SpARC - Specialist Ambulatory Rehabilitation Centre

I have made a formal complaint to Sparc about my experiences listed below.
- After my initial appointment with the doctors, I was forgotten about for nearly 3 months. I was explicitly told "Don't call us, we'll call you", so I waited but to no avail. I had to ring up and remind them that I existed and needed urgent rehab, to which I received a very flustered phone call back from the gym and no explanation as to why they forgot me. His exact words were "Sorry for the wait, but we.uh.yeah". I find this wholly unacceptable. When I rang the first time, the receptionist had no idea who I was.
- I was placed with a student group for my rehabilitation, and they were totally out of their depth. I do not blame the students, they are just trying to learn. I do blame their supervisors who didn't actually supervise the students when they were with me. The students were not confident handling me or explaining exercises to me. The focus of my appointments in the gym was training the students, not trying to rehabilitate me.
- My rehabilitation lasted less than a month before I was forced to stop. The physios didn't listen to me when I warned them that they were pushing me too hard. I persisted with their program because I trusted them, but soon I was unable to eat properly, use the bathroom properly, or sleep properly. I was in more pain, my tics and seizures were increasing in frequency, and my fatigue was catastrophic (I was so physically weak, I couldn't hold an empty mug). I believe they underestimated my condition and its severity. When I voiced these concerns, and suggested lessening my sessions, they were unwilling to change their program structure to accommodate my rehabilitation (I was told I had to come in twice a week, per program, or nothing at all). Their negligence exacerbated my condition and it took me months for my eating, sleep, pain, etc to return to normal.
- Communication was terrible, verging on catastrophic. I would receive text messages over the weekend informing me of new and ever changing appointment times. I could never reply to these messages. The appointments were always scheduled on the days I had explicitly told Sparc I wasn't available because my recovery requires I attend other health facilities as well. There seems to be no communication between the doctors and the gym. I was told I had 2 options: get a new rehab plan or discharge myself. I asked for a new rehab plan, but I was never allowed to see it. The gym promised me multiple times an appointment with my care team to review my plan and it never happened. I would arrive expecting to see my doctor after arranging an appointment over the phone, but then in person they told me the doctors weren't even available in the building that day. They insisted I instead first agree to stay at Sparc before they showed me my new plan. This is horrific. Why would I agree to a plan for my body and health without seeing it first? Especially after your last plan injured me. I feel I was essentially bullied into leaving, as it was clear that my health information was being kept from me.
- The gym team were dismissive of my carer, who I asked to attend sessions with me. He would also voice concerns, but was ignored. He would be trying to ask me if I was OK and the gym team would interrupt him and tell me to get on with the next exercise. I bring a carer in because I struggle with communication and often need help understanding people's words. The fact that they spoke over my carer is a huge safety concern for me.
- The receptionist, unfortunately, needs much more support in her role. When I rang up to ask a question, she made a comment on the poor quality of my memory. I have a neurological disorder and memory loss is one of my most severe and traumatising symptoms (some days, I do not recognise my own family). To have that thrown in my face by the very place that is supposed to be helping me is absolutely heartbreaking. This person should not be working with vulnerable people until she receives further sensitivity training. Her comment was appalling.

Unprofessional is an understatement - imagine having an injury and then SpARC makes things ten times worse. In the gym, students with no qualifications do all of the work under the guise of "training". They say they have professionals but never provide proof of anything. Never saw the plan, wasn't involved in it, doubt it exists. They just follow a script. There wasn't even a hint of a medical examination, just the ol' do what we tell you because that's "the plan". In and out. Next! Do not enrol here. Find a real rehab place.

I've been attending SPARC for several months, assisting me in my return to normality from a stroke in May. At all times, I have found Anna's team to be highly professional, patient focused, and caring of my predicament. I can not thank you all enough, especially those who have had input into my programs. I certainly am well on the way to a full recovery. Thank you to you all.

Excellent facilities and very caring, dedicated therapists. We are very lucky to have this great facility at Modbury.

Not happy I was asked to do a test to get my license back was told I was to slow I have driven a car and trucks all my life not happy

I found their rehabilitation service fantastic. It's unfortunate they are on a Government system only and not catering to private clients, too, as I would love to be on their rehabilitation system again.

Parking can be an issue.

