Kingston Family Clinic

Nothing but the worst experience at this clinic since IPN took over. Was ok as a gp owned practice, much more care and compassion was given.
Now you're just a number and a paying customer. All they care about is money.
I have changed clinics as my gp and the care and service here now is sub par. My new clinic tried to call multiple times for a fax number to send through a 'share medical information request' and couldn't get through, or once did was hung up on.

My 100 year old father is a patient at the Clinic and as his eldest son I have an agreement with his GP that I can call him to obtain scripts and referrals from him at any time. His Dr is very obliging. Unfortunately, his GP is on leave and when my sister called to speak to the GP the receptionist was very uncooperative saying no other GP could assist and that we would need to wait for dads GP to return from leave. This is not good enough I’m afraid. Surely another GP could access dads records and just fix the request. It’s not that hard! When questioned about it the receptionist became terse saying ‘well that’s just the way it is’. You tell that to my 100 year old Dad. Great service-not! Not at all happy with this outcome

My wife and son were both sick for a week, tried calling three times and no one answered the phone. Eventually booked online via a third party app.
The doctor saw them out in the car park due to COVID symptoms even though they had COVID that 3 weeks prior.
Took a quick look at them and sent them on their way.
Really poor service and clearly not a FAMILY clinic.
Will never no go back.

Have been seeing Dr Barnett for years. Love this clinic it is the best. The best feeling is being comfortable with your doctor.

Dr Jacksick should not be practicing. A wrong diagnosis and no tests to confirm her diagnosis has caused me grief for 12 months. Saw a qualified doctor elsewhere and was sent off for tests after first consult. Results were staggering. A serious illness which could have been treated immediately would have improved my quality of life immeasurably. Receptionist Debbie was pleasant and did her best to help me.

I have been a patient at the Kingston Family Clinic for over 20 years. I have no complaints about the doctors, and even though it is hard to get an appointment with a specific doctor, I have come to accept that and book in with whomever is available at the time. However, I find the staff is often rude, uncaring, and unconcerned about their patient’s health. I appreciate that we are in difficult times with staff shortages, I also appreciate that COVID has stressed patients and health workers alike, but the attitude at this practice precedes COVID. My last experience though, is by far the worst.
I was ill for quite a few days with either a virus, flu or bronchitis. (I have had 4 COVID vaccines and a Flu vaccine, I am 70). I had several negative RATS tests and a negative PCR test just prior and made an appointment to see a Dr.on Monday at 8.30am. At 8.25am I got a text to say the appointment was cancelled because the Dr was unwell. I had already parked at the clinic by then. Surely they would have known about the cancellation before 8.25am?
I went in and, without a hint of apology, they said I could come back for an appointment the following day. I had already been waiting for this appointment for several days so I asked if it could be any earlier as I was really unwell. The answer was “No, and we won’t see you anyway if you have any flu symptoms”. I mentioned I had a negative PCR test and offered to have another PCR. The receptionist said: “that doesn’t matter we still can’t see you”. There was no sorry, no advice as to what to do, nothing. I can understand why patients lash out at such an attitude, but I controlled myself and walked out instead and was very upset. Not only had I got out of bed needlessly, but I now had nowhere to go. Apparently the clinic only sees patients who are well. If you are unwell it is just bad luck.
This is at a time when, quite understandably, clinics often don’t take new patients due to staff shortages, so it is not easy to see another Dr somewhere else. I finally managed to get an appointment with a Dr on Thursday at a different clinic where they were happy to see me provided I did a PCR test beforehand, which I did. I am now on antibiotics and have finally started to feel better.
Whilst this is the worst incident of duty of care, it is not an isolated case at this clinic. I had a severe attack of vertigo last year and I spent 45 minutes trying to call the clinic first thing in the morning to try to get an appointment. When I finally got through, I was unsuccessful and they were only able to offer an appointment in 3 days, so I spent a full day with the room spinning around me and felt sick for 2 more days when a simple prescription could have prevented that.
I have felt for some time that I should change clinics, because of the staff attitude. I will definitely not be going back now. Not that anyone will care. This clinic is now all about business, but they don’t seem to realise that business is about customers and service. I guess they rely on the fact that people will continue to get sick and provide an endless pool of customers.

