Birchington Medical Centre

No doctors and zero appointments

A disastrous medical facility that completely fails patient care. At 8am, I was abruptly informed no appointments were available and was dismissed. Throughout my two-year experience, I've never encountered an actual physician or even seen a doctor's name displayed. Clearly, this practice operates solely for the financial benefit of its owners, with zero regard for patient needs or medical service. I am compelled to escalate this matter by contacting the chief medical officer and questioning how such an establishment maintains its medical license. My strongest recommendation is to STEER CLEAR of this healthcare provider under any circumstances.

Caring doctors helped me through tough time

I cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional treatment I've experienced at BMC recently. The staff has been outstanding, with incredibly welcoming and supportive receptionists. Doctors Pal and Canal/Kanal have been remarkably responsive, consistently calling me back quickly, genuinely hearing my concerns, and providing reassurance through their expert and compassionate approach. My sincere thanks to everyone involved. If only a 10-star rating were possible! Absolutely stellar service.

Quick turnaround on my blood test

Full praise to BMC - exceptional service. I underwent a blood test early last Tuesday (11/1) and by late afternoon on Wednesday (12/1), I received a phone call with my results. Impressive teamwork and efficiency. Much appreciated.

Terrible care for mental health patients

This medical practice is absolutely terrible. I wouldn't even give them a single star if I could. For weeks, my friend tries to get her prescription and has to call repeatedly to manage her mental health and other medical conditions. Every time she requests her medication, they just book an appointment and then cancel via text message. They never return phone calls and constantly make up ridiculous excuses. She's the one who has to sit day and night monitoring her own health and needs. This happens every single time she attempts to order her medication. Why can't they have a doctor who actually does their job properly? They should just shut down the entire practice.

Learned tons with fabulous bmc team

During my internship at BMC, I was thoroughly impressed by the team's welcoming attitude. They made me feel like a genuine part of their group. As a student, the learning experience was incredibly valuable. Every member of the team was exceptional. I would strongly encourage other students to consider this placement. KW is an outstanding nurse and mentor, incredibly well-structured and professional. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this amazing experience.

Impossible to get a doctor's appointment

Seriously, look for another medical practice if possible! I rarely visit doctors, but when I actually need care, getting an appointment seems impossible! This healthcare facility is completely useless! I was even driven to request a transfer back to my previous doctor's office.

Frustrating morning without available slots

Another day, another missed slot at 8:10 - this is getting frustrating!

Scary treatment after raising patient concerns

If you dare to raise concerns or voice complaints regarding this medical practice's staff, particularly the receptionists, you'll quickly find yourself dismissed by the practice manager and effectively intimidated with the threat of being removed from their patient roster. Their unspoken approach is essentially to force patients to tolerate disrespectful treatment and remain silent about poor service.

Caring staff helped me through tough times

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone, particularly the reception team, who handle a challenging job with such grace. Throughout the past year, as I've communicated about my mother's situation, the staff have consistently demonstrated exceptional helpfulness, remarkable patience, and genuine kindness. Their support means more than words can truly convey.

Friendly staff saved my morning appointment

Absolutely delightful encounter at Birchington Gp, top marks to the wonderful team, much appreciation

Frustrating wait for a useless phone call

The front desk staff display an appalling attitude, and their digital customer support is abysmal. It took them an entire week to send a callback letter, and when we finally followed up on Friday, we discovered the appointment was merely a phone consultation scheduled two weeks out, not an in-person examination. The excessive delay in providing medical care is completely unacceptable. How can a doctor possibly conduct a proper medical assessment over the telephone?

Frustrating wait for a simple foot appointment

I completed an online consultation with the medical practice on the 12th, and the doctor attempted to call me on the 13th, but the call seemingly went directly to voicemail without any message or phone notification. I received a letter requesting a non-urgent appointment last Friday. When I contacted the surgery on Tuesday, they instructed me to call back on Friday to schedule the in-person consultation. Upon calling again on Friday, I was informed that I must wait until August 4 to book a telephone consultation for the doctor to assess my foot, potentially leading to a subsequent face-to-face appointment. I expressed my frustration about the absurdity of this process to the receptionist, who simply stated that this was their standard procedure and suggested I could seek care elsewhere if dissatisfied - which I fully intend to do at the earliest opportunity. The triage system urgently requires review, as patients in more critical conditions might not receive necessary care and could potentially worsen their symptoms unnecessarily. I sincerely hope they do not treat other patients with the same disregard they have shown me.

Rude receptionists killed my patience

When I called, the receptionist answered with an exaggerated, booming sigh that immediately set a negative tone. It's clear that every inquiry is an unwelcome disruption for them. They make it abundantly evident that any request is a massive inconvenience. The reception staff desperately require comprehensive training in basic customer service and interpersonal communication. Update 9 months later: Can I somehow eliminate this single star rating?? This medical practice is absolutely appalling. I've reluctantly phoned approximately 4 times during these past months (deliberately minimizing contact because the receptionists are so discourteous and unbearable), and without fail, I was dismissed, given evasive responses, completely disregarded, and treated with cutting sarcasm. ABSOLUTELY AVOID SEEKING MEDICAL CARE IN BIRCHINGTON.

Nightmare booking at morning rush hour

Completely dreadful. Completely inaccessible during the morning hours, which are supposedly the sole window for scheduling an appointment. Their electronic consultation system guarantees a minimum week-long wait before any medical professional even glances at your submission. Demonstrating zero compassion for patients while undoubtedly collecting substantial NHS funding.

Frustrating one-way online health portal

The digital platform demands everything be handled online, which isn't inherently problematic. However, it feels like a unidirectional communication channel where data, inquiries, and prescription requests are submitted, but there's zero transparency about their subsequent processing or outcome. The core purpose of an online system should be eliminating the need to repeatedly contact the GP's office for updates or to confirm prescription dispatch to the pharmacy. Additionally, I'm frustrated by the inconsistent and often unprofessional customer service demonstrated by some of the reception staff. While a few employees are commendable, there's a noticeable absence of uniform professional standards across the team.

Rude staff ruined my entire visit

If there were a rating below the lowest possible, I'd choose it. The service is absolutely appalling, and the staff are repulsive, lacking even the most basic interpersonal abilities - their performance is so incompetent it's almost comical. The female employees at the counter are hostile, brusque, and perpetually miserable. The environment feels more like a childish playground than a professional medical facility. The service is monumentally subpar, and I'm utterly bewildered as to how they continue to receive funding for a service they're clearly incapable of delivering. These individuals are thoroughly despicable.

Smooth patient portal saved the day

Reaching customer service by phone was challenging, but utilizing the online patient portal proved efficient, and I received a prompt callback from a representative.

Worst medical practice in town

Utterly abysmal service from the pompous front desk staff. This medical practice is a complete farce - despite residing in the area for twelve months, I've been unable to secure a single appointment. Moreover, I have zero desire to listen to their complaints about how challenging their workday has been.

Worst medical care for cancer patient ever

Completely uninterested in scheduling an appointment for my mother, who relies on Morphine to alleviate the excruciating pain caused by Multiple Myeloma. Their lack of compassion is utterly disgraceful.

Impossible to book a gp appointment

Absolute disaster. Getting past the reception desk is an exercise in frustration. Whenever I've attempted to schedule an appointment, they're completely unavailable. Even calling the moment they open yields no results. Just yesterday, I was redirected to the emergency department because they had zero availability. Ironically, after contacting 111, I secured a consultation with the exact same physician I was originally trying to see through their reception. I'm not someone who typically dramatizes health concerns, but occasionally medical consultation becomes genuinely necessary.