6 May 2011

Just moved to ACT, need a new Doc. Any suggestions?

| NancyNobody
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I’ve just moved from QLD to ACT and I need to see a doctor. Can anyone suggest a good female doc that IS taking new patients? I hear its hard to find anyone that will take newbies.

I’m at Griffith, would prefer somewhere close by, but willing to try somewhere a little further.away.

Thanks
Nancy

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charliemack said :

I can suggest the doctors at Waramanga Medical Centre (southside)- especially Dr Leung and Dr French, both take new patients and usually run on time (but of course there are always the odd occasions due to some unfortunate person!) and they have a male GP taking new patients too, Dr Turton! they don’t bulk bill (just like everyone else) but I’ve found you get your time and monies worth with them all, and quite often you can get in on the day if you call early enough (they open at 8am) occasionally with the Dr of your choice! I’ve also recently seen the intern doctor they have there and she was excellent (even for a doctor in training)… Nurse there is fantastic and the reception staff always willing to help and will always fit in emergencies! very calm and professional (especially the young man there)

I can also recommend Waramanga Medical Centre, Dr Turton is very good. Nerdy, but very knowledgeable! 🙂 Never had to wait for more than 5 minutes after a scheduled appointment. They run a tight ship, and can normally get in on the day of calling.

I can suggest the doctors at Waramanga Medical Centre (southside)- especially Dr Leung and Dr French, both take new patients and usually run on time (but of course there are always the odd occasions due to some unfortunate person!) and they have a male GP taking new patients too, Dr Turton! they don’t bulk bill (just like everyone else) but I’ve found you get your time and monies worth with them all, and quite often you can get in on the day if you call early enough (they open at 8am) occasionally with the Dr of your choice! I’ve also recently seen the intern doctor they have there and she was excellent (even for a doctor in training)… Nurse there is fantastic and the reception staff always willing to help and will always fit in emergencies! very calm and professional (especially the young man there)

girliesmummy12:35 pm 26 May 11

Dr Dorothy Russell at Foundation Healthcare Erindale (in Wanniassa) is a lovely, thorough GP with an excellent bedside manner. I believe she is still taking new patients.

Helen Mooney at the Watson Medical Clinic 6248 7005. She’s an excellent doctor, and I believe they’re taking new patients.

Good luck.

I will second the Garema place surgery. SO convenient to go to the doctor then strait to medicare. Dr Felicity Donahey is particularly good, she is very up to date with the latest medical information. Very polite too, fantastic doctor. That surgery works pretty hard to make sure they have time for people to get in last minute- they used to get booked out alot but they keep hiring new doctors and expanding so that patients can get in when they need to!

I would like to recommend Dr Renata Kruger at Tuggeranong Health Centre. She’s fantastic and don’t push to you to do whatever unnecessary tests or process.

I asked her for the diet pills and she said point blank, you don’t need it. Just eat sensible and exercise. She said my health is fantastic but my weight is a bit more than average. She said it’s OK because of the body built.

I’ve been asking her for the diet pills for 3 years and I got the same answer.

By the way, I’m going to move to QLD – Donnybrook by the end of the year as well. I will have to go through the same process that you’re asking here.

If you need any helps or information about ACT, please feel free to contact me: dtaya@yahoo.com.

Enjoy the cold weather then… I DON’T so I will move away from ACT for good.

DT.

Dr Joanna Mya in Gungahlin is awesome. If you’ve got the time to book ahead. And it’s a bit far….

I saw her by chance when I first moved here and she was familiar with the latest clinical practice guidelines and evidence-base for the condition I was attending for. A first, in my experience! Full marks!

Good luck with that. I moved to the Weston Creek area for a while in 2010, and I went from suburban centre to suburban centre and was repeatedly told there were no new clients being taken on. Guess it’s just as tough an ask in the inner south as well. I’d heard about it, but wasn’t quite ready for the awful truth and reality.

Conversely, at the same time, I was working for a couple of months at The Canberra Hospital, and on the couple of occasions I used the walk-in centre (staffed by nurse practitioners), they were able to quickly and usefully cater to my minor medical requirements.

I go to Wentworth Ave Family Practice in Kingston, and there are a few female Drs there, no idea if they’re taking people on. I’ve been happy with my contacts with the ones I’ve seen there. 6203 4600

I am in the same boat – looking for a good doctor accepting patients but in the north. I have been looking for over two years now….

The one piece of advice I can give you is to AVOID Medical Centres or places with a “shop” of doctors. Stupidly I have been to several and the doctors never really exercise the degree of care expected from a doctor. They also lack the knowledge. In one instances I had to wait while the doctor read a medical book to figure out what to do. Seriously – do not waste your time or money on these places unless you are desperate.

I agree, the Kingston Family Practice is great and has good female doctors. The only thing is I recommend calling ahead when you have an appointment because they tend to fall behind – save yourself the wait!

the garema place medical centre is a place where you can usually get an appointment. handy in town too – shop, doc and medicare all at once…

I’m not 100% sure if they’re taking new patients, but Kingston Surgery has three female GPs – all who are good value. One doctor is quite new, so I can’t imagine she wouldn’t be taking anyone new on… They’re on 6239 5520.

markconley said :

If you know, or can contact, a nurse who works in the community setting they’re the best source for who NOT to go to.

And who not to go to will be in the majority, sadly. The good GPs are mobbed and have closed their books. The ones left, well, you quickly work out why. The exception is GPs new to the region, you can sometimes find some absolute gems there.

If you find a good GP, let me know…

If you know, or can contact, a nurse who works in the community setting they’re the best source for who NOT to go to.

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