The Vale Medical and Wellness Centre

"I have attended this clinic a couple times, just because I am an existing patient for bulk billing purposes and it is local to my house. I have had two negative experiences. Firstly seeing dr Esther about a medical problem - I advised her and my records show that I have anorexia nervosa and have been in recovery 2-3 years. I was severely underweight and managed to gain weight back over the last year and a half. Straight after I told her this she told me to lose 7 kilos. I was extremely triggered and cried the whole way home, had to force myself to eat dinner that night and will never go back to her. My psychologist was even angrier than I was about this. This doctor needs education on eating disorders if she is going to treat patients who have them. The male doctor I saw 2 weeks ago for pregnancy blood tests and to be referred for a dating scan. No matter how many times I told him I wanted the scan he refused, saying I don’t need one because my due date can be estimated based on my last period. I saw a different doctor at a different practice today and she could not believe that I was refused this as it also checks that baby is in fact in the uterus, has a heart beat and is progressing normally etc. Being triggered by a doctor is one thing but after the male doctors refusal to refer me for an ultrasound I will not put my pregnancy at risk by attending any further appointments here for my baby, I would rather be out of pocket and know I am being looked after properly. Won’t be back for any reason other than a medical certificate etc. Only reason for 2 stars is because dr Marianne who I saw once when I first found out I was pregnant and sent me for the bloods originally was lovely, she even advised a dating scan referral would be done when I come back for the results however she doesn’t have appointments available for the next 2 months so I had to see the male doctor as I refuse to see dr Esther after my experience with her. EDIT: thanks for your response - I am aware my medical conditions are confidential hence my surname is not displayed on my review. In any case, they are my medical conditions and if I wish to include them in my review that is my decision. If other people who are pregnant or have an eating disorder are planning to attend this practice then they should be aware of how they will be treated so they have an opportunity to find a doctor who will treat them with the care they need instead. Case by case is irrelevant to my review, any doctor should know how sensitive people with eating disorders are about weight and being that my BMI is only just above the healthy range this was not okay. This doctor will send someone into relapse if she is not educated about eating disorders. Much healthier to have a BMI of 27 than 16, anyone knows this. As for the dating scan, there is really no reason for the doctor to refuse this. My new doctor was absolutely shocked that he did this, and I was referred for a dating scan within two minutes of being in her office, her advice to me was to not return to this doctor and to make sure I have a good doctor for my pregnancy. As for mixed billing, I’ve never been charged anything here as I am an old patient and the sign displayed in the waiting room regarding mixed billing is to new patients."

"The health care professionals and admin staff at this medical centre are extremely accommodating, helpful and welcoming. I’ve been going here for years and I’ve never had any issues. The doctors actually care and listen to what you need."