Parramatta Medical Centre

New patient to the centre and came within 20 minutes of the medical centre closing cause I needed a medical certificate for being sick. The receptionist told me to come back tomorrow... when doctors can’t legally issue certificates for the previous day. Not very helpful and will not be returning to this place even though it is my local medical centre.

I was told they can’t see new patients within 30 minutes of closing, but disappointed how they couldn’t make an exception. Since I explained I just needed a medical certificate.

Made an appointment through the app healthengine to see Dr.Wong. It was my first time here. When I arrived although it was super busy the staff seemed friendly and attentive. The waiting time was about 30-40mins but I don't mind if the doctor is good.

And he was! Dr. Vincent Wong was really really good! He was easy to talk to and seemed really knowledgeable. it was only my first visit but so far he is one of the better doctors I have ever seen. He doesn't rush you out. He listens and understands before diagnosing. He takes notes!! Which is awesome considering some places I have been to don't bother. I am definitely going back and am hoping that this will be my new doctor for a long time!

Firstly, The doctors are generally good. The receptionists are... well lacking. They have either been told to lie about wait times or they have no management skills. Or just outright double book all day. Look at all the reviews which "is their only review". Not legit reviews. Don't book any appointment. You are wasting your time. Walk in times are more than 1.5 hours although they say "45mins" to everyone....

Very convenient centre, open 7 days and open till late. You can use the online booking tool to book and appointment instead of calling which is very helpful. All staff are exceptionally friendly and caring. Overall great experience

I always go to this Medical Centre and have done for the last few months since moving to the area, i have seen 5 or 6 different doctors all of which have been super friendly, helpful, very easy to talk to and give good advice. I have been to a number of different medical centres in syd and this by far is the best (And its bulk billing). The reception staff are always also very helpful and polite and try to help you the best they can and always follow up with me when need be. They never turn you away even if you don't have an appointment and the wait is very reasonable considering how busy the centre is. I have already recommended family members and work colleagues who have been and also said what a wonderful experience they had. If your looking for a medical centre in Parramatta, this one is it.

We've been regular patients here for three years and have received consistent high quality care. Wait times are reasonable, even during their busiest seasons. My son and I see Dr Philippa Brown, Dr Bill Truong and Dr Yen Tao and they are all consistently excellent, caring, and will take time to reassure you and answer all your questions.

Medicare is behind the times.. Or the way doctors use it is..

It's a social model of care.

It would then follow that places like Parramatta Medical Centre [who are kind enough to do bulk billing and not charge extra money to patients who lack money] would use social theories of care to help get the best outcomes for patients.

But they don't.

Social theories of care involve patient empowerment. The concepts have been around donkey's yonks so it's not really anything to do with being up to date with the latest technology.

The key documents of health promotion theory are the declaration of Alma Ata; Jakarta declaration and The Ottawa Health charter.

Another place to check out what it's all about is the NZ disability strategy of 2001.

I studied a while back but these would still be relevant as reference sources today.

The library is another places GPs could look for books about health promotion. Or perhaps they could tell Massey University in New Zealand about our little issue and a crash course could be made.

It just makes no sense to be offered free care but then not really be cared for properly.

Sometimes the manner of the GPs comes across as quite friendly and nice. But it takes more than that.

Steve is good with his feedback ["Mmm"s and stuff] he gives while listening to you. It's quite soothing in itself. But then he wrote Nabothian Cyst on my referral letter instead of Bartholin's so the hospital team were then a bit skeptical of me when treating me. Further they were pressuring to intrude inside my body when Bartholin's is external. It may seem like a small communication error but had knock on effects. I think the staff thought i was just trying to get some cool pain medication rather than understanding i'd suffered with this since my early teens and went for ages without getting it treated.

Sometimes people come in with problems on those medical shows like "Embarrassing Bodies" they've also gone quite a while without treatment. But this was a big deal in my life. I was in a lot of pain but too much shame to have it looked at. I didn't know what it was.

Bartholin's Glands cysts are actually hugely common. So i think health literacy was a problem for me. And it's a shame that sex education at school didn't cover common things and was mainly about pregnancy and AIDS which are opt-in conditions. I was only masturbating by myself to get the problem: everyone had assured me it was safe. Turns out it wasn't.

Yeah so i ended up eventually seeking out a gynaecologist i had seen before but finances were really too tight for the $900+ i had to pay for treatment. The hospital mucked me around perhaps because they assumed a GP knows what they are talking about more than a patient or assumes i am therefore just making up stuff.

Not everyone gets a lot of pain for that condition but i am super sensitive for example even a watered down conventional scabies treatment is too stingy for me.. that's meant to be okay for a kid.. i would need a sensitive one.. i am not being fussy; i'd prefer something cheap over that. And there is no over the counter medicine that can help me handle Brazillian waxing [total removal of pubic hair achieved via wax] but i know others who don't require medication for it.

The way i discovered that the GPs do not utilise accepted health promotion theory was when i enquired about care plans. I had seen other people be treated to some consultations with allied health professionals and was interested to know which people i might be able to work with.

The GP said to come back and discuss it another day. Next appointment he'd already created a plan but hadn't discussed with me any of my options or how the plan works. Imagine if someone did that with your pay TV or mobile phone. Perhaps a lot of people just sit on a plan forever but i like to know the ins and outs of it: what i can get and when things expire etc.

So under an empowerment model a patient would have more control over that.

In this day and age that information should be readily available to consumers / patients on the internet.

On a few occasions my place in the queue was neglected until I raised concerns at the counter after 45 mins and found that I wasn't even placed in the queue.
The older lady on counter is quite unprofessional at times unlike the younger girls. Once I even heard her say to a new staff member, with a packed waiting room, "Welcome to our nightmare".
Doctors are great as always. Best doctors around except "one" who does weekends. I won't identify her but she is f()cked.

My family have been patients here for 3+ yrs, reception staff are always friendly, and the nurses are great. The range of other services on site is also a big plus. Most important though is the Dr's are caring, they give each patient the time they need.