Islington Central Medical Centre Reviews Summary

Doctors/Medical Staff

Pros:

• "Doctors are good - even though it’s impossible to stick with the same one every time."
• "It's great you can have blood tests etc at the same site."
• "Dr Iqbal is absolutely amazing! Every Doctor I've personally encountered at the practice go above and beyond for their patients."
• "The nurses are excellent! Very practical, kind and caring."
• "Doctors unbelievably good (all of the ones who have seen me!) - they treat you as if you are a human being. Dr Kanji is a great new doctor (both Dr Cohens also brilliant)."
• "I have visited this centre four times, as certain procedures are no longer available at my own practice. On each occasion I was seen, on time, by a female nurse who was informative, caring and kind."
• "Dr Iqbal's patient, thorough approach is what has kept me here till this day!"

Cons:

• "I've also had a couple of bad experiences - 1) a locum doctor who first mixed up my tests and later left the practice without leaving any notes."
• "GP on the phone does not know all background and operates by procedure like a call centre that is nonsense in most cases and just waste of time."
• "They are not doctors. They just want to get rid of you, or push you for private."
• "A successions of mistakes from this centre which makes left me feel not listened to nor looked after."

Administration and Appointment System

Pros:

• "The admin team although busy are helpful once you speak to them and the nurse is great."

Cons:

• "The admin at Central is simply a complete disaster - try getting an admin letter."
• "They’ve never replied to emails."
• "Using eConsult is a nightmare and renders it almost impossible to get an appointment."
• "To get an appointment you have to wait 4 days. No appointments over the phone."
• "Absolutely terrible, unable to book appointments online."
• "The website says to book by phone or Patient Access. Patient Access tells me I've reached my limit on appointments even though I've never previously booked on this system."
• "Reception staff is so abrasive and they can never find an appointment at a reasonable time."
• "Admin around getting to see the Doctor, or talk to them, is a nightmare."

Reception and Support Staff

Pros:

• "I know that this medical centre is trying very hard to keep up with people constantly cancelling their appointments and putting strain on their already slow service."
• "The senior receptionists are exceptional."

Cons:

• "Absolutely awful GP surgery with an unhelpful reception team."
• "My biggest problem with this practice is the reception staff."
• "Horrible reception manners. Please show a little kindness."
• "The Reception staff will do everything to bar you from seeing a GP."
• "They just hang up on you after you’ve been waiting for ages to connect with someone."

e-Consult System and Telephonic Appointments

Pros:

• "I don’t even mind the e-consult system as all the practices are using it and if it eases pressure on the service, then fine."

Cons:

• "Using eConsult is a nightmare and renders it almost impossible to get an appointment."
• "Their eConsult service which is introduced since the pandemic is a joke."
• "Doctors will call you to review medication without warning and expect you to know more than they do about you medications."
• "No longer feel safe with this practice. Would avoid until they scap the very, very poor e-consult service."

Overall Experience

Pros:

• "Fantastic Medical Centre top to bottom."
• "I am with them for years and I am always satisfied with my treatments, great staff."
• "Excellent staff who are extremely overworked but will accommodate need / requirements to best of their ability."
• "I have visited this centre four times."
• "I had an appointment here today as part of the out of house service and was so impressed."
• "Have been registered with them 4.5 years and always wanted to move on but wouldn’t find the energy."

Cons:

• "This used to be an outstanding practice. It is now an absolute disaster."
• "Being registered with ICMC has been like being in an abusive relationship and it’s time to escape."