I have had some very dramatic views of this place over the years. Long rant but worth reading!
Great place for bulkbilling, nice reception staff and easy to make an appointment within 24 hours. Along with many bulk billing practices the Arkaba Medical Center is well known for gps' to come and go from this place within a couple of months to a couple of years it's hard to find a doctor that sticks around. Unfortunately for me this meant when I was preparing to fly to Thailand, my new doctor neglected to tell me the shots I would need. Naturally I got bit by a monkey (it was playing with me and broke the skin). I was given 3 treatments overseas for rabies (amazing medical system over there for tourists) in a series of injections. Knowing my final shot would have to be given 2 days after landing in Australia I had called up 2 weeks before and booked in to receive my final shot at the AMC. I had made the appointment and filled them in as to what I needed (rabies shots). The shots needed to be done on a certain day so I rock up to my appointment, the doctor had forgotten to get the vaccine in. Firstly I had confirmed that I needed the shot on this certain date 2 weeks before the appointment making 3 overseas phone calls to make sure they had the rabies shot on the day I was meant to get them. Secondly I'm terrified of needles. So I just wanted the ordeal to be over and done wThe doctor then wrote me out a script which I had to send away for and instead of 1 (which is what I was meant to have) he told me I needed two. That's about $200 folks! Finally a week after my intended shot i got stuck with the needle. He then said to come back on my birthday for the final shot. I went in, the nurse was ready and I handed her the vial with my 'final shot'. Luckily another nurse was on hand and she quickly realised that not only was I not meant to pay for the script (bulk billing and something to do with the government) but the doctor hadn't even alerted the government about my case (which is what is expected when someone comes back from overseas needing a treatment like this). Forty-five minutes later the nurse told me I didn't need the last shot. Great news! I could get $100 back after I returned the unopened vial and not have to have an injection on my birthday! Nope the other nurse had opened that unneeded and unused rabies vacc. No apologies for not telling me what I needed before I went over. No apologies for messing me around knowing of my needle phobia. No apologies for money literally going down the drain (or in a special needle bin).
Needless to say I went somewhere else for a couples of years after that.
Luckily I gave the practise another try and found the kindest most accomodating gp ever, 'Dr Raph' a lovely man who is caring, understanding and will spend however much time you need to see him. I give him and the reception staff 10/10. The doctor who didn't pay attention put me in harms way by not vaccinating me, making me pay through the nose, frightening me by not giving me the shot on the pre-determined day then putting me through 45 minutes of fear on my birthday waiting to hear that I didn't need the injection. -10/+10 read more
