"Impossible to register due to rude receptionist"

I would like to echo other comments here. The receptionists that work here are remarkably rude, and seem to deny patients the right to register on unreasonable grounds. I can readily say that attempting to sign up at Statham Grove GP surgery has exacerbated my mental health condition and caused me much anxiety and unnecessary distress due to their staff's inflexibility, despite bringing three (!) proofs of address.

At first they kept questioning me on my address rather rudely, as well as why I was holding a form in my hand, and then after having convinced them that I did indeed live in the catchment area I presented my utility bill (internet) which was denied, because according to the receptionist, internet 'doesn't count' - which I thought was irritating, but fair enough - rules are rules.

I then presented my council tax bill (2018-2019). This is a standard issue annual March 2018-2019 council tax bill from Hackney Council. As far as I know, you can get no more recent than that. After the receptionist very carefully scanned the text of my council tax bill, they rudely announced that it was 'way out of date'. I asked what their rules stipulated, and they said it must be '3 months within date'. I checked the small print very carefully, and despite the fact that my bill clearly stated it was a 2018-2019 Council Tax Bill, there was, unfortunately, a line saying 'Date issued 9 March, which was precisely, 3 months and 14 (!) days over the limit. I protested that the bill was in date, and that the date of issue should be of no consequence, but they firmly said it was insufficient.

Exasperatedly, I asked if I could use my driving licence as proof of address, as my Hackney address is clearly printed on it. Very quickly and firmly, they said the driving licence does not count as a proof of address because - in their words, driving licences are not issued in the last 3 months. However, I had passed my driving test 3 weeks before, so my date of issue was actually the 24th May 2018. I showed the receptionist that my driving licence was issued less than a month ago, so technically should be a valid proof of address. I also had a separate ID - in this case my passport - which could provide a means of separate identification, in case the driving licence could not be a dual proof of id and address. I was still met with 'We just don't accept driving licences'.

Obviously, I was upset, and having gone to a&e for severe agoraphobia 2 days prior, found the experience severely traumatic. I believe it was absolutely unfair treatment, and the receptionists use their discretion to deny patients registration on unreasonable grounds.

The next day, I went to Barton Grove surgery down the road where they informed me that annual council tax bills are indeed valid, and also informed me that I could have brought along a tenancy agreement to validate, which none of the receptionists had told me at Statham Grove.