Balaam Street Practice
113 Balaam Street, Plaistow, London, Greater London, E13 8AFContact details and opening times
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Reviews
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Review titled Awful practice communication and rude staff
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 23 April 2025
Do not register here for your own sanity Awful surgery admin avoid avoid avoid at all costs. They contact you with urgent information then refuse to tell you anything about it unless you submit a text message at 6am on the dot - no other times. Then they leave you waiting for weeks despite sending one in every single morning to see someone. You go down there and the receptionists abuse you. Never get through on the phone line it just hangs up after you get to the front of the queue. If by a miracle you get through to an appointment the doctors are rude and dismissive. Only good doctor that actually listens is someone who works part time, apparently in training and probably very undervalued and underpaid. Also ignore official complaints. Avoid unless you like being mistreated.
Visited April 2025
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 29 April 2025
Dear Patient Thanks for your review. We were a bit mystified when you said that the practice contacted you with urgent information and then refused to tell you anything. We sent you a text message on 24 March at 8am, advising you that your ultrasound scan result was abnormal and we were arranging an urgent specialist appointment. One of the Partners then called you the same day. Although she called twice she could not reach you. You sent an online request on 27 March requesting to speak to a doctor about the text message. One of the partners called you again the same day and spoke to you, apparently to your satisfaction. You mention that you waited weeks for a response to an online request. We have always responded promptly to you, except on one occasion when there was a 6 day response, because we thought we had already dealt with this issue and as we advised it was something that we could not help you with. Although you said that you have to send an online request at 6am on the dot I can see that half your online requests were made at 7.30am. In fact we keep the system open until we reach our daily capacity (which is double the national recommended 72 appointments per 1000 patients) So I would suggest that we contacted you promptly and at no time refused to discuss your case with you. I was surprised that you said the reception staff abused you. Virtually all our reception staff have university degrees and are generally very polite and well presented. If you find this was not the case, please tell us straightaway as there is CCTV which we can check. The phone hanging up after 15 minutes is a known system issue. We have spoken to our provider and the problem has been fixed. I am sorry that this has caused you a problem. You said that the doctors are rude and dismissive. Again I am a bit confused because records suggest that you are generally only seeing one doctor, whom you like and ask for again and again. We have never ignored any official complaints. I was surprised that you felt mistreated. Generally we saw you face to face. The doctor would have very long consultations, lasting up to 37 minutes. She would deal with multiple clinical problems on each appointment, even though surgery policy is to manage one problem per appointment. She would book appointments for you and made sure to follow you up herself. My review of the notes suggest that you have received a very high standard of care.
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Review titled Difficult to get hold of
Rated 3 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 16 July 2024
Long waiting time whilst calling to arrange an appointment. Get to first place in the queue, wait a further 10-15minutes and then an automated message stating to try again later comes up multiple times. The online appointment booking service (in particular on a Monday) is available for only 1 minute - 6:00am to 6:01am. How is this practical? The reception staff need to be more proactive. The GPs and nurses are otherwise brilliant.
Visited July 2024
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 27 August 2024
Dear Patient, Thank you for your comment. All our telephone calls are recorded and monitored so please give us a call and book a management call with myself (Practice Manager ) and we can find out more about what happened after you call us and why your calls are getting disconnected . Regarding our Online appointment booking service (ASKMYGP) when you mentioned it is available for only 1 minute from 06:00 to 06:01am is completely untrue. ASKMYGP is opened Monday to Friday ( Except Bank Holidays) from 06:00am until the daily capacity is reached. Thank you again for your comment
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Review titled Good practice
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Kyle - Posted on 24 June 2024
I had a check up was seen swiftly and thru clarified all questions I had regarding the issue I came for and got given information for further check up
Visited June 2024
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 27 August 2024
Dear Patient, Thank you for letting us know of your positive experience at the practice. We appreciate your comments and strive to continue providing this level of patient care. Thank You Practice Manager
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Review titled Shocking service
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 18 September 2023
I had used the online portal to get an appointment for a minor injury caused to my thumb while playing football for which I was told to go to A&E as it may be fractured. I called and told them it was not broke as I was moving it fine but was causing me some pain. I was then told that the GP has still said to go to A&E regardless of wait time. Really poor and no empathy shown from professionals who should be providing a service to its community.
