I'm in the process of trying to schedule my fifth visit to the Southwood Medical Centre, and so far…read morehave been disappointed at almost every possible opportunity.
The first two times I came in, I arrived more than 2 hours before the clinic was set to close, on their "walk in days" only to find out my travel had been in vain, as they already had a sign up saying they'd closed the walk-in service for the day. When I finally DID manage to get in (had to take a day off of work so I could get there first thing in the morning, and even then I had to wait for several hours before they OPENED said service. These hours seem to be completely arbitrary and dictated by little more than whim), I was finally seen by a doctor who has since retired. He ordered me a bunch of tests, I got them all done and came back, only to find out either he or his assistant (he couldn't seem to remember who filled out the acquisition form) ordered the wrong test, so I had to wait another month to get the right one done.
This doctor alone left a lot to be desired, as his "bedside manner" was awful. Every question was put as if I was in a police interrogation room, and he came across like he wanted me to feel guilty for everything from my dietary choices, to my choice of job... but now that he's retired, I'm stuck trying to get an appointment with the doctor who's filling in for his patients, and this is proving even MORE difficult. I've called 4 times to set an appointment, the first two times I was told not only was he not in that day, but neither was his assistant and apparently nobody else in the clinic is qualified to write something down in his schedule (give me a break), and told to call back. When I finally DID get the right person, I was told he "only comes in on certain days, and doesn't usually stay the whole day" so the only way I could see him was to make arrangements to miss work. I did so, getting approved to leave an hour early from a shift... but then, part way through the day ON THE DAY of the appointment I get a phonecall that told me, and I quote, "The doctor decided he wants to leave at 3, so you'll have to come earlier" and when I told her I couldn't my appointment was cancelled outright.
I then called back about a half hour later, after making an arrangement with my supervisor to leave early. After being on hold for over a half hour (being picked up twice in that time and asked to 'Please hold'... and this in an office with 4-5 assistants) I was picked up in time to be told (at 2, an hour before the Doc's already early departure) that now he's decided he's "done for the day". I ask when I can book another one and am told (again) "We're not sure yet, this is the last day he has scheduled for now, call back next week." At this point, I'm rather upset and tell this assistant that I find this way of treating patients rather unprofessional and frustrating, and that this constant neglect could lead to serious complications when patients are waiting for sensitive test results as I was. At which point I told her "thanks anyway" and hung up.... 10 minutes later SHE CALLS BACK TO ACCUSE ME OF ABUSE! So, after waiting it out a day or two to call back and see if I could see another doctor to avoid this kind of behavior and his abnoxious assistant, I was told to come down for the walk-in service on Saturday, and after paying bus far and dragging myself down there first thing in the morning on my day off, I find nothing but a sign on the door from the day before saying "We will be closed tomorrow (Saturday) sorry for the inconvenience!" ....Oh, Southwood.... sorry doesn't BEGIN to cover it.
So here we have doctors treating their practice like a hobby, showing up when they like for as long as they like, then just up and leaving with complete disregard for their patients, assistants that blow you off and leave you on hold for inhuman ammounts of time for no good reason, give you the run around and refuse any sort of service, then chew YOU out if you dare get concerned about the nature of your health care, and yet the ONE shining light in this whole ordeal was the sweet, good natured receptionist who was busting her ass to try and help me reach the right people. I feel sorry for her having to be associated with this miserable dump.
I would honestly suggest waiting until you're in a state to need the ER over going to this place... you'll get much better care, and probably get seen sooner.
Update: As if all of this wasn't bad ENOUGH, I made an appointment at another linic but was told I'd either have to get a copy of my results from Southwood, or would need to be sent for all the same tests again... but in order to obtain my results, Southwood not only charged me 'photocopying fees' (which were 10 times the usual rate of an actual copy establishment) but failed to mention on the phone that they only accept cash! So now they're charging me for spending two months wasting my time.
