Four Elms Medical Centre image

Four Elms Medical Centre

Doctor

One of the Worst Reviewed Doctors in Cardiff


Address

Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Newport Rd, Cardiff CF24 0SZ, United Kingdom

Website

www.fourelmsmedicalcentres.co.uk

Contact

+44 29 2048 9292

Rating on Google Maps

1.60 (128 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: 8:30 am to 6 pm
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: 8:30 am to 6 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:30 am to 6 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:30 am to 6 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am to 6 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: appointment (30) phone (23) call (20) surgery (18) staff (17) doctor (12) time (12) doctors (12) reception (10) appointments (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Zedníci M. 2 years ago on Google
    Same as others have said.. AVOID this surgery, absolute joke it is!!! IMPOSSIBLE to get an appointment and even when you do get one, its only for an assesment that means you have to be ready to answer the phone at all times, EVEN if you are at work so if the doctor rings at the time when you are working and cannot pick up, you basically wasted 1 hour trying to book that appointment. And they get paid for that? The health system should be the best working system in the world because there is nothing more important then health but it is absolutely the worst!
    17 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Jiby T. 6 months ago on Google • 12 reviews
    Never register with this practice. They do not respond to your calls, and reception staff are not so cooperative and not so helpful. It's better to register with surgeries where reception staff helps you to book appointments and easily get prescriptions. Please don't risk your health by registering with this practice. I had a very bad experience with this practice a year ago.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Millie F. 2 years ago on Google
    Took ages to get through to reception to register as a new patient, told to call back earlier as they wouldn't deal with my problem past eight. Called back at 8 and was told i needed to fill out a form and come into the surgery to register. Not sure why I had to call back earlier as they could've just told me this at the time. I walked 30 minutes to the surgery to be handed a tiny slip of paper with a link to register online which I could have done at home. While registering on my phone, I noticed the receptionists were just sitting around, so I can't understand why you can never get through to them. The receptionist also went outside to collect her deliveroo at one point while I was sitting there. I'm glad taxpayers money is funding this service.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alec C. 1 year ago on Google
    There isn't a conspiracy; they take an age to get through and it is really hard to get an appointment because of just how incredibly busy they are but I've had this with every surgery I've been to. I don't know if it's the norm or if I've just been unlucky, so I don't let that impact too much on this review. I've had to wait for things that seemed less serious, but when I've called with something that could be serious I was seen within an hour, bloods within an hour and an ECG within an hour of that. When I had a cancer scare my referral was swift and I had tube down my throat within a few weeks. If you want to be answered immediately when you call, and seen immediately no matter the problem, this surgery isn't for you. It would be a one star. If what matters to you is the quality of doctor then it'd be 5. Knowing how many angry and frustrated people they deal with every day, through circumstances out of their control (not enough staff and underfunding) I couldn't think of doing their job, let alone in the manner they do. Whenever I've dealt with anyone whether it be nurse, doctor or receptionist they've been pleasant. If you're angry with the lack of staff and inability to meet demands, take it up when you vote as opposed to a one star review on Google (or do both if it makes you feel better). If Four Elms were swimming in money and resources and offered the same service I'd agree with the worse reviews, but right now I'm aware of how lucky we are to have the NHS and how, at least every surgery I've been to, is struggling. I hope surgeries get the funding and resources they need.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel T. 5 months ago on Google • 88 reviews
    Very friendly receptionists. They were very helpful in getting my repeat prescriptions set up despite the failings of my previous GP to send across any information, even going so far as to take it to the pharmacy! Getting an appointment can be a bit of a pain as with all GPs (no-one likes the busy tone). However, when you do get through, they are kind and professional.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 David D. 2 years ago on Google
    Had a knee injury, called for weeks and was given different schedules for calling, firstly from 8 to 10, then I called at 9 and they said I have to call and wait from 8, finally got an appointment after a couple days of calling and was only offered an appointment by phone. I was given advice without the doctor even seeing my state to do rice (rest, ice, compress, elevate). Not only is this advice easily found on the internet and generic, but in my case worsened the situation, and had to go to another GP back in Spain. Maybe if you had a serious emergency this GP works, but for anything else they are slow and inefficient. Would recommend to avoid, and personally will be changing as soon as I have time.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 J 6 months ago on Google • 9 reviews
    The receptionist team is really awful. They are usually condescending and rude, but I recently had a horrible interaction with one who said something very xenophobic to me. I reported it to the manager and was later informed that they "investigated" the incident by asking the receptionist if she said it or not and she denied it, so the case was considered closed. The GP I usually see here is lovely, but unfortunately I have to change practices because I feel too anxious and unwelcome to interact with the receptionists. The website states over and over that they will not tolerate abuse from patients, but patients have no choice but to accept abuse from the receptionists. A less severe issue I have with the practice is how difficult it is to get through on the phone to make an appointment. There is no call waiting system, so you just have to redial over and over again until you get through. I find that it usually takes a minimum of 45 minutes to get through. You are then put on a list to be called back so they can tell you if you can have a same- day appointment. You cannot make an appointment in advance and if for some reason they decide you will not be getting an appointment, they will not call you to tell you so or why. You just have to wait around and hope.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Andrelina R. 3 years ago on Google
    Rude staff - won't let you stay on the phone long enough to ask important questions and then get defensive when you call back. There is no accountability. Had to call back 3 times and figure out what information I need myself and push for them to provide that. Getting mixed information from the GP - i asked if she will call me back after she receives the images rather than later she said yes 'shortly' i waited an hour and had no call back. Called the receptionist she said 'yes she received them she'll call you back at another time she has other patients too' said in a restrained voice... i would have happily just sent them and left it knowing she'll call me later but that wasn't what I was told, their behaviour is so unnecessary.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Javi M. 2 years ago on Google
    Do we have any app to get an appointment or should I just try to call the whole morning until someone gets the phone?? NHS should have an appointments app so to make ir easier and efficient... Makes not sense. It is 2021 guys wake up.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Sue B. 2 years ago on Google
    I have been with this surgery since I was child but in recent years it has just got worse and worse. I don't go to the doctor often but I do have prescription I do need renewed and to do this I have to speak to the doctor however, you can't get through, the appointment system doesn't work and you can never see the same doctor twice. I think its time for a change
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Crystal N. 1 year ago on Google
    They never ever pick up the phone. And once they eventually pick up at 10AM or later, they say there are no more available appointments for the day. I’m going to have to change surgeries cause this is unbearable
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 C A. 1 year ago on Google
    Auto message: ring between 2 and 4. Drs surgery: we don't answer the phone in the afternoon. Absolute nightmare to make the simplest routine appointment
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Sophiya S. 1 year ago on Google
