Hospitals and the stupid check in machines

[Cookingongas]

Aibu?

Not for the first time I attended an appointment in outpatients today. Very grateful for the care I was given, and I know how lucky I am to have the nhs.

BUT AIBU that these crappy check in machines are a disaster? First hand today and in other hospitals on other days I have witnessed confused elderly people completely overwhelmed by them, people not knowing about them so sitting there unchecked in, people badgering very busy hcp with "there's no one at reception/what do I do?/it's not working!". I've seen people miss their turn for the crime of going to the toilet- had they been checked in by a receptionist she/he may have recognised that they were in the toilet, I've seen children turn them off ( awful behaviour but the red button is big and shiny and at floor/child position) on and on and on.

Surely everyone hates them? They are a bloody farce!

[Sallystyle]

They work pretty well for the most part.

You just touch on the screen, it's not hard. Of course some people may not be able to use them for a variety of reasons such as confused elderly patients but there is always someone on reception at my hospital for those people.

I have never seen anyone miss their appointment because they were in the toilet. I know if people have arrived because it shows up that they have checked in so if someone isn't in the waiting room I will check they have arrived and then assume they are in the toilet.

Your experience doesn't match mine at all.

[AccidentGuilt]

I think they are great. They have them at my GP's and the hospital. It saves queuing ages to book in.

[NeedACleverNN]

They are common in doctors surgerys around here. Yet to see them in a hospital.

No one seems to struggle with them. The instructions are very easy and clear to read. Also comes in various languages

[Cookingongas]

I agree they are easy and potentially time saving. Certainly for me ( well I sat down faster- clinic was still 2 hours delayed) but as I people watch it seems obvious that they cause problems. It's not easy for everyone- and there certainly wasn't anyone attending reception for the fours hours I was there today.

Perhaps it is only the two hospitals I frequent. And perhaps I am more grumpy after acting as receptionist for five patients who couldn't work it out

[CurbsideProphet]

The check in machine at my GP surgery has been faulty since it appeared. After putting in name and day/month of birth it repeatedly gives the wrong years of birth to choose from. The receptionist once asked if I was sure about this, as though I don't know the year I was born

[WalkerBait]

We have had these in the GPS for years and we still have receptionists. I came across them for the first time at a hospital last week (st George's in Tooting), but again still receptionists.

[CurbsideProphet]

Cook I recently checked in an elderly woman who didn't understand it and a woman who couldn't reach from her wheelchair. YANBU as I think they are a pain too!

[MadHattersWineParty]

Well I struggled with one the other week

This is because, when you check in using your DOB, it then bombards you with


What is your ethnic origin
Do you have any disabilities
Have we still got your address
Is this your mobile number
What's your favourite colour



Then it quickly flashes up GO TO DR FAUSTUS CLINIC ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, or maybe it did because it's too quick to read it.

Then....POOF!! Gone, and all the receptionist can say is 'well you should have read where it told you to go'

I'm wise to it now. But I was bloody pissed off and bewildered the first time.

[Cheby]

Check in machine; one off cost of around £5k. Receptionist; roughly £25k a year to keep a desk staffed 8-6 mon-fri (or one HCA).

Given the general lack of funding for the NHS, better to ditch the receptionist than a nurse, I guess?

[TheWernethWife]

Mad Hatter - We have one at our GPs but it doesn't ask bloody stupid questions.

[MadHattersWineParty]

Well this one was in the funny outpatients building at St Mary's Paddington, which is a confusing enough place as it is!

[NothingMoreThanFelines]

There's a whole warren of funny outpatients buildings at St Mary's! The check-in machines are a breeze compared with finding X department in Y wing.

[Sunnymeg]

Our GP's check in machine can't accept DH's or BIL's details because they are twins who are registered at the same practice .

[practy]

The check in machine at my GP surgery is temperamental. About half of the patients just check in at reception. I always check in at reception after twice not being able to get the machine to register my touch.

Nearly all the elderly patients avoid it. And they are not usable with certain disabilities.