The Spitalfields Practice

Unbearable bureaucracy and plain senselessness

I have been registered with this practice for over 10 years, and in all that time, I’ve probably seen my GP in person fewer than 10 times. The level of access to care has been consistently poor, and the experience with the reception staff is nothing short of appalling. Despite following the practice’s procedures — queuing patiently, calling at the specified times, or using the online systems — I’ve repeatedly been ignored, spoken over, or dismissed entirely. There have been times when I was standing right at the desk, only to be skipped or have the receptionist start speaking to someone else as if I wasn’t even there. It’s unprofessional and, frankly, disrespectful. The reception staff show very little interest in providing any form of personal attention or empathy. There is a general air of indifference, as though patients are an inconvenience rather than individuals seeking care. This attitude makes every interaction unnecessarily stressful and deeply frustrating. Trying to secure a GP appointment or arrange a repeat prescription is an uphill battle — overly complicated, time-consuming, and often fruitless. There’s no consistency in communication, no clear guidance, and certainly no sense of patient-focused service. It’s incredibly disheartening to have been with a practice for so long and still feel so unsupported. I hope the management take reviews like this seriously, because many of us deserve far better from a service that is meant to care for our health.