    Unhelpful and unaware people on the reception. My TSH is clearly shooting up (7.12) but they kept telling me everything is normal in my reports even when I tried to show them the results given by them only. When requested to book an appointment with GP she asked me to call in the morning, then I told her that last time I called they asked me to go to the surgery to get one. They just want to keep you running. I hope they understand they need to work like humans and not robots. The nurses and doctors are definitely great. But the people on the front desk represents the whole organization, which unfortunately fails here. So disappointing.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Tundra M. 2 months ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    Receptionists are more painful to deal with than whatever ailment you’re suffering from. I frequently notice that where they are not pleasant towards me, they are far more horrible to any non-white or non-British people. It is impossible to get to see your actual GP as the people at the front desk would rather insult you and belittle you than try to help. You have a higher chance of winning the lottery twice in one week than getting through on their phones. And you are even less likely to get an appointment. I cannot stress enough how many times I have seen the receptionists exhibiting racist or xenophobic behaviour and at this point would rather deal with whatever health issue I have than speak to this one particular older woman at the front desk. She is the most unpleasant person I have ever had the misfortune of being forced to deal with in a time of need.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Ben E. 1 year ago on Google
    I'd give no stars if I could. In need of medical attention this evening, and was told at 5pm that I could call the out of hours service after 6.30 to get checked, only to be told it's no longer a thing. Moreover, no one ever bothers to answer the phone to their customers. Absolutely ridiculous, some way to treat your patients...
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Yuan C. 7 months ago on Google • 5 reviews
    The receptionist is lying under my eyes!!!!!! And rude all the time!!! Although the doctor is fine, the receptionist is aggressive and helpless. It’s suffering to contact them before seeing doctors.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 AlyaH R. 2 years ago on Google
    I registered with this surgery due to it being close to my house but they always give me appointments in pengam green so far away that I need to pay £12 in taxis to get to its ridiculous! Am a single mother my son was very sick changing surgery today absolute waste of time !!!!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Mus T. 2 years ago on Google
    It's been so many years this medical centre has had the same issue of only having 2 members of staff available to answer calls and still nothing is done about it. They ask you to ring before 10am but you'll find it very difficult to get through. This process really needs fixing. Have more staff on phones during peak times. Automate the process. Try something different!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Stephanie C. 2 years ago on Google
    Impossible to get through to reception to book an appointment. Been trying for 40 mins so far with 32 attempts. When I've been into the building itself, reception have been rude. Getting an appointment means a lot of time wasting, especially when you have regular medication for chronic pain 🙃
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Kris H. 1 year ago on Google
    Pointless having a doctor as no one ever answers the phone and impossible to get an appointment. Do not bother registering here.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laffy 8. 2 years ago on Google
    I have been with this surgery and Pengam Green surgery for most of my life. I prefer to stay with Four Elms because the doctors are excellent. Yes, it can take about 20 minutes to get through to the receptionist, but the vast majority of the staff are helpful and sometimes even go out of their way to help where they can. I find it is better to go into the surgery to talk to the receptionists. You can order a repeat prescription and sometimes book appointments online through the myhealthonline website if you set up an account through the surgery. They give you a sheet that explains how to do it. I would like to say that one of the doctors saw my husband as an emergency appointment a few years ago when he was very agitated and hurting himself. But whereas some doctors might have refused to deal with him in such a state, he talked to my husband calmly and made an emergency appointment with the mental health team for him. He handled my husband with such compassion. The other doctors are all excellent too. If something doesn't seem right, they investigate further with tests and a referral if necessary. I would like to point out that even though I have doctors nearer where I live, I choose to stay with Four Elms.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Alex I. 4 months ago on Google • 10 reviews
    The dead can’t leave reviews but I’ve no doubt that this surgeries failings have cost people their lives. The receptionists are the worst of the worst.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Claudia N. 1 year ago on Google
    Consistently awful, it’s always a horrible experience. Terribly disorganised, with especially poor communication between doctors and reception staff. You’re genuinely better of just dying from whatever is ailing you, rather than troubling this surgery.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Helen G. 2 years ago on Google
    Been trying to ring this surgery many times nobody ever answers phone no wonder it has a rating of 1.6 we even emailed them over 3 weeks ago but no response terrible service
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Miltos 2 months ago on Google • 14 reviews New
    It's an absolute nightmare trying to get someone to answer the phone at 8:30am when they open. First you have to keep retrying for the line to free up, at times that has taken me up to 30mins of constant hang up & redialing just to be able to connect my call through. After that you have to power through their lengthy automated call message and finally have to wait in queue for a lot of time. It's possible that after they answer they will hear you out and say that the doctor will call you back later. It's hapenned that they didnt call me back and i had to redial the next morning and go through this soul crashing process all over again. Free healthcare, but at what cost?
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 delger b. 2 years ago on Google
    The usual at Four Elms... You need to go to the GP and you call, but there is a problem in reception, they never get the phone!!! Please solve this... This is ridiculous... 126 calls and the sad things is that I didn't get my appointment with the GP. Please please 🙏 change the reception and make possible for people to get appointments.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Samuel H. I. 1 year ago on Google
    If you're thinking of registering with this surgery, take a good look through these reviews and you'll see that they're rated so badly for a reason; you're making a mistake. Be prepared to never be able to book an appointment and to encounter the most inept, rude reception staff possible. They need to make some serious changes there
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan B. 1 year ago on Google
    The staff are doing their absolute best considering the circumstances. It's not their fault that there's too many patients per doctor. Whenever you do get an appointment, the staff are outstanding.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Zelda Z. 11 months ago on Google
    The staff are great and so are the gps the issue is trying to get through on the phone or trying to get an appointment. Been trying for 5 weeks straight now both myhealthonline and phoning. Have resorted to switch GPS purely out of lack of appointments. It's a shame as the appointments in the past have been great
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Ana 11 months ago on Google
    Staff are generally helpful, but every time I need to phone in I'm stuck on hold for 15-40+ minutes, no indication of queue just ringing. Both times i've needed to ring to cancel an appointment, the cancellation inbox has been full.. Can never get through in the mornings, was told they dont do prebooked appointments for non emergency routine stuff, then told they do but it has to be booked online...what's even the point.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Steve D. 1 year ago on Google
    The woman I spoke to over the phone was extremely rude and passive aggressive. Wouldn’t let me speak and came across as if she couldn’t stand being there. I would recommend recruiting new staff to operate the phones. 0/10 abysmal.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mandy G. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent! The receptionists are lovely! The nurses and Doctors are brilliant! Thanks for always giving a fantastic service ☺️

