GP Question

BookBook · 12-12-2011 10:20am #1

Hi All,
I am 4 months pregnant and I need a GP for combined care. The medical centre I normally use in Dublin city centre (The Albany Clinic) don’t do HSE combined care so I need a new one.

Can I ask if anyone recommends their GP/ clinic in Dublin city centre for combined care?
Any help would be much appreciated as I am getting desperate now. If you can’t mention names here feel free to pm me.

Someone recommended Sonia Chester at the Custom House Medical Centre, D1 and that they have a mini scanner there but I don’t think Dr Chester is there anymore and I don’t know about any other GP’s there. Also don't know if they still have a scanner.
Someone else recommended Hanover Medical Centre D2 for general GP services but I don’t know what they are like for combined care / pregnancy related visits.
Someone else recommended Mercer Medical Centre D2 but it sounds like you mostly get to see a nurse which puts me off.

Apart from any recommendations can I ask -

Do they have a mini scanner or do they use a Doppler? It would be great if they have a scanner.
Do you see a doctor all the time or do they fob you off with a nurse?
If doctor do you see the same one all the time or does it depend on who is available at your chosen appointment times?

As I said any help is gratefully appreciated.

silja · 12-12-2011 12:38pm

I would highly recommend the Temple Bar Medical Clinic, a GP wife and husband team called Dr Condron. They were wonderful through my infertility and pregnancy, very dedicated and always time to talk, get you in same day if there is an issue, and no nurse, just the two of them, so you always see a doctor. They have a doppler and a foetoscope if you prefer it- I don't think GPs have scanners normally, that is hospitals or specialist doctors

Weyhey · 24-02-2012 2:10pm

silja wrote: »

I would highly recommend the Temple Bar Medical Clinic, a GP wife and husband team called Dr Condron. They were wonderful through my infertility and pregnancy, very dedicated and always time to talk, get you in same day if there is an issue, and no nurse, just the two of them, so you always see a doctor. They have a doppler and a foetoscope if you prefer it- I don't think GPs have scanners normally, that is hospitals or specialist doctors

Just to let anyone know who may be viewing this thread -

Temple Bar Medical Centre don't do the 'Combined Care' maternity service. If you want to see them during your pregnancy you have to pay and the fee is 60e a visit and 40e for a follow up visit.

(Albany Clinic, Dublin 2 also don't do Combined Care by the way).

Squiggler · 24-02-2012 3:56pm

Grafton Street Medical Practice (D2) provide HSE combined care. They have a midwife (not a nurse) who would see you for most of the visits but as she's a specialist that's better than seeing GP in my opinion. I don't know if they have a mini scanner but theultrasoundsuite also operate in that practice (on Wednesdays) and provide a full range of reasonably priced (I think anyway) maternity scans (and you would get the usual scans from your maternity hospital during your visits there in any case).

I've been a patient there for about 12 years now and all of the Doctors there are excellent.

PonyP · 24-02-2012 8:47pm

Hello,
I also recommend the Temple Bar Medical Centre, I am attending them during my pregnancy and they have been great. However, they are not covered under the Combined scheme so you will need to pay for your visits.

AnnaThe · 24-02-2012 9:05pm

What do ye mean by "Combined Care"?

implausible · 25-02-2012 1:38pm

AnnaThe wrote: »

What do ye mean by "Combined Care"?

It's the free ante-natal scheme where you see your GP for most visits and alternate with the hospital visits. I think it's mad that some doctors don't do it (basic GP service imo) and even madder still that women would pay for this service when they don't have to.

A poster mentioned GPs having scanners. Most don't, but it's worthwhile ringing around to find out. My GP does and I'm living out in the sticks in the North West.

Smilerterry · 25-02-2012 4:56pm

I am 15 weeks pregnant and am going to Custom House medical centre. I used to see dr. Chester before she left and now I see dr. Sonja Kidney. She is lovely and so far been great.

