Practice Plus Group Reviews 287

I was referred to these people by my gp as a triage before seeing spinal surgeons and the pain clinic. Their representative was unhelpful, arrogant and very poorly informed. He appeared intent on blocking all professional care for me but offered none himself, he told me to go home and accept that I am now disabled.

Receptionist was friendly, efficient and informative. Waiting room was clean and comfortable. Marilia was exactly on-time, very knowledgeable, clear and helpful.

All is well if you go privately however once you ‘switch’ over to NHS care, things change. Lack of communication and even the tone and demeanour of the ‘care navigator’ changes. Unreal.
Paid for private consultation on 23/01. Still waiting for the report despite requesting it three times. Reports from NHS received within 2 days. It’s now been over 3 weeks. Not acceptable.

It is now 3 weeks since I responded to PPG's reply to my update ... I requested imaging, either CT or MRI, to be carried out to help me understand and confirm the arthrofibrosis. Heard nothing so I guess I'll never know, which is why, (probably), I have heard nothing.

UPDATE: July 2024, Left knee replacement at PPG Plymouth, although I weaned myself off of codeine late last year i am still taking daily paracetomol, especially if it involves flexing that knee. I'm still waking up in pain, very sleep deprived, although physio has stopped I've continued with the exercises, there has been limited progress BUT ... I really regret the surgery, it is far worse now than before. I'm still pretty miffed at being fobbed off with the; "Oh you're just one of the unlucky 10-15%" at the post-op review.

I saw Mr Ahamed, Orthopaedics surgeon on the 30th January. At the start of the appointment, I explained that I sustained a knee injury approximately eighteen months ago and that I continue to experience pain when the area is touched and when attempting full flexion. While I was describing my symptoms, I was interrupted and told that my MRI was normal. No further explanation or discussion followed, and there was a prolonged silence.

I asked what my options were and whether physiotherapy might help. I was told that it would not. When I asked how I could improve my condition or return to my previous level of function, I was told that physiotherapy was unlikely to help after eighteen months. I then asked whether arthroscopy was an option and was told no, as the MRI did not show a surgical target and a diagnostic arthroscopy would not be considered.

I attempted to explain that while I understood the MRI findings, I was concerned about the very real and specific functional limitations and symptoms I continue to experience. These concerns were not explored further, and no alternative explanations, investigations, management plan, or follow-up options were offered.

I left the appointment without any clarity, guidance, or plan for managing my ongoing pain and functional impairment. The consultation felt dismissive and rushed, and I was left with the sense that I needed to push for answers, yet still received none. The lack of engagement, explanation, or shared decision-making was concerning and, in my view, fell below an acceptable standard of care.

Additionally, I did not receive any feedback link following this appointment, which further reinforced the overall lack of accountability and patient-centred care.

Initial knee consultation was 90 mins late, due to him having his lunch. He was rude and aggressive for both appointments to the point where I have made a formal complaint to the BMA.
He left my daughter distressed and in tears at both appointments.MRI scan took a month to produce a report, which was not available for our second appointment, hence nothing to discuss. Complained to the hospital on 04/12/25, still waiting for an outcome despite 28 day policy.
Unprofessional, unorganised, rude, aggressive and condescending conduct of consultant, and lack of feedback on our complaint, has made us go elsewhere.

I was given very good care and friendly by whole the staff. I was happy that I chose Pratice Plus Group been having treatment for many years..
Thank you.

My appointment with Malcolm Podmore on the 16/01/26. he could do enough to help with my plumbers knee problem. The care and trust he gave me was 2nd to none.
A big thank you for your honesty

Alwyn

Recently had a surgery here. I had a surgery elsewhere 4 years ago and the aftercare was so bad and make me really nervous for this one.

The pre op and after op care was so amazing, the staff made me feel so at ease, picked up on my nervousness, helped me laugh when I was feeling down.

After waking up , nothing was too much and they were all so quick to help if I needed anything. Even the walk from my ward to the car, a nurse noticed I was in pain and rushed to get me a wheelchair.

Could not thank them all enough

Hello my name is Alan Crowley, I am leaving this review on behalf of my lovely partner Tracey Sparrow, who was in the Birmingham hospital for a hip replacement on 30/31 December. Every member of staff briefed us on every aspect of their involvement. All through our stay we were kept up to date of all events. The Surgeon gave us a comprehensive briefing of what to expect which put Tracey at ease as she was very nervous of the pending procedure. On her return to her room after the operation the aftercare by the nursing staff was nothing less than outstanding. I was allowed to stay overnight so as to give Tracey my loving support before and after the operation right up to her discharge. The quality of the food is also worthy of mention as it was enjoyed by both of us as it was well prepared and of superb quality. In summary a very successful visit to your Birmingham facility, a very successful operation carried out by professional caring staff, the aftercare was to a outstanding standard. All aspects highly recommended. Alan & Tracey

I booked an MRI with Practice Plus Group through Scan.com. Contacted within 24 hrs to book appointment within a couple of days at local hospital. Prompt service, friendly staff and results processed the same day. Excellent service!

Sympathetic, understood my asthma &chest infection concern immediately & my not wanting a trip to a&e. She provided me with a plan, medication & the resolution I needed.

A total waste of time and money. Advised needed to see regular GP and could not refer for any further testing to try and determine what the underlying issue of ongoing cough was. Said that PracticePlus is for acute issues only which is the opposite of what the advertising implies, which is about continuity of care with one’s usual GP practice.

So basically we paid $82.50 for my husband to be referred back to our usual GP. Extremely disappointed.

