Marston Forest Health Care - Bedford

Jojo2013 J.

I have been with this surgery for over a year. Have had increased constant bleeding for 2 months due to fibroids. Last week I requested more medication due to the last presciption running out. They ignored my request. Was told to do another online booking to specify discussing more tablets.
This is so exhausting to do whilst dealing with fatigue due to blood loss.
I have had fibroids for 4 years and 2 more have grown over 7 months and they have not refered me to a gynacologist for over a year. Eventually they did and bedford hospital gave me october 2025 for an appointment. The medication to stop the bleeding is no longer working and I am afraid I will bleed to death. If I do, I blame Marston forest health care doctors.

David M.

Called the surgery in the morning for an appointment due to knee sprain. Receptionist was very polite and helpful. With 10 minutes of the call I received a same day appointment. It was within the hour so could not make in time as I was at work. Spoke to receptionist and she kindly changed the appointment until the afternoon. I saw Dr Gayathry Thayyil Vijayaraghavan and she was very attentive to my issue and very helpful. Don’t feel rushed, felt she really wanted to help. Prescribed me some medication and also with the hour I received an appointment to see the physio. Can’t thank the surgery enough. First time I have contacted any practice in about 10-15yrs so wasn’t sure what to expect.

Paul S.

Recent experience of the surgery has shown such huge improvement that 5 stars feels justified.
Responsive at first contact, thorough examination and effective diagnosis from very professional and approachable medical staff.
Can't think what more I could ask.
Thankyou

Richard J.

I've experienced a real mix of care. Mostly bad but there are some great members of staff there just trying to do their best. Part of the issue is they are so busy they frequently make mistakes.

The reception staff are a real lottery. Also they are not trained medical practitioners so why are they making medical decisions regarding who you see!

Pre covid:
The morning walk in system is a great idea but seems to be circumvented by appointments! The idea you explain to the receptionist and the whole waiting room what's wrong with you is crazy. Then they decide you need to see a nurse when you should've seen a doctor! When you do see a nurse or doctor they rarely have a clue about even your basic medical history. Needs some serious modernization.

Update during Covid:
They totally ignore referrals from 111, I've seen this on multiple occasions. Really frustrating. Their incompetence could and probably does cost lives and urgently needs massive improvements.

The current phone system to get a morning appointment is awful. It's pot luck to even be put on hold as it can only handle a small number of calls, otherwise you have to keep ringing over and over hoping that you get lucky.
Last time I needed to use this I rang at exactly at 8:30am both days, first day by the time I got through they had no appointments, second day I could only see a minor issues nurse.
More recently again I rang at 8:30am, waited in a queue for 20 minutes just to be told they had no appointments and to ring tomorrow..

Ideally appointments should be prioritized rather than first come first served. Maybe an online form that is submitted for appointments the next day.. not ideal for everyone but there has to be a better way.

Update in January 2024:
The building inside has been completely changed, yet to work out whether for the better or not!

This practice isn't big enough or good enough for the population of this area. Marston Moretaine alone has doubled in size in the last decade. It's really not fit for purpose!!

The online system is useful but the window to enter requests is tiny, I believe 45 minutes but could be less. You should be able to put an online request at any time.

Alistair G.

Hospital wrote to surgery saying I need an urgent appointment. 19 days later, surgery texts me asking me to make an appointment. In common with serveral other reviews here - getting such appointment is impossible.

If it were possible - this would have zero stars

Alex D.

I moved to the area last year. Wow, I wish I knew about this surgery before I moved here. Incoherent reception on the phone, no ability to book future appointments both online or on phone. Never able to make an appointment in the morning because the phone lines are always busy. I have had zero access to health care since being registered, in which time I have been rushed to hospital twice owing to issues I could of had treated when they were less severe.

donna M.

Honestly do not bother registering with this surgery. You will never get an appointment. The online booking service is completely redundant as they don't have anything available for the 3 months they have in the calendar. If you call to book, the reception team literally could not care less about you or even about maintaining some semblance of veiled annoyance or contempt that you would dare to bother them. On ocassion they have been downright rude and dismissive. Not to mention the incompetence and lack of urgency when trying to get my prescribed medication which I had to go without for a few days and which only was sorted after numerous phone calls and having to go down to the surgery and demand help. The poorest service I have ever received.

Conor S.

Can easily call up several days in a row and not get an appointment, this is forcing our family to review private care because my wife isn't getting the care she needs. Reception staff need customer service training as their lack of empathy is far below the standards expected of bar staff let alone a doctors surgery.