Reviews
Booking an appointment, whether in-person or over the phone, is nearly impossible. Even for urgent matters, there's a minimum wait time of 3 to 4 weeks. Some doctors are extremely rude and unprofessional, offering discriminatory opinions and failing to make patients feel comfortable. Reception staff often seem unsure of how to assist and communicate unclearly, resulting in further delays or disregarding urgent appointment needs
ADDITION to PREVIOUS review:
While it was always very difficult getting an appointment at this practice the situation has now worsened even further. There are two means to do this online (you can't get through on the phone so online is the only way to go): Patient Access or via your NHS account. Today when I tried to make an appointment I signed into Patient Access (the name is so ironic; it should be called Patient Denial or Patient Exclusion) I was told I had to re-set my password though I know I have it correct. SIX attempts later, six emails, six texts, six new passwords carefully adhering to the password stipulations - and I am told 'Sorry, we could not complete your request at this time.'
I then tried to make an appointment via the second path - my NHS account, and was told: 'Sorry, your GP services are not currently available.' !!!! No other information. That's it. How is this even LEGAL? An NHS GP should always be available in this country.
I am not even going to walk down to the surgery and ask in person for an appointment because all too often GPs do not call at the time specified anyway.
Imagine if I was an elderly person, trying to make an appointment, trying to make sense of their moronic and dysfunctional website, trying again and again, to even get access to the portal in the first place.
This surgery is an utter disgrace. Whoever manages it should be SHOT. The place is just a cess-pit. There is no other way to describe it. The - 'service' - offered to patients, the way patients are treated, is so far below par it is disgusting.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I can't count the number of times a phone call appointment with a GP has either not been scheduled, so the GP doesn't know about it, or the GP themselves fail to call. In our current climate, a pandemic, such phone call appointments are vital. Secondly you can never get through on the phone so, despite their assertions that visiting in person is to be avoided, you have to actually walk to the practice to make an appointment.
I've been trying to arrange a smear for over 6 months because the surgery hasn't received - or more likely, recorded - correspondence sent to them from the royal London hospital in Whitechapel. I'm at the point of paying for a smear privately because of this ridiculous, ongoing cockup.
I've been let down again tonight, waiting for a scheduled phone call - which I knew wouldn't happen simply because of the shocking service at this practice.
I have no idea who left the positive reviews for this place but believe me, just avoid this practice if you can help. It is an absolute veritable nightmare. Even their opening hours are wrong: online they say they're open till 8pm. In fact they close at 6:30.
This surgery is a joke.
Abysmal care and poor treatment. Didn’t treat infection but now waiting for ten days for next follow up appointment by which point I could end up in hospital
Unfortunately I didn't have a great experience with this GP surgery upon seeing a different GP Dr Alfiya Mellule. Although upon physical examination I actually received good news, I was extremely anxious before hand which was evident at the appointment. I was accused of "exaggerating my symptoms" and I was also made to feel like I was wasting their time. Upon asking why I was having some physical symptoms still, I was just told to ""stop thinking about it" and her general delivery and manner was very condescending, blunt and negative. Not what you expect from a GP who has a duty of care to their patient.
I had to cancel my appointment today after 1:30 waiting to see the Doctor. 2 other people was in the same situation. It is the second time when I book appointment with the Doctor takes more than hours after your appointment. Honestly, this is totally disrespectful with the patients. Please avoid this practice. If you are facing the same situation, report it to NHS.
Resources
Short link to review The Barkantine Practice: http://iwgc.net/ejgte