Why are the doors to this GP surgery in Harlow locked?
Health / Thu 9th Jun 2022 at 06:07am
Update: Cllr Griggs has informed us that the front door of Sydenham House is now open.
A PATIENT at a Harlow GP surgery has told YH that he couldn’t get in because the front doors were closed to patients.
Local resident James Gregory tried to get in to Sydenham House Health Centre on Monkswick Road but found the door shut.
He tweeted out a photo of the surgery and asked : “How is this GP office allowed to still be like this? Front door is locked and it very hard to speak to anyone. It’s like they are still in full lockdown”
He told YH: “I had an appointment for my child. Unless you know, there is a window you need to knock at to speak to someone. No signs telling you this.
“When I was leaving there was an old man looking around trying work out what he had to do etc. I explained that you have to knock at the window.”
A day later, YH visited the surgery. We tried the doors but they were locked. Despite it being opening hours, no windows were open. The surgery looked closed.
Sydenham House is led by Dr Imran Gohar. It caters for over 2,000 patients.
YH understands Sydenham House, like many other GP surgeries in Harlow is managed by Harlow Health Centre Trust.
Dr Gohar is a director of Stellar Healthcare Limited, who provide services for Sydenham House.
We spoke to newly elected Netteswell councillor, cllr James Griggs (Labour) regarding this matter.
Cllr Griggs said: “I was very concerned after hearing this on a number of grounds.
“The idea that patients were put in a situation where they may be revealing their personal health details through an open windows on the street is of major concern.
I also wondered how many patients, thinking the surgery is closed, have decided to go down to A and E at Princess Alexandra Hospital?
“I have spoke to the Practice Manager who said they re-opened like all other surgeries but then had a number of Covid-related issues.
I was given the impression, the front door remains shut.
“I am having not letting this matter go and am having further meetings regarding this.”
YH has contacted Harlow MP Robert Halfon who has pledged to look into the matter.
Richard Adams
2022-06-09 06:59:20
Is this the reason we have thirteen hour waits at A&E?
Roger
2022-06-09 07:13:51
Yes this is part of the reason why A&E is over run with patients, and staff now milking covid.
David Hughes
2022-06-09 07:16:21
Well, well, well . Don't worry if Halfon is looking into it nothing will change.
Kevin Butler
2022-06-09 07:16:55
I agree with Richard Adams. A&E is struggling as people are being blocked from seeing their GPs. We now have the receptionist gatekeepers and you cannot see a GP unless you have a phone call first. I pay my national insurance for this service and it just seem COVID is still being used as an excuse. The government need to sort this and hire more GPs if that means hiring from aboard we can do that.
James Griggs
2022-06-09 08:11:50
As I said in the interview, I want to see this surgery fully open and accessible to its patients, the current situation is unacceptable. In the meantime, I have been assured that any patient who does not wish to discuss their confidential issues through the window can ask to have the conversation in private and they will be able to do so. A follow up meeting is scheduled for next week, I will report back asap.
James Griggs
2022-06-09 08:12:37
I want to see this surgery fully open and accessible to its patients, the current situation is unacceptable. In the meantime, I have been assured that any patient who does not wish to discuss their confidential issues through the window can ask to have the conversation in private and they will be able to do so. A follow up meeting is scheduled for next week, I will report back asap.
mike
2022-06-09 08:21:37
a&e has a lot of patients that just dont need a&e also gp's take the easy way out and send them as well, no wonder its overun, a lot of gp's dont work full time anymore plus a lot do private work as well for places like the rivers in high wych, someone needs to sort this out as clearly the gp's arent pulling their weight and people really need to think before they go to a&e can my problem be sorted out elsewhere, i aint kidding when i say some people use a&e for very minor problems like headaches,diarorea,loose stools,etc
Pauline
2022-06-09 08:57:17
Too many (NHS) staff have taken advantage of Covid to run things 'their own way' and we need action from "Managers" to rectify the present situation. But are "Managers" capable of managing? However, can any political party improve things generally?
Kim Oconnor
2022-06-09 09:31:22
Stop blaming covid for everything it's becoming boring now.
Adam
2022-06-09 09:54:02
It is how many GPS are across the town, they are closed pretty much inaccessible. Just stop paying GP's until service level improves. GPs are actually private contractors to the NHS so it is easy enough to do
Ian Curtin
2022-06-09 10:02:43
The Old Harlow practice is still operating a closed door with people standing in the street discussing their personal issues through an intercom. The reception area is fully enclosed behind plastic wall. One receptionist on duty who is answering the intercom, dealing with patients enquiries and unlocking the door for patients who have an actual appointment then after the appointment unlocking the door again to let them out. I went there 2 weeks ago, 1 patient sitting in the waiting room and 5 people standing outside. One lady was standing there filling out forms. I asked the receptionist why the door was still closed and was told “due to COVID” I said that the government had relax all COVID restrictions, she just looked at me.
