Seeking a good GP in Gladesville NSW

[JasperJohn]

My husband and I have just become parents for the first time, and also just moved to the Gladesville area. Can anyone reccommend a GP who is good with babies & women's health? I was told to go to the Family & Sports Medicine Centre on Pittwater Rd. Has anyone been and if so which of the doctors do you reccommend?

[messymum]

Welcome to 2111! Cindy Wong at the Family & Sports Medical Centre is excellent. We started seeing her just after our son was born (we didn't have a GP until then either). She is just lovely with kids and has also done some paediatric training, so she's really calm and confident with them as well. Can't recommend her highly enough.

[rainbow road]

My mum is also very impressed with Cindy Wong for my 3 brothers - she is always kind and thorough.

[JasperJohn]

Thank you messymum & Forkie for your replies. I will go ahead & book in Cindy Wong.

[Lillianne]

Hi JasperJohn,

I live in Gladesville area, and sorry to dissapoint you, but I wouldn't go there again, well, at least with my experience.

When I was 25 weeks pregnant, I came for an appointment with sore throat, as I came to the reception and told secretary my name, she didn't say hello, nor she looked friendly, but very angry and irritable, she looked at me like you'd look at your enemy and with an authoritative tone of voice ordered me to sit and wait, then I saw young asian doctor, I think it was dr Wong (I have to check those papers...), she was alright, periodically sipping her coffee tried to get over and done with my case, sort of very abrupt, quick and didn't like answering too many questions, she presribed ANTIBIOTICS!!! of medium dose for sore throat, she thought I was having infection, they didn't do the blood test at all, just sort of presribed it to the pregnant woman.

When I went to a different doctor for second opinion, they told me it was viral not bacterial, therefore antibiotics would be useless.

Nevertheless, let me continue with my story about the practice, when I came out 30 minutes later from dr's office, as I needed to get special referreal for my little boy, and that referreal required additional time, the secretary was chatting on the phone with a friend, and not even looking at me she handed me a bill of $345 (NO JOKING), I asked her why, she looked at me bothered asked her friend to wait a minute and raising her voice at me she told me: "bring it up with medicare". I asked her why no one actually warned me that I was going to be charged so much, she got very irritated by my questions and once again very loud told me: "bring it up with medicare, it's not our problem".
I handed her my credit card and told her that next time I will make sure I will find a second job to be able to afford to come to them and I will try to stay as healthy as possible, she told me to get lost and said: "I hope we never see you again", I left the practice in tears, she didn't consider me being pregnant and unwell, she was just plain rude and arrogant, for no real reason!!!

When I went to medicare to reimburse, I asked the medicare officer why was I being charged so much, the reply was that it's not the medicare that makes their prices, it's the practice that is responsible for charging, medicare has nothing to do with it... which in fact makes sense.

I am still considering complaining about it to the Department of Health. At that time I was pregnant and didn't really want extra stress.

P.S. I went to that practice few times before and there were different girls at reception, they were quite friendly, but that last incident sort of makes it up for the rest I guess...

I don't really know who to recommend in the area. I am currently seeing Dr Annemarie Christie in Castle Hill, she is GP paediatric trained, it's a bit far, but she is perfect for us. I am looking around for someone in the area though. :fingerscrossed: