Having recently moved back into the area and needing a doctor, I decided to head back to the clinic that my parents had taken me to when I was younger.

I wish I hadn't.

As I'd had an illness that had been ongoing for a few weeks I wanted to avoid a bulk billing clinic. Also, with a child on the way, I figured that we'll soon be needing a regular doctor so Beaumaris Medical Centre would be the way to go Sadly, after my experience last week I won't be going back.

For my initial visit I paid $62 (it would have been more but I was luckily still on their books) to have a doctor stick a digital thermometer in my ear and order me to have a blood test at the adjoined Dorevich Pathology (the service there wasn't much better) that I had told her I had already had a few weeks earlier. One thing that didn't sit well this first visit was the clearly visible timer running on the doctor's computer. This hardly instilled in me a sense that my health was the clinic's primary concern.

Two days later I called to get my test results. You have to call yourself and they will only give your results during a specific hour in the afternoon. Well I was sick and sleeping and missed this window by 15 mins and was told that the nurse who gives results was now on lunch and I wouldn't be able to get my results until the following day. After explaining that as I was sick and wanted to get my results to know if there was anything seriously wrong, they grudgingly agreed to call me back... but only after I said that if they weren't able to make this one small concession that I doubted I'd ever go back.

So they did call and the tests were negative. Not surprising given that I had already undertaken the test a few weeks earlier. I made a follow up appointment, this time with a different doctor and also one for my pregnant wife who by this time was also ill.

On our return visit, the male doctor barely looked at us and was dismissive from the outset saying that if it wasn't whooping cough that it was probably 'just one of those things' and I'd probably have to wait it out. He was even rude enough to take a call on his mobile phone halfway through this visit without excusing himself or asking if we minded. He did eventually pull out a stethoscope and listen to my breathing.

When it came to my wife he was even more dismissive. He didn't even take her temperature and said that as she is pregnant, it was better not to do anything. You'd hate for something to actually be wrong. Between us this cost us $114.00. A lot of money for nothing.

All in all there was an air of rudeness thoughout the entire clinic, from the doctors to the elderly lady in charge of the reception area. I expect a bulk billing clinic to be a little short on the personal side of the service but have always expected a regular GP to at least pretend to care.

I certainly won't be going back and will keep hunting for a good GP in the Bayside area.

Approximate cost: $62.00