Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals a deeply divided patient experience at this practice. Medical staff, including doctors and nurses, consistently receive praise for professionalism, compassion, and clinical competence, with patients noting convenient scheduling and efficient service delivery. However, reception experience emerges as a significant and persistent concern, with multiple patients reporting discourteous behaviour, poor communication, and unresponsive service. Appointment access presents challenges, including long waiting times, difficulties reaching the practice by phone, and booking complications. Several patients describe hostile or dismissive reception interactions that created barriers to accessing care, while others experienced failures in communication regarding referrals and follow-up arrangements.

Patients also report inconsistency in service quality, with some describing welcoming and supportive front desk staff whilst others encountered unprofessional conduct. Issues with respect and courtesy during reception interactions appear frequently across reviews, alongside concerns about appointment availability and the responsiveness of administrative processes. A small number of patients expressed satisfaction with their overall experience, noting minimal wait times and professional conduct.

The contrast between positive clinical care and problematic reception experience suggests the practice's reputation is significantly impacted by administrative and front-desk interactions, which appear to undermine otherwise capable medical provision.

Appointment

35.67 %
Poor

Reception

28.92 %
Bad

Cleanliness

72.50 %
Great

Care

62.38 %
Average

Respect

25.18 %
Bad

Seen on time

32.14 %
Bad

Filter

CH

Colette H. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Horrible service from unhelpful and rude receptionist

The front desk staff member, a long-time local resident with four decades of experience, displayed an unacceptable attitude and was extremely discourteous. Her communication skills were severely lacking, making it nearly impossible to comprehend her instructions. Her command of English was particularly poor, which is especially problematic given her role in guiding patients through the medical registration procedure. Such unprofessional behavior is absolutely unacceptable. The medical practice's management should seriously consider replacing their current reception staff. Patients are entitled to courteous and respectful treatment during their interactions with healthcare personnel.

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JP

Jamie P. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Great!

Friendly gps and mixed reception team vibes

New to the area and slightly anxious about joining this practice based on previous reviews. Compared to my London GP, it's remarkable that the reception team actually answers the phone promptly (within two rings!!!) The initial receptionist I interacted with was incredibly warm and welcoming. Meeting her in person revealed even more helpfulness. Compassionate demeanor. The second receptionist has an abrasive tone and seemingly radiates negative energy (towards everyone) seemingly unaware of her impact. More of a social awkwardness. While she irritated me, the female GP more than compensated during my health check. Subsequently, I've had several phone interactions (with another receptionist, professionally direct which I appreciate) where every call was excellent and she efficiently secured me appointments within a week (non-urgent) while thoroughly addressing my queries. My subsequent appointment with a different female GP was equally delightful and empathetic. I didn't feel rushed, and she genuinely listened. The 4th receptionist interrupted my examination by knocking and nearly entering without permission. The GP was profusely apologetic, and I wouldn't have mentioned this except the receptionist was somewhat discourteous when I attempted to discuss it. She appeared busy but didn't match the exceptional service provided by the other two receptionists (first and phone), so overall, the reception team and both GPs are a mixed experience. I've provided this comprehensive review because I believe in acknowledging good service, and the existing reviews nearly deterred me from choosing this practice. Perhaps that explains the apparent low patient volume?

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TK

Tina K. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible reception ruins potential great medical experience

The front desk staff here is incredibly off-putting... The general practitioner and nursing team are excellent, but the receptionist's attitude is completely unacceptable. Having to interact with her just to see the doctor is genuinely frustrating and unpleasant.

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LB

Lauren B. Google 4 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst customer service ever at this place

Absolutely appalling front desk service. The person greeting visitors displayed an unprecedented level of discourtesy and unprofessional behavior. Their demeanor was shockingly unwelcoming and made me feel entirely uncomfortable from the moment I arrived.

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FN

Felix N. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible receptionist ruins an otherwise good medical practice

The medical staff are fantastic, but their front desk representative is absolutely dreadful. I continue to use this clinic solely because it's consistently uncrowded and has no waiting time. This is likely due to the off-putting nature of their receptionist...

