To ask for a call back from a doctor ?

[Theendofthethetherisclose]

I am having ongoing 'period' issues. Sorry if TMI. I finished my period on Sunday night, woke up on Tuesday morning to a flood of blood & clots. This has been ongoing for about 6 months.
Our surgery works on a call back from the doctor system to assess if you need an appointment. I phoned yesterday but was told it was to late for a call back.
I have just phoned again & was told by the receptionist that period problems are not an emergency and she couldn't put it through for a call back. This is not a period problem - this is 6 months of near constant bleeding, 1.5 stone weight loss (which I explained) but she still refused to put me down for a call back. I have seen the doctor previously who has prescribed some tablets in the past & I am waiting for a gynae appt.
AIBU wanting a call back & a new prescription ?

[Rossigigi]

No you are not- call again, if they still refuse say you are feeling weak and dizzy and is it because you are losing so much blood. They won't be able to tell you so will have to ask the dr.
Hope you feel better soon

[Rainydayspending]

Hang on. Your surgery has an appointment booking based on a call back BUT the receptionist will only put through emergency (not appointments then, that's A&E). WTF do they actually see at this surgery?

[londonrach]

Weve got the same silly system. Keep phoning. When you get through to gp tell gp as receptionist shouldnt be making this call.

[londonrach]

Agree with rainy!

[Hannahbanana1725]

That's ridiculous!! Keep calling until you get a call back. What are they even seeing at the surgery then?! It's a doctors not bloody a&e!

[PebbleInTheMoonlight]

Call back and tell her you are not having a period. You are haemorrhaging and need to speak to a doctor. Failure to add you to the call back list will result in you making a formal complaint to the practice manager about her 'triage' skills.

I get the receptionists are there to try and filter through the noise so the GP can see people who need it but they aren't medically trained and if a patient insists they need a doctor they shouldn't have the power to refuse.

I've been there Theend and you have my every sympathy. It's draining and terrifying at the same time (not to mention the horrific mess!). Hope you get sorted soon.

[missyB1]

If the surgery are using the receptionist as a triage service that's unacceptable, what medical qualifications does the receptionist have?!!

phone back and calmly tell the receptionist that you dont want her medical opinion, you want the Doctor. And threaten to put in a written complaint to the practise manager.

[OrdinalViolet]

YANBU! This is a horrid problem within the NHS, all too often womens' complaints about medical issues that specifically affect females are not treated seriously. There was a good article in the Guardian about this the other day: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/gynaecologists-pain-women-vulvodynia-misdiagnoses

You really need to pressure them, unfortunately, and also do research on your own. You might need to seek private care if you cannot get good care within the public system. It's very awful that this is a systemic problem but it is! I hope you get good care soon.

[Mysterycat23]

Ooh I hate this. Receptionists can bully but actually can't triage and can't refuse you a call back or even appt with the gp. The point of the call back is a suitably qualified medical professional will triage you ffs.

Are there multiple receptionists OP? Worth calling back in hopes of getting a different one who you won't have to fight with?

[Theendofthethetherisclose]

Thank you all for your replies

I called back & got the same reply as the first call. I then stated that I had every right for a call back, my symptoms were an emergency & I would be writing to the Manager if I wasn't put on the call back list.

She actually said ; 'I'll put you on it but don't expect a call for your non-emergency"

The doctor phoned back within half an hour & sent a new prescription to the chemist.

I have since registered with a new surgery.

[lalalalyra]

Please, if you have the strength, put in a complaint about her. Someone like that shouldn't be triaging patients.

[ohfourfoxache]

Oh please please complain- this bloody woman's actions are very dangerous. You could well save a life by speaking up

[MichaelSheensNextDW]

Please complain. Her attitude could very easily result in the worst outcome imaginable for someone.

[bigbluebus]

Please complain both to the Practice Manager and also contact the Patient Focus group at the surgery (if they have one) as clearly this system isn't working.

[CheesyChristie]

Please, please put in a complaint about this woman. My poor dmil almost died last year after accidentally overdosing on painkillers as the receptionist refused to get the doctor to call her back as she didn't think her back pain was enough of an emergency.

It fucks me off, doctors surgeries aren't supposed to be for emergencies but people are just being left to get sicker and sicker until it is.

[EZA15]

Please put a letter of complaint into the practice manager. The NHS doctor locator thing actually has the facility for you to put reviews on as well. Put a bad review on. The practice seems to jump on them as obviously they're there to help not turn away