📍 Kelburn, Wellington
Ive had my experience with rude doctors here in the past but the most amazing appointment today with Louise, she was affirming and lovely, I didn't feel rushed and was listened too. Every practice has a shitty doctor or 2 but if I could recommend anyone it would be Louise.
Just amending my original review - the below still stands, however the removal of their online booking system and the requirement to plead your case with the reception staff in order to get an appointment has been detrimental to my health as this barrier has been enough for me to put appointments off. Maybe it's my anxiety preventing me from wanting to call. Overall a stupid system, that's been in place for far too long due to the never ending 'high demand for services'. *Original review: Pretty happy for the free healthcare available to students. However there are some recommendations I have: have a callback system. I was in hold for 30min today and did not shift up in the queue. This was quite frustrating. Provide an induction as to how to best make use of the services. In person appointments are really hard to get, however online appointments more easily, especially with their partner practice plus. The GP assigned to me has been great!
The best place to test your luck and fortune. From my experience, most (not all) staff (receptionists, nurses, and doctors) are nice, friendly, and helpful. However, some of my friends met the rude doctor (I think I see that name in other reviews here). The main problem is the appointment process. To appoint GP, you have to ‘call’ only. You can’t send an email or walk-in for making an appointment. And you need to wait a few days (if you are lucky) or a few weeks (if you have no luck). Also, you should not get sick and make an appointment on Tuesday because the working hour is quite late.
Always long wait times, minimum 2-4 weeks in advance for doctors or counsellor. You can only book appointments via a phone call can’t email or text, the doctors are hit and miss very inconsistent with the level of care, the nurses however are lovely and often have triage appointments available. Student health may be free but it’s such a headache. If you can get a private GP I’d do that if you can.
The doctor was exceptionally confrontational and seemed more concerned with establishing her authority than she did actually helping me. She was snappy, super rude and generally made me feel I had done something wrong just by being there. I had to actively push back against her hostility and snarkyness that is not a professional dynamic. if I were a less assertive person I would have come away feeling far worse Apart from that, all the other staff were very lovely and helpful.
From the moment i phoned in, it was evident that the nurse/doctor in question had little regard for my health and well-being. They seemed disinterested and dismissive of my concerns, treating me more like a burden than a patient seeking help. I found it distressing that they were willing to hold my repeat prescriptions over my head, using them as a means of control rather than addressing my medical needs. What struck me the most was their lack of empathy and compassion. It's disheartening to encounter healthcare professionals who are more interested in exerting authority than in providing genuine care. I believe that patient-doctor trust is essential for effective healthcare, and unfortunately, this trust was shattered during my visit. I had hoped to receive the necessary medical attention and guidance during my visit, but instead, I left feeling frustrated, unheard, and anxious about my health. It's disappointing to witness such behavior in a field that is meant to prioritize patient well-being. Have to move back to my old doctors now.
Service is fine if clogged, but the fact you have to call them to make an appointment sucks.
wasn’t taken seriously by any staff bar reception who were quite nice. doctors seem to have better things to do than treat patients. every appt always late, lasts about five minutes, never any resolution with my health issues, always interrupting me and talking over me. always end up going to A&E where somehow i receive better care and my problems are finally resolved.
Awful experience with the receptionist every time, they treat you with little respect and ignore your symptoms which in turn can be dangerous. While Student Health is good overall when you’ve actually been seen, it does takes weeks to make an appointment.
Students! Do NOT bother coming here. After 2 years of using this service I’ve come to the conclusion it is not worth the annual $500 levy fee. They say ‘we are a free service’ every time they need an excuse but that is simply not true when we are still paying this massive levy fee. Every time I’ve made an appointment here, it’s had to be made atleast 3 weeks in advance, and almost every appointment they have last minute changed to a phone consultation, had to reschedule the appointment or cancel. Many of the Drs here are undertrained, and clearly have little experience freshly graduated I guess. I’ve been through four different GP’s here and I’ve been shocked by the way I’ve been treated and dismissed from every single one. (Majority are female drs) As someone with chronic pain I’ve been denied pain relief, I’ve been dismissed for having these pains and told I quote “if nothing comes back from this ultrasound, there’s nothing we can do for you”. I told doctors I’ve been to the hospital three times from the pains reaching extreme levels, they dismissed this and still denied pain relief. Endometriosis runs in my family and I have symptoms yet I’ve been told by many doctors at your practice that “I don’t fit the symptoms”. Yet when I got an ultrasound the MALE technician was shocked because he believed I did fit the symptoms and told me to change practices immediately. My final straw was my most recent appointment that took three weeks for me to book and changed to a phone consultation the day before. I told the DR I wanted a mental health assessment to test me for possible further issues as I am diagnosed anxiety and depression already. I’m response to this I was told my symptoms are not severe enough to be referred to a physiatrist and told “we can’t help everyone”. I was then suddenly being prescribed anti depressants when I never asked for that. The Dr told me “these are going to be the symptoms…” and “this medication will numb your feelings”. I wish I was joking when I say this. So many situations I’ve been given dangerous medical advice and I’m just glad that I’m strong enough to not let these doctors dismissing me and giving me bad mental health advice affect me. But the thing is this could really damage someone else, so please I beg of you do not bother with student health it is not worth it. I think a lot of my treatment comes down to Doctors treating me like a young naive women who is exaggerating her pain. I’ve left so many interactions crying and upset because I feel like I’m being treated with misogyny and like I’m being dramatic. I have now changed practices and at this point I do not care that I have to pay because nothing will be worse than the treatment I’ve had by student health for the last 2 years.
Victoria University Of Wellington - Student Health is located at Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
You can contact Victoria University Of Wellington - Student Health at +64 4 463 5308
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