The one star was given as a No star was not possible
My elderly mother has been going to KFC for years as did my father when he was alive… I was appalled by the service when I attended with my mother. A appointment made by the reception staff for my mothers usual Dr was unavailable staff booked her in with Dr Vladimir Ulanov. I was discussed in his attitude he was Rude and dismissive, he talked over her with the most arrogant shrug of shoulders rolling of the eyes. From beginning to end of the appointment he made it very obvious he didn’t want to be there! Could we say this is elderly abuse? In utter disgust. I have wonder what he would do if my mum was alone? I left the room not wanting to cause a seen nor upset my mother. I did inform this man he was rude and demeaning… Shame on you Vladimir Ulanov
Shame on you!

I really don't like nor appreciate the merger with Brighton Medical Centre. Brighton Medical Centre was way better with service and customer care. I have to attend this sub-par clinic because my GP of 3 years is now there. This Clinic has no one answer when I call, I am directed to an online booking system (which is CLEARLY MADE FOR STAFF NOT PATIENTS i.e. "Script Only - Try to book with regular doctor or explain to patient this may be a one off with another doctor for today" and the Short and Long appointment options are ludicrous - PEOPLE ARE NOT DOCTORS AND DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THEIR APPOINTMENT WILL TAKE as 1-2 heatlh issues could become a complicated issue! This is really unprofessional and just plain dumb!), I was told that just checking something with my GP would cost me a full consultation fee, and when I asked about how to move my records if I was to change clinics, there were no queries as to why I was considering that. There is just no care and no compassion. This clinic and the administration staff especially do not have the capacity to care for people and just want to take your money as they can't even afford a proper clear booking system for their patients. Even the doctors don't look happy anymore and try to get you out as soon as possible, risking missing a diagnosis. I gave this place a chance seeming they have my GP, but I no longer trust it as a medical clinic and feel that if I stay, I will be putting my and my family's health at risk. I recommend a different clinic if you care about your health. Disappointing and shame on this clinic.

Every single time I call in or have to come in I have hated it.really wish this place would make massive changes because this is my local i hate it so much I actually drive to stirling clinic to avoid coming here! You have such bad reviews.hurry up and CHANGE! - Be polite, be helpful, be clear, be fair.

Receptionist Debbie would have to be one of the rudest frontline service employees I've ever encountered. I called to enquire about a telehealth call I'd booked online that was an hour late and she abruptly told me they didn't take any notice of the online booking times and just called people any time during the day. That's despite the messaging on their own website telling the public that they only take telehealth bookings online. Debbie clearly was irritated by me and my very genuine enquiry and couldn't wait to get off the phone. I've had only wonderful experiences with the lovely doctors at this clinic but I've had many unpleasant interactions with the receptionists. Debbie's attitude today however, promoted me to write this review.

March 2022: Clearly nothing has changed. This time Sharon was the irritated receptionist. I rang to make an appointment with my usual doctor only to be told she'd left the clinic and when i asked who had taken over her patients, Sharon couldn't have been less interested in helping me. She sounded bored, irritated and unwilling to offer any help at all. I'm never coming back to this clinic. You really need to lift your game!

I really can't fault the reception staff, the 2 drs I have seen over the past 12 months and the staff who take bloods etc are a laugh.
Good job staff. We all have bad days.

I’ve been coming here since we arrived in SA, love the staff and Dr Darren is awesome. I’ve also been a regular patient of Bill the Physio, can’t fault the place. Easy parking, Tele consults if you want and yes it is well visited so that would suggest it’s favoured by the locals. Keep up the good work guys

They double book times. I had the first appointment of the day, arrived early and checked in, watched the doctor walk into their room to get ready, then at 9am they stepped out and called a different person. First appointment of the day and I had to wait a half hour.
Next time I tried to make a booking, they refused to give me a later time. "We only book sequentially. " 10: 10am was the only time they'd let me have. I had to drive my little girl to Christies for dance class from 10: 15 to 11am. They couldn't give me 11: 30am. They had the time, but I'd have to call back until they were booked up to that time.