Visited September 2023
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 22 September 2023
Thanky you for your comment You contacted us through AskMyGP. You told us that you had a 1 day history of severe pain when moving the thumb following a football injury. This presentation could be a simple soft tissue injury, dislocation, or even a fracture. As you clearly described this as severe pain, it is more likely to be a fracture or dislocation. An x-ray is needed and so we asked you to attend the emergency department. Had we seen you the decision would be the same, and your care would have been delayed. We want to make sure you see the right person first time. We are full of sympathy for you and all patients who have to wait a long time in Casualty. But it is important to understand that an urgent x-ray needs to be reported straight away and this is only possible in casualty. Nevertheless, as you refused to attend the emergency department, we offered you an appointment with our physiotherapist a week later. However, you declined this. Although you do not think a fracture was present, 35 years of doing this job has taught me that when someone presents with severe pain and difficulty moving a joint straight after an injury, a fracture must be excluded. Thank you again for your comment.
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Review titled Waiting almost 2 days
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 04 August 2023
I was prescribed blood pressure tablets, they have since caused a terrible itchy, blister, rash all over my body. Contacted the doctors 3rd August at 8am. Not heard a word since. Also sent images to surgery.
Visited August 2023
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 23 August 2023
Dear Patient, Thank you for your comment. I note that you contacted the GP Surgery on 03.08.2023 asking for alternative medications for your above mentioned problem.Our Clinician called you on 04.08.2023 to address your concerns and I can also note that a medication was prescribed to you immediately during the telephone call.I am sorry to say that your comment that you waited for almost 2 days is correct in fact your query was addressed in 24 hours.Please feel free to contact the manager if you want to talk about this further Thank you Practice Manager
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Review titled On Spot
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Mary KawalyaKanyike - Posted on 08 July 2023
I have attended the Saturday blood surgery and every time the workers are on spot with their game. So marvellous you don’t have to waste a lot of time here.
Visited July 2023
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 11 July 2023
Dear Patient, Thank you for letting us know of your positive experience at the practice. We appreciate your comments and strive to continue providing this level of patient care. Thank You Practice Manager
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Review titled Duty of Candour
Rated 2 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 09 May 2023
I brought my son for his appointment at 12:30. I checked us in at the reception and told us to take a sit afterwards. The practice was not that busy and the people before us has been called. There was a girl who checked in after us for her 12:30 appointment and one man for his 1 Pm appointment. The man has been called at around 1:08 for his appointment. Afterwards the other girl was called as well. My son and I were left behind. I asked the reception if we will be called shortly and then she asked for our details again. She then said to check it with the clinician. She came back after a 2 minutes and I asked her again, she said one second I'm still checking. Then now, after a minute my son's name has finally been called in the screen. When we go to the Room I asked the clinician if the reception forgot to check us in. He said "Yes, Kinda" I told him that I'm gonna need her name and he responded that there is no need for that as he is seeing us already for the appointment. I replied back that maybe for you it's okay but for me it's not. There is no apologies given! How unprofessional. We've waited for more than half an hour, I know it happens sometimes if they are really busy but this time it is not busy. The clinician was not even friendly, not even smiling or you won't even feel that the Gp is friendly, welcoming environment.
Visited May 2023
Review titled Balaam Street Practice
Replied on 13 June 2023
Dear Patient, Thank you for your comment. I note that your son had an appointment at 12:30 on 09th May 2023 with our Clinician.You came in for your appointment at 12:23 to check in.I also note that our reception staff missed marking you in at 12:23 for your appointment.When you later inquired with the receptionist about your appointment she realized that she missed marking you in and she went into the Clinician room requesting him if he can see you.The Clinician was on his lunch break and he kindly accommodated the receptionist request and he saw you during his lunch break.I apologies for you on behalf of our receptionist to miss marking you in for the appointment. I also want to assure you that your feedback regarding the clinician has been discussed with him as a feedback. I sincerely want to apologies on behalf of the team for the distress this has caused you. Please feel free to contact the manager if you want to talk about this further Thank you