Essex Lodge Surgery

Rude staff ruined my entire day

Absolutely terrible service, completely unhelpful and frustrating experience from start to finish.

Unhelpful care navigator with month-long wait

When attempting to contact them, instead of offering an immediate doctor callback, they direct you to an online form with a response time of 2-4 business days "based on the complexity of the issue". The care navigator on the phone was completely indifferent and unsympathetic, informing me that my next available appointment is on the 25th, which is a full month from now. I've had some positive interactions with this healthcare provider in the past, but on this occasion, the representative provided absolutely no assistance for urgent same-day medical attention.

Rude doctor ruined my entire healthcare visit

The experience was utterly appalling, and their customer service is a complete disaster. I wish I could give them less than zero stars. The female physician with brown skin demonstrated extreme rudeness and total lack of professionalism. She completely ignored my attempts to speak, constantly interrupted me, and displayed zero respect throughout our interaction. The entire encounter was revolting and represents the absolute worst of what the UK healthcare system has deteriorated into. It's nothing short of an absolute mockery.

Waited hours past 12.48pm appointment time

If I could rate this with zero stars, I absolutely would - sadly, one star is the minimum. My appointment was set for 12:48pm after being referred from Newham General Hospital, and I'm still waiting to be seen. I'm completely baffled by how NHS doctors schedule appointments yet consistently fail to see patients on time - if patients were late, we'd never be accommodated. Stay away from this clinic at all costs. I cannot stress enough how much I do not recommend this surgery. These are pure time wasters, and the clinic isn't even crowded, so there's no valid excuse for their extreme tardiness. I could understand delays if the place was packed, but it's practically empty. The pictures clearly show how vacant it is, yet they still choose to keep patients waiting unprofessionally. Seriously, do not waste a single moment of your time at this surgery.

Frustrating doctor's appointment that went nowhere

Absolutely dreadful encounter. I'm planning to switch healthcare providers without delay.

Friendly team made my day smooth

Delightful employees, immaculately maintained, and the reservation process was straightforward. Appreciate it!

Terrible wait times with unhelpful staff

This medical facility is absolutely dreadful. When you have a critical health issue and attempt to schedule an appointment, you'll be confronted with an absurd 3-4 week waiting period. I've been dealing with a serious condition for nearly three weeks, yet they tried to book me for a standard, non-urgent consultation - which is completely unacceptable. It's clear they have no genuine concern for their patients' well-being. The only viable solution appears to be seeking care from a private physician. But what about individuals who lack the financial means to do so? To make matters worse, the front desk staff are consistently discourteous, with the sole exception of Sarah, who consistently demonstrates a helpful attitude.

Mixed feelings about gp care

Every general practice in the UK will encounter a spectrum of opinions regarding their service, heavily influenced by the dynamics between patients, clinicians, and administrative staff. Currently, most GPs are self-employed, with some on salaries, often choosing this path for better work-life balance compared to hospital specialist training. They typically receive less rigorous peer review, which can lead to less prioritized clinical knowledge updates, though they enjoy greater practice autonomy. The NHS has transformed into a profit-driven entity, reverting to its pre-1948 commercial model, and has declined from being the world's best healthcare system to now ranking tenth, with South Korea leading globally. Four distinct mixed healthcare systems exist worldwide. Within larger practices, individual GPs can vary significantly in their approach - some meticulously pursuing optimal patient outcomes, while others remain indifferent. Practices that consistently ignore genuine medical needs and offer repeated inadequate explanations are particularly dangerous, especially considering that a six-week delay can mean the difference between potential cure and certain mortality. Physicians displaying superiority complexes, failing to listen, examine patients thoroughly, or appropriately refer urgent cases demonstrate negligent practices. GPs receive minimal annual patient payments and are compensated for specific tests, which they sometimes neglect while retaining the funds. While troublesome, perpetually dissatisfied patients exist, they fortunately represent a minority. Recognizing that no practice or physician is flawless, we might occasionally have unrealistic expectations. Since the Thatcher era, business-oriented and corrupt political influences have systematically undermined the healthcare system, deliberately introducing American-style inequitable healthcare models, resulting in the notorious postcode lottery. East London, including its more affluent areas, remains suboptimal for healthcare provision. Changing practices rarely yields substantial improvements, a reality many patients understand.

Doctor missed my mom's heart attack

APPALLING MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE!! My elderly mother, battling asthma, experienced chest discomfort and was dismissively advised during a TELEPHONE consultation that the doctor "saw no need for an in-person examination" to simply increase her inhaler usage. Subsequently, she was emergency transported to Newham General with chest pain, diagnosed as a muscle strain. Later, when she visited Essex Lodge complaining of arm pain, they casually labeled it "Tennis Elbow". Shockingly, within days, she suffered a HEART ATTACK. What an ABSOLUTELY INCOMPETENT service that fails to properly identify such a critical medical condition.