So quick to dismiss you from their services.
Professor Paul rolan was fantastic to begin with, so helpful. When our appointments changed to phone appointments something changed. He became very abrupt, i couldn't get a word in, i was honestly shocked as he was never usually like that. Maybe he stopped caring? He told me he was retiring and that was it, I was dismissed.
Was supposed to be linked up with physio, had a brief 10 minute meeting with one. Never heard from them again. Linked up with an OT who seemed lovely while doing an initial assessment, got told all they would offer me was a gardening group. Said that wasn't really what I was needing. Actually needed more support. Never heard from her again

Hi, i went to pain clinic, physio tried to give me more pain. When you dont agree they wheel the psych out, most of my issues have been caused by a physio, ive been dealing with physios longer than she has been alive. No joy at all from the so called pain clinic.

Since seeing the specialists at SPARC I've seen such an improvement in the level and severity of my pain and in how I can manage when I have flare ups. So supportive and provide so much information on how to reduce and manage pain

I also had issues with admin, but they were always respectful and tried their best.
I went into the pain management program and found it most beneficial, it took time and effort, I've taken what I have learnt and made it my daily routine,
So grateful that we have access to these types of facilities
Special thanks to Jacquie, Emma, Jane, Divia and everyone who helped me along the way.

* Review of parking only* Onsite car park is 15 mins. Unless permit obtained from reception. Unfort.reception declined to provide a permit as the patients NOK/driver was not mobility impaired. Makes it difficult to park onsite, get mobility aids out of car, safely walk mobility impaired person inside AND get them checked in and seated. Unable to do that in 15 minutes allowed with onsite parking. Reception suggest parking across the road in the GP Plus. Busy inclined road to cross for mobility impaired person. 30 minutes onsite parking would have been ample time to get patient situated and move vehicle.

Would not even give them a star most unprofessional bunch of people I have ever meet. Their so called psychologist must have gotten there medical licence from a cereal box, twisted words, misdiagnosed myself without following the proper protocol for this diagnoses. Made my stress and mistrust for doctors more valid. Lucky I took a person with me as a witness differently taking it feather. Would not even put my worse enemy in this service. Also very quick to discharge, never call back when asked for one. Treated horribly. Very bad service

Don't even bother. Went there due to severe pain from a car accident. Had all evidence, reports, diagnosed with osteoarthritis plus other things. They say just take some panadol and off you go.

I came to SpARC as a request by my GP as I was unable to make it to my spinal dr located in another state due to COVID. I was going to find alternative methods to maybe help with my pain until I could get back to my specialist ie different exercises etc.
Pain specialist Dr. Alette Bader may also go as Dr. Alette Roux was unprofessional and very rude. My first appointment with Bader and I was already discharged. I am a post spinal surgery patient and was told that my back/leg pain was due to my 'low mood' and was pressured to see someone for my apparent mood issues and start taking antidepressants. She was able to tell me that nothing was wrong with my spine without even looking at any scans. Bader was rude from the start when addressing me as to where I live as I was not from the Adelaide area she responded with "well whatever" She also made unnecessary comments about my age as well as many other things. After talking down to me and I even told her that I wasn't there to change/alter my medication she proceeded to do a mediocre exam including reflexes and since I have nerve damage in my one leg my reflexes are diminished and she kept hitting my knee to see if it would change (spoiler alert.it didn't) then a sensory exam which is not the same on both legs either due to the damage. She then sat me back down and told me that her finding are not congruent with a spinal issue I have and basically implied that I was making it up.can't wait to tell my specialist. It gets better I then received a lengthy lecture about the 1 pain medication that I am on and have been for years. She proceeded to tell my husband what to do when he finds me unconscious because I will eventually OD (I have never taken more than I am prescribed) and he was given a coupon for a free narcan injection. Just ridiculous. I finally agreed to go talk to someone just to get out of the room with her as I couldn't believe the way I was treated and didn't want to disappoint my GP that sent me there by telling her what I really think.

Everyone else (front desk, physio, and a psychologist) was very nice and professional.patients beware of this woman (pic below) she is not a nice human and is clearly in the wrong profession. Think I will stick to my spinal surgeon that clearly knows where my pain is coming from and not from my 'low mood'. Unbelievable.

Brand new facility with good hydrotherapy pool, parking available across the road with first 2 hours free