[#1]

We have a team of lovely receptionists at our surgery but when I popped in yesterday to sort out my prescription, the receptionist on duty took it upon herself to start a discussion about what I consider to be a private matter and I had people standing behind me. I have no idea how loud she was talking because I lipread but I declined to talk with her about it, nor 'would you like to speak to the nurse". No! 

 I have a lovely GP but I don't like doctors, surgeries ,etc and this has just made me feel worse. I know I am being silly but it has taken a lot of effort on my GP's part to get me going regularly and I am back to wanting to avoid them all.

Sorry, I know it is childish but I needed a moan.

Hugs

Jillxx

[#2]

We have a team of lovely receptionists at our surgery but when I popped in yesterday to sort out my prescription, the receptionist on duty took it upon herself to start a discussion about what I consider to be a private matter and I had people standing behind me. I have no idea how loud she was talking because I lipread but I declined to talk with her about it, nor 'would you like to speak to the nurse". No! 

 I have a lovely GP but I don't like doctors, surgeries ,etc and this has just made me feel worse. I know I am being silly but it has taken a lot of effort on my GP's part to get me going regularly and I am back to wanting to avoid them all.

Sorry, I know it is childish but I needed a moan.

Hugs

Jillxx

[#3]

hugs Jill.

Most of our receptionists are lovely at our doctors but there's a couple and the phlebotomist who also sometimes does receptionist duties who I, too, hate. They don't seem to have any appropriate bedside manner given their professions and more than once they've had a go at me about things that other receptionists/nurses/doctors have said are fine etc.

Hugs xx

[#4]

Hi Jill,

No need to apologise - a good moan is sometimes all you need

I'm very lucky in that, since I changed surgeries, all the receptionists are lovely (and most of the doctors, too). At  my old surgery, the receptionists acted like they owned the place and were a really block in gaining access to a GP.

I hope you feel a little better after venting. Hugs to you x

[#5]

Jumping in from Mums Due November here as I spotted this post on the main page!

My personal feelings on my doctors receptionist? IDIOTS!

I called to arrange a booking in appointment after discovering I was expecting my third child back in February. I specifically asked to see the midwife for booking in. I was given an appointment the following week, arrived, was sent in to the nurse which I found odd, and was then promptly asked by her if I wanted to get rid! I had been booked in to apparently discuss abortion as the moron of a receptionist randomly assumed I didn't want the baby, and the nurse was rather shocked when we announced it was a planned pregnancy.

Unfortunately the doctor there is also completely idiotic aswell, I have a Mother who has severe Arthritis (sp?) and has had many operations and replacement joints, and said doctor practically ignores her pleas or sends her off to someone else to deal with, I have a father who has bladder issues and can only urinate via a catheter, he has had this for around 4 years now, and the company who supply his 3 monthly packages of catheters plus other items needed have to request the doctor acknowledges these items are still needed. A few months ago said company called our doctor, who announced, FOUR TIMES, that my father was and never had been a patient, and requested they stop bugging her about someone she has never met. After the fourth time my father went to see her personally, to which she saw him, said hello to him  by name, and announced she had no idea what he was talking about. The delivery, if not approved by her, could have meant my father got rushed to hospital with agonising pains and a week of treatment as he MUST use the catheters about 6 times a day.

We have also had quite a few other moments where someone from the doctors office has done something rediculously wrong, forgotten something, ignored something, not bothered checking notes, lost dates for certain things etc. Unfortunately this is the only really local doctor to us, so unless we decide to travel quite a bit further to another one, which we have decided to do, we had no other option!

It's actually shocking how some people treat others regardless of their feelings/situation etc!

A xxx

[#6]

It's the most frustrating thing!! It annoys me when they ask over the phone why you want an appointment! Now I barely go to the docs unless I'm really worried about something after a month or so or for my pill every 6 months but having to explain to someone to justify why I feel I need to see someone, really grates on me!!

Hugs!! xx

[#7]

Doctors receptionists = people with a lack of empathy and unable to deal with stress.  I had my Hep B jabs privately at a surgery, recently I needed proof I had these and I asked my current surgery for this.  I was told this wasn't on my medical record.  I rang the surgery and they deny I was there because the receptionist couldn't find me on the computer!  I even named the nurse that did it but still, if its not on the computer it never happened!  Now I have to have a blood test to prove I've had the jabs.

I ring for an appointment to see a nurse and I'm asked, "What do you need to see the nurse for?" Reply, "I want to see a nurse, the reason is not your concern".  Then told "I need to know as I don't want to send you to the asthma nurse if you don't have it" Reply "I don't have asthma".  Asthma nurse!?  Does this nurse only deal with asthma?  Stupidity at its best.

Its not moaning when people are incompetent.

[#8]

Many Doctors receptionists have a grossly elevated sense of their own importance; and see themselves as the number 2 to the Doctor or Nurse; neither of which she is anywhere as qualified.

Agreed there are many receptionists who do their job properly and do not pretend to be Doctor or Nurse by proxy; equally it does irriate me when I make an appointment to see my doctor to be asked : "well, what is the problem you need to discuss?"

Frankly is it any of their business. 

Ironically I find that "professional" Receptionists and effectively Personal Assistants to Doctors in Hospital are far more approachable and do not pretend to know the ins an out of your condition, which by definition if it is at hospital level one would not expect them to comment.  It is a pity that many GP's receiptionists do not take the same line.

I am fortuante that the surgery that I attend now has removed the receptionist who kept asking inpertenant questions, and replaced by someone who just takes the details of my National Insurance number and whether it is to do with an existing or new condition. Nothing more.

[#9]

My doctors receptionists are really nice now but used to be very nosey and abrupt, and getting an appointment was extremely difficult.  I used to get around this by saying I would have to go to A & E if they couldnt see me within a few days and hey presto an appointment was suddenly available usually the same day.

A few months back I suddenly noticed a major change in their telephone manner - they became really polite and didnt ask why you needed to see the doctor at all! This was  a major change so I can only presume someone made a formal complaint regarding confidentiality.  At the end of the day they are breaching confidentiality if they discuss your medical condition with you in front of other people without your permission and OP should put in a letter of complaint. 

[#10]

Thanks for your views ladies. I am going to mention it to the practise manager.

Hugs

Jillxx