The Fishponds Primary Care Centre has three businesses in one - the Fishponds Family Practice which…read morehas Dr Anstey and Partners (on the left as you walk in), the Beechwood Medical Practice (on the right as you walk in) and also a Primary Care centre (to the right in front of you as you walk in) which handles things like pregnant ladies, jabs and they have a chiropodist as well. I am registered with the Fishponds Family Practice, and they are a very good GP set up. With several doctors on at once, I don't mind seeing different doctors each time but it can be arranged to see the same doctor every time if you prefer. It is easier to get an appointment online - you have to register with the practice and apply for an online account which can take a few weeks, but once up and running it is simple - you can even book an appointment over the week which you can't do by phone.

I've been part of Fishponds Family practice for around seven years now and have used their services…read morethrough the birth of my first son. I have always found the staff to be really friendly and helpful and the service I have received has been of a high standard as I would expect from the NHS. The midwife I had during my pregnancy was fantastic and always a call a way when I needed her. My only complaint about the service is you are unable to book doctors appointments in advance, so you have to ring up on the day of the appointment first thing and get whats available. This does have its benefits as you can nearly always guarantee a same day appointment or telephone consultation as long as you ring at 8am, however for less urgent requirements its hard to plan in advance during time off work. They also do late appointments up to 7pm which is really helpful.

Sussex Place Surgery is a tiny doctor's squashed into the belly of a skinny house on a busy road…read more It's future is also under threat after the practice doctor retired and the NHS arranged for Frendoc to take over its interim contract. Patients are currently being asked if they mind being switched to other surgeries or would prefer a new GP be recruited to take on the practice. I really hope the latter is the case. Although the facilities are admittedly squashed, I have always found the practice to be well run and the staff friendly and discreet. Appointments are given promptly and each morning's open surgery is extremely well-run. And the practice nurse is extremely friendly. I found Dr Thompson a supportive and efficient GP when she was there and most of the GPs standing in have been good. The practice also arranges for prescriptions to be sent to certain local pharmacies to be picked up, and they always respond to answer phone messages promptly.

If you find yourself living within the surgery's catchment area and are looking to register with a…read moresurgery, then Gaywood House Surgery is a safe bet to go for. My friend recently registered, and after he got over the hilarity of the surgery's name, he explained to me just how surprising the surgery is. On the outside it looks a little run down, in need of some TLC and is also situated underneath a giant tower block of flats. However inside the place is clean, the staff are friendly and it is a safe environment to be in - which feels strange after you have found yourself walking into the crypts of the block of flats. The surgery is also ideally placed for discretion, you can approach the surgery form North Street and get spotted by a number of people, but if you are cunning you can approach from one of the side streets where you will only be spotted by the surgeries token 'hang-about'!

Gaywood House surgery is located in the ground floor of Gaywood House on North Street, Bristol. Its…read morea big surgery with about 6 doctors, 2 or 3 nurses and a variety of regular clinics. In contrast with other NHS surgeries, its not too difficult to get an appointment to see the doctor, you can either ring up at 8.30 in the morning for an appointment that day (don't leave it any later though or all the appointment slots will have been taken) or you can book for some late afternoon appointments in advance. If you wish to see a particular doctor you may have to wait a couple of weeks for the exact date and time you want but if you are ill, they wil always see you. The receptionists are always really friendly and helpful.

Hampton House Health centre is where you go when you're feeling poorly. The key to booking an…read moreappointment is to ring either first thing at 8.45 or at 2.00. Emergencies are handled differently and the centre offers a number of other services like Chlamydia screening, travel advice, blood tests and the like. The doctors are of course incredibly concerned for your health, but sometimes this verges on preaching; I have never been here without being asked, and then subsequently told off for my drink and smoking habits. However, they are consistently effective, treating any problem you may have. I would stress again the importance of booking appointments early to avoid being turned away.

Nobody likes going to the hospital, even if you're just there to visit. The Bristol Royal Infirmary…read moredoesn't look to inviting from the outside, it resembles more of a street-long block of offices. However, inside is an entirely different story. It is so bright and cheerful! You don't quite forget you're in a hospital, but the atmosphere is very calm and positive that you could be in a town hall. The BRI is closely linked to the University of Bristol and is a teaching hospital so you may have to be a little patient with the nurses and doctors. However, everyone s so professional, efficient and always smiling that you know you're in safe and capable hands.

I came in here to get an X ray on my knee and it took no time at all, i was in and out in under an…read morehour. The people that helped me were all very nice. However i haven't been in there on a saturday night when i imagine it is a different story. My brother came in here to look after a mate who had broken his leg on just such a Saturday night. Whilst he was waiting, he asked what the most amusing injury they had had anyone come in for. The nurse told him a story about some guy who came in with a light bulb stuck in his mouth; he had been dared to see if he could get it both in and out, but once it was in it got stuck. About an hour after they had sorted him out another guy came in with the same 'problem'. It was the taxi driver who had driven light bulb no.1 to the hospital; when he got off his shift he went home and gave it a go himself! I suppose there are some perks to working a Saturday night.

As far as I'm aware, no one actually likes going to the doctors. If you do then maybe that's…read moresomething you should see your GP about... Anyway, like I said, taking time out of your day to be poked and prodded is never fun but, for a doctors surgery, the Family Practice is a really great place to go and very relaxing. The Grade II listed building is the grandest surgery I've ever seen and its location in the residential area of Cotham means it's easy to find a parking space. The gardens are full of beautiful plants and lavender lines the walkway leading to the main entrance - whether or not it was a conscious decisions to have the calming smell of a herb to relax patients I don't know, but it certainly helps! Inside the main waiting room is at the front while the nurses' waiting room (where you would go for routine appointments or blood test etc) is round to the left. You can either sign in at the main reception or using the computer program at the front desk but be sure to note who your appointment is with as you need to make sure you're in the right waiting room. All the staff I have encountered has been friendly and professional and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who lives in the area.

My local doctors. This is their new location after moving from East Park a couple of years ago…read more All staff from reception to doctors are really lovely and pleasant. Plenty of parking outside and they have a Boots pharmacy attached which is really helpful. You can arrange appointments and repeat prescriptions online too.

This NHS walk in centre is a really friendly one. The nurses that you see, from the front desk up…read moreto the ones who chat to you about your health issues are simply so friendly and nice to you. It's location is pretty secluded, and unless you know where it is already, you wouldn't even know that there was an NHS centre right smack in the middle of town. A walk in centre to keep in mind if you ever feel ill and can't get a quick appointment with your GP.

Hurrah for the NHS! It's not perfect, but what is!? Just think you could be stuck in the US without…read morehealth insurance and without a job and fat. This walk-in centre is as close to a community clinic as we get in this country and I am proud to live somewhere that makes this kind of readily-available medical treatment accessible to all regardless of how much you earn and who you work for. Right that's my little rant over...for now...but this walk in centre was specifically brilliant for me in my first year of Uni, as like most students I didn't register with a doctor (I didn't even know where or how to do that) so for all those minor first year university student ailments (the plague and my chronic rhinotillexomania) I would have to visit the brilliant people here. Obviously I would recommend you register with a GP but it is a very handy place to know about if you are just moving to B-town (that's Bristol fool!).