The Dulwich Medical Centre
163-169 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich, London, Greater London, SE22 9EPContact details and opening times
Patient ratings and reviews
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Reviews
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Review titled Never been great now terrible
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 17 July 2024
Trying to get an appointment at DMC has gone from farcical to near impossible. It used to be the case that if you wanted an appointment on the same day you had to start queuing outside at 7.30 am or try and phone, which would result in being on the phone for anything up to 45 mins. On numerous occasions I would wait and finally get to the front of the telephone queue only to have the receiver lifted up and put down again, ending the call. It also used to be possible to book an appointment in advance if you needed a follow up with the same doctor. Now DMC have decided that you can't book appointments in advance. Trying to see the same Doctor is nearly impossible due to to quick turnover of doctors or the days on which they work. I have had a new condition for over a year and a half and have only seen the same doctor twice in all that time. That particular Doctor has now left. I have seen or spoken to seven different Doctors about the same condition, which means that there is no continuity of care. It also means that every time I see a new Doctor I have to waste most of my allotted time explaining my medical history over and over again. More recently the practice has started farming appointments out to the Tessa Jowell Centre, so they obviously can't cope. Three weeks ago I had and appointment with a Doctor who put me on a new four week course of medicine. He specifically told me to book a follow up appointment with him to discuss the treatment. As you are no longer able to book an appointment in advance or by phone I used the online link DMC supplied. On it they say they will reply in two days. So I filled out the form asking specifically to see the same Doctor thinking I would hear back in a couple of days. Instead I was called the same day and was offered an appointment for midday, I explained that I could not come in that day as I was at work. I also said that I wanted to see the same doctor. The receptionist then started offering me appointment at Tessa Jowell Centre, I explained that I wanted to and had been asked to book an appointment with the same doctor. The receptionist then started saying there was nothing on my notes saying I should see the same Doctor. This is irrelevant, I was asked to and wanted to see the same Doctor, that is my decision not theirs. She then asked me to hang on and that "she'd get back to me". I was put on hold briefly and then the line went dead. So they are back to their old tricks of hanging up on people. DMC is no longer fit for purpose and should be closed down. Booking an appointment is a nightmare, there is no continuity of care as you never see the same Doctor, you can't book advance follow up appointments. There has been an occasion in the past where I ran out of medication as I could not get an appointment before I did so, which is the whole reason I was trying to book one before I run out of my current medication.
Visited July 2024
The Dulwich Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled No one home
by Roger Smith - Posted on 06 June 2024
I called for an urgent appointment this morning exactly at 8am. I was deternined as i absolutedly needed my child to see thr doctor same day. I was told i was 9th in the line which was ok and i waited on hold. One hour 26 mins later i gave up waiting. It was clear that basically everyone had been put on hold and no one was working through the calls. I am sure i was not the only person to give up, a big burden on the wider health system. Pls try and do better.
Visited June 2024
The Dulwich Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Receptionist made a difference
Rated 4 stars out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 01 August 2023
I called into the practice to get a form for blood tests, the receptionist made such a difference to the experience I have had before. She seemed genuinely ready to help, her tone and approach demonstrated great customer service. While waiting for the form I heard her speak to other patients with an engaging, friendly demeanour that one has come not to expect from drs receptionists. I don't visit the practice regularly but I hope DMC are able to keep her as on the basis of my visit she is an asset to the practice.
Visited August 2023
The Dulwich Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled Inconsistent protocols and unhelpful
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Jane - Posted on 14 December 2022
I needed a blood test form. Sometimes DMC is willing/able to email it to me and sometimes staff say it cannot be done. I say it can be done….you have done it many times. Instead, they make me go out in the snow and ice to collect it from them. I sometimes check what century we are in. It’s poor management (the inconsistency and unwillingness to help) and a poor use of technology etc. If DMC were a restaurant I would never return.
Visited December 2022
The Dulwich Medical Centre has not yet replied.
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Review titled I wish I could give zero stars
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Robert - Posted on 25 November 2022
I called the practice. They said someone would call me back. They didn’t. I called them again. They said they would call me back. They did not. The service is truly awful. They say their email address is not monitored. How do they get away with it. They have been citing staff shortages for years….not just since covid…and they are looking for more patients. Time to find a smaller practice I think.
Visited October 2022
Review titled The Dulwich Medical Centre
Replied on 30 November 2022
Dear Robert, Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you have not had a positive experience with us. We appreciate the time you have taken to share your feedback. As a practice we are working on improving our services to give the best care possible to our patients. We apologise if the message was not made clear and would like to reassure you and all of our patients that all Practice email inboxes are constantly supervised during office hours. We have reiterated this to all of our staff. Please send us an email at souccg.dmccpr@nhs.net if you need any further assistance in resolving your concern, and a member of the team will be in touch. Again, we apologise and value your feedback.
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Review titled Awful practice
Rated 1 star out of 5
by Anonymous - Posted on 29 September 2022
This practice has been deteriorating for sometime, but has got much worse since Covid. I cannot list all my complaints about this surgery as they are too numerous, however they include the facts that the admin staff seem to think that they are able to triage patients and the only appointments you can get are telephone appointments - that is if you are lucky enough to get an appointment at all. Suffice to say it is wholly unsurprising that the CQC has given it a rating of 'Inadequate' in the 'Well Lead' category. I will be moving to another surgery, one that knows how to treat patients with respect and not as an inconvenience. To the surgery: Please do not bother with one of your fatuous cookie cutter responses, it is absolutely unnecessary.
Visited September 2022
The Dulwich Medical Centre has not yet replied.