A shame as the first time we used PracticePlus the doctor was great and was able to order multiple tests and had excellent follow-up, but today’s experience was abysmal.

I was rejected for a hernia operation due to my sleep apnea a few months ago , then I got a phone call a few days ago to book me in to see an anesatist so I thought they had had a change of heart so I booked a day off work and got 2 buses and 2 trains from bognor only to be told by the anesatist the exact same thing as I was told before, what a complete waste of time , I suggested because of my sleep apnea I was prepared to have the op under local anesthetic which I was told was possible but she didn't seem to keen , I got the impression that unless an operation is 100% straight forward practice plus don't want to know , I've had a double hernia for 15 months now and as I explained I'm in constant pain but she just didn't seem interested or seem to care maybe something will give a damn when it strangulated and I nearly die , shockingly bad service

Practice Plus Group Shepton Mallet Absolutely incredible hospital. I thought this sort of service was gone forever in UK.From the moment I went in I was treated like a treasured guest, opp carried out by Mr Tomas Wudecki Dr Isabela Moxam and Chris Mhlongo if they played football we would win every world cup! Nursing staff were so kind and the meals were superb. This hospital must be good for me to bother with a review.
Thank you so much. Nick Palmer.

Everyone was absolutely amazing

popped into my gp surgery (exeter) to drop off a sample in the sample box on the front desk (open access....patients do this daily). i asked yvonne on reception if i could borrow her pen to write the date on the sample. she refused, saying that it's not a gp surgery on sundays and that practice plus use the building. "that's fine - i just need to write the date on this and pop it in the sample box". yvonne remained unmoved, pen inches from my grasp but tantalisingly behind a glass screen. "samples need to be refrigerated and we can't accept them because of that", said yvonne.
"no that's not true" I replied....this sample doesn't require refrigeration and please don't worry about it....just let me borrow your pen for a second".
"No."
"are you going to make me leave the surgery, buy a pen and then return and put my sample in the sample box? is this what this is?"
She then handed me the pen but then re-iterated her obstructive, annoying position. i took the pen wrote the date on my sample, handed her the pen.....and returned home to write this review.
seriously.....dropping off a poop sample turned into a far bigger s**t experience than i had anticipated. what was yvonne frightened of? being held responsible for something? chicken licken syndrome.

I used to work for practice plus group and would not recommend any of my loved ones get treatment at one of their hospitals. Dirty, overcrowded, poor quality doctors, complications and poor systems all mean there are lots of bad outcomes. Please don't be tempted. Protect yourselves and your loved ones by refusing these hospitals.

        I accompanied my daughter last Saturday, (8th of November), to Emerson Green hospital, Practice Plus. I am not a fan of private medicine, but understand that the NHS has to farm out patients, to bring down the waiting lists. Also I was interested to see if paying for your health care was worthwhile. Oh dear, if I had to pay for that experience, I would be ever so disappointed. 

       We believed that the appointment had been made to introduce the new consultant gynecologist. He demanded to know what my daughter wanted, and why she should benefit from his largesse. She explained her story and journey to him, and it was all deemed irrelevant. Mr. Whittaker explained that he was refusing the operation, because he could, and he had done thousands of hysterectomys, and was the highest consultant that we had ever met. Also, why should she have the operation just because she wanted it? Then He threw in a bit of fat shaming, apparently his hospital does not 'do' fat. Then followed up that logic by declaring that if he did do it, all the women of Bristol would want one too. If I lived in the city, I would not presume to know what the women living there would want. But I could hazard a guess, that what they would not want, is a misogynist wielding a scalpel.

        I did not want my daughter to have an operation, if there are other alternatives. So I am happy with the outcome, and delighted that we will not have to return. I suggest that taking along a male companion, may prevent the bullying.

       I have given two stars, as the hospital is conveniently situated on the outskirts of the city, with ample parking. It seems clean, the facilities are adequate and the receptionists are perfectly pleasant. However, I cannot recommend this place, as I don't dislike anybody enough to do so.

PPG, Shepton Mallet. I phoned the call centre so that I could pay for an appointment to see an Orthopaedic surgeon because I had been told by a physiotherapist that I might have some bone damage in my hip. The call centre told me that the surgeon didn't do afternoon appiontments & the latest in the day was 11h15 which I accepted. The call centre took every detail they could think of about me including my height & weight, why? When I arrived at Shepton my immediate thoughts of the place was a NHS & not a private hospital, there wasn't the ambience of the Nuffield at either Bournemouth or Taunton or Circle [BMI]at Poole or Dorchester. There wasn't even any free drinks which I expected but they did have a cafeteria where you could buy food. After being kept waiting for over 20 minutes past my appiontment time I enquired as to why was I still waiting. The answer was that the surgeon was still dealing with other patients, that's when I realised that even paying for an appointment does not guarantee that you will be seen at the agreed time at a PPG. When I finally saw the surgeon I then found out that the call centre hadn't bothered to do their job properly & hadn't bothered to obtain the xray/image of my hip. I eventually managed to locate where it was & not any of the PPG staff. I finally finished with the consultant about 15h30 in the afternoon which I thought was strange because the call centre told me he didn't work in the afternoon. One thing he did stress to me was that if I needed to have a hip replacement in the future was to use the NHS & not go private, that's not the right thing to say to someone whom is paying for the consultation. The whole attitude & general appearance by all the staff & initial impression of the facilities was NHS not private, so if you decide to go down the route of paying for your health is to stick with the likes of Nuffield, Circle & Spire for treatment where you are treated like a fee paying client & not just another number on the conveyer belt.