Peter Henegan
2022-06-09 10:16:52
I have not had any difficulty with Sydenham house surgery, they answer their phone and a knock on the window gets a response. I havent had to see my GP but have been seen by a nurse inside the surgery
only speak the truth
2022-06-09 11:27:48
another cyber surgery. you never get to see a doctor they are all just robots connected to a computer. while the real G P's are off playing golf and getting thousands a month in wages for all their hard work. get off your well paid backside Haflon and get the G P's back in the surgeries and actually see real living patients!
Karen
2022-06-09 11:35:09
This is my families local surgery and I can confirm that you do have to stand outside in the street and talk through a window explaining your problem for everyone to hear. That person then decides if you are allowed an appointment or not! The door is always locked now . It's disgraceful and forcing people to A & E.
Seamus
2022-06-09 12:02:23
Are GP's taking half the money now they are only providing half the service?
Mike
2022-06-09 12:45:12
Seems like it seamus, a gp appeared on Jeremy vine show this morning saying why is everyone blaming the gp's, the surgery mentioned above should be ashamed of itself still using covid as an excuse.
Mike
2022-06-09 12:48:49
I meant to say seamus that they are now moaning they are overworked, im sure I heard somewhere gp's are planning to strike
Seamus
2022-06-09 12:53:14
The receptionists work 10 times harder then the gps do.
Samantha
2022-06-09 14:31:30
I am under thus doctors it is joke is no way near back normal Normal is chairs and take appointment where people can see a doctor and no telephone appointment Please stop use covic as excess they is elderly people round this area that need medical treatment and that not phone Iam sick tired it these sear in office safe people they was not seen no one and the fact government has said eveythink open up They is still no waiting room nothink
Bert puttocks
2022-06-09 17:49:01
I blame Larry grayson
Sue
2022-06-09 18:19:16
I'm a patient here and the doors have been locked shut since lockdown, I've had to have discussions, drop off samples, collect and drop off forms through an open window. They was a sign on the front door advising to knock at the 2nd window but that was taken down month's ago. I was called by a GP who couldn't help me as she was calling from home and was unable to access my record's.
Kat
2022-06-09 20:05:08
James Gregory mentioned in this article is my husband and this was only the start of our issues with this surgery and I can confirm that the surgery never reopened as they claimed, as I have had regular dealings with them during the last year having been pregnant and needing antenatal and post natal care. During my pregnancy they refused to give me antibiotics because it wasn’t ‘their responsibility’ but faced with a complaint it all of a sudden became their responsibility. I have ended up in a and e on a number of occasions with post natal complications that were not dealt with by this surgery. My 4 month old baby was also forced to sit in the hospital for 4 hours to get diagnosed with a UTI after this surgery assured me she didn’t have one. When I took my baby girl for her vaccinations we were allowed into the waiting room where there was only one other person waiting and one person on the phone and I could hear the receptionist ranting about how stressed she was because she was run off her feet?! I could go on… in the end we were left with no option but to change surgery because I cannot risk my child being looked after (or not as the case may be) by a team that are not only negligent but incompetent too. We have been with the new surgery for a matter of weeks now and have had the appropriate post natal checks and referrals, in a surgery with open doors and a full waiting room, so it can be done. There is no excuse. As others have said this surgery is using covid as an excuse and as a result is putting extra and unnecessary pressure on an already struggling hospital and it needs to stop now.
Keith
2022-06-10 10:23:53
It's about time that GP's were read the "riot act" and given the choice of working or leaving. In the private sector it is the case that if you don't deliver, you don't get paid! Addison House surgery is the same as all the other comments. Doors locked and almost impossible to make contact. The default position seems to be that everyone has got a smart phone, and tough if you haven't. My mother is 94 and her only option would be to present at A & E (she is hard of hearing, no smart phone or mobile and not computer literate) They need to see people face to face and stop bleating about how overworked they are. Just do what you are paid to do.
Theman
2022-06-11 07:39:43
I think you will find it is the some of the receptionists that are running the surgeries, and not the practice manager. I tried to get through to a gp for a relative and could not get past the receptionist. Luckily for me I knew someone with private access to gp. When the gp found out what was going on in their own surgery, they were horrified and changes were made. The whole setup in the NHS is in desperate need of review.
Kevin
2022-06-12 06:39:27
The GP surgeries have and are still badly letting people down and still blaming covid is a joke when no one else has the option but to work. They are getting paid so much money and not seeing patients, why is this still being allowed to happen. If they don't want to deal with patients cut their funding, no money will kick them in to touch Why are we paying for a service we are not getting. All hospitals are having major problems because people are going there because they cannot see their GP, this is putting hospital workers and the public at more risk
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