I love this doctor's clinic as they are easy to book, the doctor that I see is very thorough, and they have a great nursing staff.

When you consider the amount of rude people that the ladies behind the counter deal with you can understand if there a little cold when booking you. I have been a visitor to this clinic since it opened and a patient of Doc George for 30 plus years, i have found the staff there to be exceptionally efficient.highly recommend these guys

Terrible service, just a number there. My daughter had been a patient a few times with doctor shanae. I wanted an appointment. Wanted to ask a some advice about my daughter which wanted to do in private. Which was refused daughter had to be there. Daughter is just a kid. Definitely not a place to go if your worried about mental health as the staff here will actually just make it worse. Will NOT be back my daughter or me. Really rude

Plus update, now got a much better doctor wanted notes transferred new doc got nothing rang Kingston they said a $15 charge for it.
Would have even been good if they'd communicated that! Or if they'd been good wouldn't have needed it cause would have said

DON'T GO THERE!

Myself and family have been going to this clinic as far back as I can remember, I’m now 29, with a brother that’s heavily disabled, so we have turned to this practice for community based support.

I’m not one to write reviews but unfortunately I’ve had the worst experience in my last two visits, so much so that I believe they deserve to be held accountable with a review.

Going in a couple weeks ago for some simple tests for thyroid function and general health overview proved to be a stretch to my doctor, I was met with disapproving tone and negative questioning, leading me to feel I was silly to ask for the tests, I’ve never had that treatment before and felt the support for my health wasn’t paramount, more so met with complications from Medicare so a inconvenience to this doctors time. By the end of the appointment, the doctor flippantly said I probably won’t hear from the practice as this doctor believed my levels would be fine, yet I was having symptoms which would lead any health professional to question, again leaving me feeling totally uncared for - where is the provided follow up no matter your situation!

To make this experience worse, I went to collect the test results from the front office. I was met with the coldest, rudest, stern receptionist. This lady just starred at me while I waited in the advised area, I didn’t know what she wanted from me, I asked if I could come forward to speak, again just glaring at me, it was super uncomfortable! When I simply asked for my results she seemed very annoyed to be doing this for me, and handed them over in the most restless way with a roll of the eyes and zero eye contact. Understanding people can have bad days, and to give the benefit of the doubt being in my nature, this was to far being the second time I’d been met with such abrupt behaviour. I truly felt a sense of elitism and felt not worth the time of the practice.

Altogether I’ve been noticing of the last couple years when I go in for my checkups and to gain prescriptions I feel like an inconvenience, when in actual fact aren’t we the paying customers seeking help and support from our local doctors/clinics? The practice seems to be losing focus on community care and more focused on their own internal affairs.

Over 20 years at the clinic, I’ll be now seeking a clinic that welcomes me instead of makes me feel lesser than. A truly disappointing few experiences! If your looking for a Practice that’s kind and welcoming where you feel your doctor has your best interest, personally I don’t feel this is the place.

Perhaps the practice hasn’t changed with the times to incorporate customer service best practice and a more patient centric focus.

On the 25th of September, I brought my client (a man 80 years of age) here for a blood test. After the test, he started to feel unwell, and asked to have a lay down. The laboratorian let him lie down for a bit, and I asked if she could bring a blood pressure monitor in. She came back with the receptionist and the manager, who very rudely told us to leave. They refused to measure Victor's blood pressure, because he is not their regular client. It is absolutely absurd that a person who is not feeling well did not get the help he was asking for at this clinic! Not in any other clinic in Adelaide have I seen such awful behaviour towards their clients!

Great clinic, very accommodating when you need an appointment been with them for 3 years and always been super helpful. Fantastic with kids.

Lucky for me this isn't my Doctors surgery. I was only here for Clinpath. The receptionist was rude, abrupt and unfriendly. Unfortunately I didn't get her name.