Forum Topic

Calling my doctor

I am registered with the Chiswick Family Doctors practice, formerly at the Health Centre. I tried ringing them today to arrange an appointment for my quarterly B12 injection. 'Number not recognised' I was told. Were we not assured that the contact numbers would remain unchanged? Poking around on the W4 website revealed that the refused contact number is still the one given on various pages of this site. So please can anyone provide me with the lifeline I may need someday?This seems to me to be a gross failure of important communication. On this occasion there is no great urgency, but in a crisis how would I fare? And I'm probably not the only one affected. I suspect that some of the nurses' services have been transferred to Holly Road Clinic, for which I have no contact number. Am I failing to perceive something and needlessly reacting? f so, I'm sure someone will tell me in no uncertain terms!

Arnold Saxton ● 1186d4 Comments

This is the number I have for the health centre 020 8630 3551

Maria Babiak ● 1186d

I'm afraid that a lot of communications now are no longer by post but by email and electronic messaging.  Unfortunately there often does not seem to be a method of making sure that those who are not using and/or cannot use these other methods are still being communicated with by traditional methods.I think ideally both traditional and electronic are used.  For instance I have just had a hospital appointment for which I received a letter in the post with a lot of info together with several brief reminders with a number to phone if I want to cancel as the date approached on text on my mobile. This hopefully cuts the number of no-shows at hospital. It must depend on what technology is being used by both the hospital/surgery and the patient.  As a patient you should be able to stipulate how you need to be communicated with.

Philippa Bond ● 1185d

It's not changed, it's still 020 8630 3551. I called this morning and got straight through.

David Ewen ● 1185d

My daughter was able to solve the problem earlier today. i have always used 020 as the regional code not 0208, so I  was using 4+4 digits. I ought to have used 4+3+4  Cathy had the number on her phone as 0208 followed by 3 digits. I now have the full 0208  lead-in and will use that in future, and I now have my appointment. On such small changes one's feelings depend!

Arnold Saxton ● 1185d