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MF

Marco F. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible service from uncaring doctor's office

The situation I experienced yesterday is completely unacceptable. I woke up with a swollen face and, feeling quite anxious, I decided to visit the doctor in person at 9 AM rather than calling, suspecting some kind of infection but unsure of the specifics. Upon arriving around 9:30, I spoke with the receptionist who took my details and assured me the doctor would call me back - which never happened. I waited for a phone call until 4 PM before ultimately going to the hospital, where I must admit they addressed my concerns efficiently. My interactions with this medical practice have been sporadic, and whenever I require their services, they seem unavailable. The reception staff's attitude is particularly disappointing. I will absolutely be changing doctors and cannot in good conscience recommend them to anyone else. This experience deserves zero stars.

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IA

Ian A. Google 5 years ago

Rating

Great!

Spotless sanctuary during pandemic times

Tidy and well-maintained, with great attention to health precautions during the pandemic.

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SI

Sipan I. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Terrible doctor who destroyed my trust in healthcare

Mrs. Nirgude is an incredibly discourteous and terrible healthcare provider. In all my years of being her patient—spanning a decade or more—I've reached my breaking point. I'm definitively switching to another general practitioner due to her unacceptable conduct.

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SM

Shanmuganathan M. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Exceptional care from a compassionate medical professional

Dr. Oyegbata consistently demonstrates exceptional patient care, providing a top-notch surgical experience. The practice offers convenient scheduling and a welcoming team that makes patients feel comfortable and well-supported.

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AB

Anne B. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Professional care marred by one rude manager

Medical professionals and staff demonstrate high levels of professionalism. Receptionists are courteous and accommodating, with reasonable appointment scheduling and minimal wait times. Unfortunately, the office manager/lead receptionist is a significant drawback - she is incredibly discourteous and unpleasant.

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KA

Kathryn A. Google 6 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Compassionate care with a personal family touch

Compact medical clinic where the team is familiar with our family, ensuring a tailored and individualized experience. Appointments consistently adhere to schedule, and they're always ready to accommodate urgent consultations, especially for infants and critical situations. The front desk staff are incredibly supportive, responsive, and consistently quick to answer incoming calls with genuine care and efficiency.

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DM

Drp M. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Excellent!

Smooth sailing through successful medical procedure

Top-notch surgical procedure - couldn't have asked for better results.

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AA

Arriscado A. Google 7 years ago

Rating

Great!

Fantastic medical care with friendly professional team

The medical team is compassionate, and the personnel are excellent. There are no lengthy wait periods, and the facility is immaculate and well-managed. I'm perplexed by the negative feedback I've seen elsewhere.

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SF

Simon F. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Great!

Caring doctors shine despite challenging front desk staff

Since April 2018, I've been receiving care at this medical facility for four years. The medical staff, including physicians and nursing personnel, consistently demonstrate exceptional professionalism and are always accommodating when referrals are needed. My primary physician is Dr. O. While the younger receptionist is notably friendly and supportive, some of the other front desk staff can occasionally be less responsive. As mentioned in previous reviews, I concur that the Practice Manager negatively impacts the clinic's reputation, which is particularly disappointing given her role as the primary representative of this otherwise dedicated healthcare team. I want to express my sincere appreciation to the doctors and nurses for their compassionate approach and outstanding patient care.

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JS

James S. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical experience ever with terrible staff

Utterly terrible experience with Dr. Nirgude. The sole reason I continue to visit this practice is the lack of alternative options. Several of the front desk staff are downright malicious. I will definitely be departing soon.

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HS

Hamilton S. Google 8 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Dismissive doctor destroyed my mental health journey

My encounter at this medical facility was absolutely dreadful. As a new patient seeking help for my stress and anxiety issues (and genuinely struggling with my health for the first time), I was met with complete disrespect. The physician not only challenged every statement I made but also clearly communicated her disbelief in my experiences. She even escalated her tone and completely disregarded my emotional state, leaving me feeling totally invalidated. I was made to feel small, insignificant, and completely unheard. I strongly urge anyone considering this practice to stay away! This was, without a doubt, the most horrific medical interaction I have ever endured!!!