They have a mini scanner machine, but I have no need to use it as yet, but Dr. Kidney has told me about and said if I have any concerns to pop in and they can do a scan.

Also obviously they do combined care!

hsp27mrp1 · 06-11-2012 10:50am

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and just went to the Custom House Medical Centre for my first check up. Dr. Sonja Kidney no longer works at the practice. I saw Dr. Nia Clendennen. She was absolutely excellent. First doctor I have seen in years to actually take a proper patient history and not rush me out the door. I think I was in there for 45 minutes!

I'm sure the next check up will be quicker but I actually feel like I got my money's worth. I got a flu shot while I was there and it was included in the price of the consultation. You have to pay for your first appointment, then after 12 weeks you are covered by the Mother and Infant scheme.

MurdyWurdy · 06-11-2012 11:08am

Hope the OP doesn't mind me butting in - I have a question about combined care. I originally told my GP I just wanted to go to the hospital because both myself and my husband work near it and the doctor is an hours drive from work (near our home). I thought I would be missing less work by choosing to just go to the hospital.

Now I'm wondering will the queues at the hospital be so long (I'm going public in Holles Street) that it would just be worth going to my GP anyway? He does do a 5pm - 6pm surgery so it would just mean leaving work early to get to the appointment and I do really like my GP OP I would recommend him if only he were in the city centre!). I'm a bit confused

Weyhey · 06-11-2012 12:33pm

MurdyWurdy wrote: »

Hope the OP doesn't mind me butting in - I have a question about combined care. I originally told my GP I just wanted to go to the hospital because both myself and my husband work near it and the doctor is an hours drive from work (near our home). I thought I would be missing less work by choosing to just go to the hospital.

Now I'm wondering will the queues at the hospital be so long (I'm going public in Holles Street) that it would just be worth going to my GP anyway? He does do a 5pm - 6pm surgery so it would just mean leaving work early to get to the appointment and I do really like my GP OP I would recommend him if only he were in the city centre!). I'm a bit confused

I think you can choose combined care at any stage. I didn't see my GP until I was 28 weeks pregnant. Up to that stage I was seeing the hospital.

hsp27mrp1 · 06-11-2012 12:34pm

I think it depends which clinic at the hospital you go to. I'm trying to get into the Domino scheme at the Rotunda and my GP said that they insist on combined care. Others may let you come only to the hospital.

I haven't been to the hospital yet - 6 weeks to go! But I suspect that there is less waiting and more individual care with the GP. That said I'm hoping that the midwife clinic will be good in that regard.

Weyhey · 06-11-2012 12:36pm

hsp27mrp1 wrote: »

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and just went to the Custom House Medical Centre for my first check up. Dr. Sonja Kidney no longer works at the practice. I saw Dr. Nia Clendennen. She was absolutely excellent. First doctor I have seen in years to actually take a proper patient history and not rush me out the door. I think I was in there for 45 minutes!

I'm sure the next check up will be quicker but I actually feel like I got my money's worth. I got a flu shot while I was there and it was included in the price of the consultation. You have to pay for your first appointment, then after 12 weeks you are covered by the Mother and Infant scheme.

Thanks for your information on Custom House. By the way I think it is a disgrace that you had to pay for your first visit. I really don't understand why some but not all GP's charge for the first visit . I even complained to the HSE about it but never got a reply. I suggest you do the same.

hitchhiker42 · 29-01-2013 1:09pm

Just wanted to chime in: Yes, I used to see Dr. Sonja Kidney at the Custom House as well. She was super nice. Unfortunately she is no longer there. I was told that she is now working in Ranelagh, but I don't know where. If anyone has information, please let me know?

As far as Custom House Medical Center, the doctors are good but the receptionists are pretty clueless and unprofessional. I guess it's hard to find good help these days. I was in the waiting room recently and heard them gossiping for 15 minutes about some patient who called in. It was the unprofessional kind of gossip they really should not be engaging in when there is a room full of other patients waiting.

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