West Quay Medical Centre 8 Hood Road, Barry CF62 5QN

"This surgery has always been great, but what good is that if you can't access them? My understanding now is that Westquay is not available to me and that is scary. We use the surgery rarely but we have some issues now that seem impossible. You ring for appointments which is their method and the response is we are not taking calls or we will not speak to you unless it is urgent. The receptionists are difficult but it is not their fault. The feel of Westquay is crisis, unaccessible, and oversubscribed. You can see the staff are worn down by it all too. I have always found them great until lockdown and since then they have become a fortress and inaccessible. I have relied on small private consultations, pharmacies, a and e, and even friends who are medical professionals for medical advice and help. I am afraid to self diagnose which is what I feel the surgery is wanting and to be honest, you dont get the impression they really care or have patient interest at heart anymore so what's the point of them being there?"

"I tested positive for covid and was still not well enough to work 7 days later and needed a sick certificate from the GP. I initially tried completing an online form requesting one but received a text saying I needed a phone consultation and to book one. I rang at exactly 8am and rang repeatedly to try and get through, a recording alternated between saying there was a high demand phone back or saying all appointments had gone. I spoke to a receptionist after 10pm and explained I didn’t need any treatment, just a sick note for work, for a couple of days to recover and that there were no appointments. She apologised and said to keep trying in the morning. I rang three days in a row without getting through. I had to give my notice in at work as there was no way around this. Do any GP’s actually work full hours at this practice? I went there for a blood test a few weeks earlier and it is always empty. This situation is terrifying."

"Completely unreliable! You can never get through on their phone line, they are always late with prescriptions - even for repeats you’ve had to ages, the pharmacy is poorly organised. No wonder there is such a backlog with this type of set up! This edit is after the reply on 25/Sep: The staffing issues have been there for a long time. I’ve been trying to get an appointment with my GP for an X-ray referral due to a stress fracture … for over a week - which means I am still off work with no idea if I DO have one or not … and May have to risk going back to work and make matters worse! I didn’t want to add more pressure on A&E services but I have no choice now but to use that route on Monday. When I will explain that I was left with NO CHOICE due to being unable to see my own GP and go to a local X-ray dept!"

"If I could score this surgery 0 I would. It has gone downhill very rapidly. You cannot get a appointment and they keep you on the phone for 45 minutes or more. Certain patients that have formed a relationship with certain doctors have their private phone number to call when they need a appointment!! They do not play fair and information is given by doctors to patients regarding other patients. If you can avoid this surgery I would!"