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RR

Ray R. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Worst medical service with rude and unprofessional staff

Absolutely appalling service, particularly from Mrs Nirgude and her daughter. During my previous medical issue involving left foot pain, I was initially referred to a Physiotherapist near Prospect Park by Abbey Medical. After requesting an alternative location closer to my home in Early, the doctor agreed and promised to inform me. However, after waiting 2.5 weeks, no communication was made, and when I followed up, they claimed they only refer patients to Prospect Park, despite the previous arrangement. I ultimately sought treatment with a Physiotherapist at Woodly. Upon attempting to obtain my medical report from the surgery, Mrs Nirgude informed me there would be a £5.00 administrative fee for printing, stating they cannot provide it for free since I'm already receiving NHS services. When I discussed this with the doctor subsequently, they claimed to have no authority in the matter. Adding to the frustration, as I was leaving, Mrs Nirgude's daughter confronted me aggressively, questioning why I had visited the doctor twice without permission, using a confrontational tone. These unprofessional and discourteous interactions have led me to decide to change medical practices entirely.

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RM

Rab M. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Average!

Efficient and no-nonsense medical experience

A completely no-nonsense medical facility with absolutely zero complications or unnecessary fuss. Everything proceeded smoothly and efficiently, exactly as you would want a healthcare appointment to function. The staff were direct and professional, getting right to the point without any wasted time or energy. Precisely what you need when seeking medical attention.

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AC

Adrian C. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Unhelpful doctor dismisses patient's persistent health concern

I informed my general practitioner about my long-standing chronic cough, and her demeanor immediately turned dismissive and annoyed. She flatly stated she was unable to assist me. After persistent effort, I managed to persuade her to refer me for an X-ray examination.

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AM

Anette M. Google 9 years ago

Rating

Bad!

Incompetent doctors destroying medical records and lives

I've been with this GP practice for years, and as a medical professional myself, I'm skeptical about their staff's qualifications. During a routine cervical test, the nurse couldn't even locate the cervix properly. The GP listened to my chest through four layers of clothing, seemingly more concerned with cultural narratives than medical practice. My persistent knee problem was completely ignored, leaving me in severe pain and limping for months. Ironically, my first-year medical student son later provided the correct diagnosis. The GP refused to refer me for any scan, even a private one, callously suggesting that at 48, I should simply accept limping as my new normal. Ultimately, I had to seek a private scan abroad, which revealed a baker's cyst - easily treatable with rest and anti-inflammatory medication. Instead, the GP advised me to walk more, effectively pushing me towards becoming an invalid. When I filed a complaint with the NHS, the surgery's response was to threaten destroying my medical records because I no longer wished to be their patient. These fraudulent individuals deserve legal consequences for their gross medical negligence and unprofessional conduct.

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About the GP

  • Accepts all feedback, both positive and negative.

Contact Information

  • 0118 9573752
  • Abbey Medical Centre 41 Russell Street Reading Berkshire RG1 7XD

Patient Experience Summary

Feedback reveals a deeply divided patient experience at this practice. Medical staff, including doctors and nurses, consistently receive praise for professionalism, compassion, and clinical competence, with patients noting convenient scheduling and efficient service delivery. However, reception experience emerges as a significant and persistent concern, with multiple patients reporting discourteous behaviour, poor communication, and unresponsive service. Appointment access presents challenges, including long waiting times, difficulties reaching the practice by phone, and booking complications. Several patients describe hostile or dismissive reception interactions that created barriers to accessing care, while others experienced failures in communication regarding referrals and follow-up arrangements.

Patients also report inconsistency in service quality, with some describing welcoming and supportive front desk staff whilst others encountered unprofessional conduct. Issues with respect and courtesy during reception interactions appear frequently across reviews, alongside concerns about appointment availability and the responsiveness of administrative processes. A small number of patients expressed satisfaction with their overall experience, noting minimal wait times and professional conduct.

The contrast between positive clinical care and problematic reception experience suggests the practice's reputation is significantly impacted by administrative and front-desk interactions, which appear to undermine otherwise capable medical provision.

Appointment

35.67 %
Poor

Reception

28.92 %
Bad

Cleanliness

72.50 %
Great

Care

62.38 %
Average

Respect

25.18 %
Bad

Seen on time

32.14 %
Bad
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