is Otford and they are not much better, I have rung around Sevenoaks and the catchment area dictates where my family can be registered To be honest I would rather opt out of the NHS and put my money in to the private sector at least my children might get seen.

From travel vaccinations to routine appointments I’ve visited the practice on several occasions over the last few months and can only say the experience has been excellent. Antonella and Jane are warm, friendly and very efficient, can usually get an appointment within 10 days for non-urgent or same day if urgent. Maybe things were better in a mythical past but hard pressed to find a GP surgery offering much better at present when stretched. Have had very good telephone appointments that were on time for things that don’t need to be seen in person and effective, on time in-person appointments. I’d read the reviews before moving into the area and St. John’s was one of the few places accepting patients, naturally was a bit concerned. The reality is on recent experience, this is a very good GP practice where you CAN get an appointment. Unrealistic expectations of a stretched service do not provide a representative view of the practice.

The surgery does an amazing job with the limited resources and funding they have, the receptionists are always really kind and the GP doesn’t make you feel rushed like they’re trying to just get through patients, they take the time to talk to you and discuss options and explain them fully. Really grateful to the whole time and don’t know how you could rate a service badly when it literally does the best it can and is a huge asset to the community

It is a real shame my family have been coming here for over 30 years, in the earlier days it was ok... now its so terrible you need a book to write everything about it. Do NOT go here if you want to live and don't want to die. It is by the far THE WORST GP practice in the UK... They didn't help my dad and didn't look after him in time so he died will never forgive or forget that. It doesn't deserve a single star in the world. Fed up of complaining they don't do anything, they lie out their teeth. They mess our medication up so so so many times, give the wrong one, missing prescriptions, say they sent it and haven't, wrong dose, don't explain things, even had to call 999 and 111 and minor injuries and out of hours doctors so many times because they are so unhelpful... It's like trying to pull blood from a stone...They say they'll call they do not. The list goes on and on. I have no reason to lie about it and nothing to gain from lying either, most if not all of my family, friends and relatives have left here to go to other surgeries. Social services and ambulance crews also told us to leave the surgery and find another one... Trust me they don't say it lightly either!

Really disappointed. Lack of service with no doctors available when you need them. Phones don’t work and online portal is a mess. Do not register here. Resorted to A&E and Sevenoaks minor Injuries to treat my children so far over the last two years. I’m now trying to transfer away asap.

As someone who works in the healthcare I expect better. The receptionists were nice but the doctors, I’m afraid to say I have little faith in. The last straw was yesterday when the doctor took my blood pressure incorrectly and wouldn’t even look at me when talking to me. I’ve been back and forth to the practice for over 8 months with the same issue without them finding the cause whilst doing the same tests. The practice is very poor and I wouldn’t recommend the service.

I had a phone appointment. My phone rang twice, I answered and guess what missed call. Now I have missed my appointment altogether. I spent longer trying to book it than the Dr did calling. Please give people chance to answer for god's sake, we all have busy lives. I now have to try and book another one, and not with any confidence on getting one in the near future 😡

Had chest infection since November. 2 courses of antibiotics n course of steroids. Doctor said to call back if it dosent clear. Also got copd. Been calling for weeks n receptions keep telling me got to call back 8am. Its hard wen im at work. Then they say no appointments or call back till 21st Feb. Well how do they no that. But still say to call 8am. Disgusting.

Credit where credit is due... I've noticed a dramatic improvement in this Practice over the last few months. There seems to be better availability of appointments and the repeat prescription system is working efficiently and very quickly. Although the reception staff are clearly busy, they take time to help with issues and follow through with any requests or actions. A big thank you to Antonella who has helped me consistently in getting my elder family member the help they need. I know all practices are under pressure but at the moment i'd have no hesitation in recommending St Johns. Well Done!

Been caller number 3 for over 40 minutes. Still waiting. If you stay on hold when it becomes lunch they then hang up as they are closed. I am very conscious this will happen this time.