I've always found Ginninderra Medical Centre a terrific place for so many reasons. I live nowhere near Belconnen, but catch 2 buses just to attend this place. I've been to this Medical Centre a number of times in the past few years, and I've always found the Staff and Doctors, to be friendly and helpful. Plus, my favourite Doctor works here. He used to be at a Medical Centre a 5 minute walk from my place, but now I travel over to Belconnen just to see Dr. Paek. He is a wonderful young caring Doctor. I love the lounges and that huge TV that I park myself in front of. I feel like I'm in my own lounge room. The only problem was I didn't get to finish watching the TV show LOL. I didn't have to go to a Chemist either, to get my script done, as there is a Chemist you have to walk past, in the same building. I've sat on the lounges, watching the Receptionists juggle the phones and the constant stream of people they serve. As humans, we all hate to wait. I admit, I look for the shortest checkout queque at the Supermarket, but I've never had to wait at the Medical Centre front counter for more than 2 minutes. I'm going out there early next week, and I look forward to it, and Thankyou to Elaine who took my phone call today.
Staff rude/disinterested each and every visit, last visit I was the only person standing at the desk , I waited for the staff to finish the lengthy personal phone call, staff didnt bother to look at me when they did get around to serving me. I only go here when I cant get into my regular doctor as appointments are not available, meaning Im in the waiting room a long time and they dont bulk bill.
I have been to this medical centre on a number of occasions - both for myself and for my 2 year old. This is the option I take when we become ill and cannot get into see our regular GP.
If you expect these things then the experience may not be too much of a disappointment:
-The staff will talk to you in a rude manner.
- There will be up to a 3 hour wait to see the medical staff.
The fees at Ginninderra Medical Centre are roughly the same as anywhere else in Canberra. At Ginninderra Medical it is $30 to see the medical staff ($60 if you do not have a medicare card) and free if you are a child under 16 with a medicare card.
Any GP will bulk bill a child under 16 and you will not have to pay for your appointment (this is because they are considered a student until they finish high school). When I see my regular GP, the fee for the consultation is $70 (I have a medicare card but not a health care card). I then get roughly $35 back from medicare.
So if you do the math - a GP I get to see probably within half an hour of arriving at the practice and who knows what they talking about will only cost me about $5 more then going to Ginninderra Medical Centre.
The lady I dealt with at reception went out of her way to help me. I forgot my Medicare card and she made some phone calls saving me $60. She was friendly and courteous.
So I decided to give this place another chance. Again, I had to wait a while to be served. I waited 15 minutes, noticed all people who arrived after me had been called, so I approached the front desk to inquire where I was in the queue. They told me I had been called 20 minutes ago in the rudest tone of voice. I then proceeded to tell them I had been sitting right in front of them since I arrived. They then placed me last in the queue. I would never ever go to this place again, staff manners and attitudes are disgusting.
I disagree with the recent reviews, i believe all the staff there are amazing, so friendly, helpful and compassionate. I have worked in a big medical centre previously and to be honest it was hard to be happy a bubbly all day while sick people surround you. all of the staff at this medical centre do an amazing job. i have been there recently and saw 2 reception staff members verbally abused, this patient was so aggressive... so tell me... would you be happy and bubbly after going through that half the time you're at work? I DON'T THINK SO! If you're not happy with the service provided to you its simple don't go there then people like me who are quite content with the service wont have to wait as long. you wont though will you? NO because you don't want to pay more to go else where so how about putting the shoe on the other foot? would you enjoy sitting in a building all day being abused and listening to other peoples problems (which by the way you don't need to tell them) no where else in Canberra provides the same service so quit whining! the 'behaviour' of the men and women who work in this facility should be applauded not criticised. My bet is all of you winging about them wouldn't last a day doing what they do!
I agree with all the recent reviews about the abhorrent level of 'care' afforded by this medical centre which begins as soon as you walk in the door. My own experience, yesterday morning, was of witnessing the receptionist losing temper and yelling at people in the queue. The receptionists behaviour lacked any sense of courtesy, respect and politeness let alone meeting the most basic levels of professionalism.
Such behaviour falls well below the RACGP Standards for General Practices (4th ed, p. 59), which requires that: "All members of the practice team need to have appropriate interpersonal skills to work with patients and others in the practice. Much of the success of a practice depends on the positive, friendly, attentive, empathetic and helpful behaviour of staff at the reception desk."
As such, I would very strongly discourage anyone from seeking treatment at the Ginninderra Medical and Dental Centre, as my experience of a hostile and uncaring environment is not isolated (see below!) and appears to paint an accurate picture of the underlying ethos of this enterprise.
Where do I even begin?
Approached the front desk to be completely ignored by the staff - who at the time was clearly on the phone gossiping to friends. I had to stop one of the doctors passing by to actually get the staff off the phone to serve me. At this point I had advised staff I was new to Canberra, provided my details and made them aware of the fact I am a student. Staff charges me, and then advises me that if I have a health care card then it is free. At this point I am fuming!! Knowing the payment has gone through that staff immediately tells me they cannot give me a refund now. After looking at my facial reaction they then changes their mind again and says a refund can be done but it will take six weeks.
How do these types of people even get jobs? Not once did the staff greet ANY customer, smile, make eye contact, show any kind of respect. That staff was absolutely disgusting, I sincerely hope all of the other staff members are nothing like that.
Don't work for them but have knowledge of this place. Heard AAAALL about it from the other side of the fence. These "rude" front end staff at this centre are conditioned this way for two reasons:
1. Company policies.
2. Horrible, rude patients.
Getting good service here is a really EASY process if you bother to follow it:
1. Be polite. Please and thank you isn't hard.
2. Pay attention - listen!!
3. Be prepared (Don't complain if you have to pay extra because YOU didn't check if YOUR medicare card has expired).
4. Be patient - It's a busy centre and it's first-come first-served. The wait WILL be long and there are reasons for it. Deal with it.
5. Use your brain - Understand that these front office staff do not set the policies. You may not like following seemingly senseless policies, but they don't enjoy having to apply them either, so don't be rude to them for it. Also, usually a policy only exists because of patients who have exploited situations in the past.
6. If you have a really serious injury or illness and are genuinely fearful, call an ambulance or go to a hospital.
Absolutely horrific is the only way to describe this place. I attended after calling first for advice regarding a huge cut on my foot that was nearly down to the bone. I was told to come in and they were perfectly capable of handling it. So I thought instead of waiting hours in emergency I would go there. I was losing quite alot of blood. First I was told off by the front staff for bleeding on their floor, which my husband offered to clean up. We PAID $$$ then were advised there were about 4 people in front of us. 4 hours later we were still waiting. My husband went to the counter to ask and was advised to take me to the hospital as the treatment room had already closed and the nurses had gone home. We were not refunded the money we paid and ended up at the ER and due to the losing blood was seen in 10 minutes. WE WILL NEVER EVER USE THAT CATTLE STATION AGAIN its all about getting your money. When you are FINALLY seen by a DR they rush you through in and out in 5 minutes.....DISGUSTING TREATMENT RUDE STAFF..... If it was any other business they would of been shut down by now.....