Just wanted to add a positive refferral for Dr Prue Kirby at Church St Medical Centre. Dr's that used to work together at Enmore Rd Surgery (now closed) are unwavering in their judgement free-and, more appropriatley, embracing of individual autonomy and evidence informed, current, proffessional and at all times compassionate care. An experience of equal enquiry and decision making in joint care of your health care and prevention. Dr Sheila Knowlden is also a collegue of Prue's, equally educated in sexual health, GLBTG, Alcohol and Other Drug Health (certified provider of treatment plans, methadone, buprenorphine, suboxone etc), as is Prue Kirby also. Check out Dr Alison Beizlowski (check surname, still in Enmore I think). Alison is a younger woman, 30's guess, as she is also extraordinarily over competant and a bloody good human too. When these 3 Dr's were collegues of the woman run surgery, with most rarely, reception staff with warmth and human bits sometimes seemingly utterley abandoned from the vigilant medical receptionist, in favour of warden like sharkiness to eliminate pestering and boundary violating approachers, stomping on superfluous, needy individuals seeking to operate outide business transactions. Staff who worked along side Dr's Kirby, Knowlden, and Biezlowski were triage proffessionals of a medical specialty so wonderful and unexpected, the category needs implementing across all health care access points. They new your stuff, which you remained blissfully unaware of, and were therefore able to predict appointment times, lengths, refferrals, family/friend/significant person in any crisis, with humanity and kindness, clinical expertise, always within a strict proffessional, intelligent way, with the added benefit of "shit giving", in the sense that they gave one. All good things must end, so cue staff at the shared care Church St Medical Centre. Reception here, pretty much as a rule, suck it big. Judgement is barely concealed, impersonal, inexperienced, and although maybe unintended, rudeness and hostility. Maybe I've been spoilt, but I will not be deferential to constructed, self-appointed "granters of priveleged access". The Dr's I see are on a first name basis, know my goings on, family, peccadilos, partner in crime, mental deficiencies, underwear choices, and the actual amount of -insert indulgent body harming/fattening substance- as opposed to the amount I think will be acceptable without offers of rides to 12 step recovery. Prue, Sheila, and Alison, incidentally, are informed by current, evidence based, scientificly proven, commonse, interventions for alcohol and other drug issues. Patients are not handed bibles (yes, I have been and the paper DOES work for rolling a spliff!), nor are they reassured of the benefits of moving the celebretory whisky into your "breakfast of champions" program, petrol strength espresso consumed STAT on waking, accompanying cigarette, involving only accidental contact with inedible items decorating cupboards and fridges, reinforcing for loved ones "appearance" of mature and thoughtful choices for nutritional, gastronomical and elegant dining choices, whipped up at regular intervels, underlining the respect you have for the amazing machine that is your body. This fantasy of gourmet deliciousness, sourced locally from organically, ethicall, sustainable, cheap (now they'll know you're lying) markets, is a mouthful that the good Dr's aforementioned will not swallow, but instead they will encourage realistic nutritional intake, without lectures or shaming you into suicidality by describing the state of fatty arteries, discoloured livers, shrinking kidneys, clogged bowels. Inherently optimistic, good natured women, I have never felt talked down too, nor have I been lost in jargon.
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