  • 1/5 edens c. 1 year ago on Google
    Don't even bother, consider moving address than registering at 4 elms Eventually I gave up, all I needed was to book an appointment for my infant .. very sad

  • 1/5 Joshua W. 11 months ago on Google
    The doctors are good to be fair, but actually getting an appointment is a joke. Have been calling for 2 weeks for results and they just let the phone ring out without any intention of answering, shocking really

  • 1/5 Poison Y. 2 years ago on Google
    They ask u to book appointment before 10:00am. But the phone never go through from 8:00 to 10:00. Been trying over 100 calls for days but never successfully making an appointment. Guess they block their phone before 10:00am so no one can bother them.

  • 5/5 Sweetheartivy I. 2 years ago on Google
    I have never had a problem here. So not sure why others are saying the staff are rude. Try being polite to their staff and u will probably get treated better.

  • 1/5 Constantinos H. 2 years ago on Google
    Impossible to contact. Awful service.

  • 1/5 Gaz C. 9 months ago on Google • 1 review
    Staff don’t answer the phone . I’ve tried this morning for over an hour after having a letter from the doctor to phone them for test results. This isn’t an isolated incident. You’ve very little chance of getting an appointment or speaking to a human on the phone . No issues with doctors but expect the worst service. I wouldn’t recommend.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Sali M. 8 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    What a ruuuude receptionist!!!!whether at pengam green or cri. I guess its the same practise. Please take a course in how to deal with patients because clearly you dont know how to speak to patients!!!! Sad really the doctors themselves are great but the receptionists are a let down for the practise!!! Dont like owning up to mistakes they make while making patients have to chase up because of their incompetence. Please sort yourselves out!!!!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Joshua 5 months ago on Google • 1 review
    Terrible phone line, takes several attempts to get through if at all. Other then that great staff and doctors
    2 people found this review helpful 👍


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