Dulwich Medical Centre

[Jasminetea]

Has anyone else found it absolutely impossible to get an appointment at DMC on Crystal Palace Road since they implemented the new “link” system at 8am on a morning ? I was told by the receptionist that all appointments are taken within 15 minutes and it is not possible to book in advance anymore but … wait for it… they are still accepting new patients and there is a HUGE banner outside the surgery advertising this. How can this be allowed when they can’t service their existing patients ? I have left a complaint form but would any other DMC patients like to join forces and see if we can force them to make improvements ? 

[beansprout]

Change practice - they were awful 2 years ago…

[Rockets]

The new system is a joke and the irony is you have to get on the system you have to fill out a form so you can be triaged by someone before they call you back. It's almost impossible to get an appointment there now.

[Sue]

They have been awful for years.

I moved ages ago.

[Monkey]

DMC has been a shit show since I moved to ED which was 19 years ago… It will never improve unless it changes ownership.

[beansprout]

Surely they must be rated every couple of years? No idea why people stay with them but so be it.

Plenty of alternatives locally so choose - stay or go.. Simple..

 

 

[Monkey]

They’re rated as requiring improvement. And it seems that the care quality commission is keeping an eye on them. https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-565650623/inspection-summary

It’s taken so long to get to this stage. See this article published in 2011:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2063458/amp/Family-doctors-firm-raking-1-8m-YEAR--patients-say-surgery-appalling.html

We moved to The Gardens some time ago and never looked back. 

[Sue]

22 hours ago, Monkey said:

They’re rated as requiring improvement. And it seems that the care quality commission is keeping an eye on them. https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-565650623/inspection-summary

It’s taken so long to get to this stage. See this article published in 2011:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2063458/amp/Family-doctors-firm-raking-1-8m-YEAR--patients-say-surgery-appalling.html

We moved to The Gardens some time ago and never looked back. 

I know that for some people, particularly those with small children (and possibly also those with mobility issues) the convenience of having a surgery within a very short walking distance outweighs any other considerations.

Also, there is parking available near DMC for those living further away.

I guess it is a matter of weighing up pros and cons.

Plus, familiarity is important to some, and also many people don't realise how easy it is to change surgeries.

Btw none of the above is supposed to imply that pressure shouldn't be put on DMC to improve. 

Though maybe a load of their patients moving elsewhere might help focus their minds!