To report this receptionist?

She's not trained to show compassion and concern. She's not your counsellor. She's not paid to smile at you.
She's paid to.do her job, her face can look however she likes.

The thing is we shouldn't be encouraged to have so much sympathy for the people working for a shit system that we accept the shit system without a peep. We complaint to the people who represent the system and who we have access to. This includes all front line workers, doctors, nurses, receptionist. Most of us are capable of complaining in a calm and reasonable manner, but lately it seems like any complaining (particularly when it is done by women) is wholly unreasonable, "Karen" behaviour. We can not allow our health service to carry on the way it has been. The idea that one must visit one surgery for paperwork, which they then must take to another surgery for a procedure is insane and absolutely shouldn't be tolerated. Inefficient and unprofessional staff should not be tolerated. When did we start accepting such low standards? Are we supposed to just shut up, sit down and get what we're given- because I don't want to.

And the idea that expecting a receptionist who has chosen to work in a notoriously difficult sector to be able to actually handle the stress associated with it is somehow sexist is utterly ridiculous. All reception staff (especially those in high stress sectors) should be experienced in reducing conflict and handling complaints and if they aren't then they should receive training before being unleashed on the public.

Right. No wonder nhs is a disaster area. Hmm, so it seems ... the people trained/paid to show concern/compassion for people presenting with ill health are allowed to put on a sour face, making them appear unapproachable and uncompassionate, because their job is stressful (which it probs is but so are many others - how would social workers get on putting on a sour face when they need to actually think of the people they are there to help). It's not the receptionist's fault .. it's the patient's. A reminder - the purpose of the nhs is to help patients.

My point is that it can work like that - it may be that more rural NHS systems can't manage that, but requests for any blood tests I (or someone in my family) need, can be delivered electronically to the blood test centre. It saves the surgery and the blood test centre a lot of time. No forms, no special bags, and only queue as you wait fro your test. All you need to take with you is your NHS or hospital number.

Of course she is, its just an incredible coincidence that she happens to be on MN and saw this post and recognised herself OR maybe @DowntonFlabbie actually has some sympathy with a woman just trying to do her job

How rude - are you the receptionist?

It doesn't always work like that

I have to have a blood form - this is either given to me by the doctor or hospital or posted out or I go and collect it from the doctors

Then I take it to a blood clinic which is at various different GP surgeries. If you don't take the form, they don't take your blood. They don't have access to the system or time to do that, I was there 6 minutes last time

They open at 8am, people start queueing from 7am and they're often full by their opening time

You'd do better contacting the practice manager to ask why they can't organise a better appointments system, and arrange e-communication with the relevant haemotology services. My GP can text me to tell me I need a blood test. I go the hospital where they do these, give the technician my NHS number, the details are on the system and the bloods are taken. It's perfectly possible. The practice manager is the person you need to talk to.

Thats the only thing that she was responsible for, the rest was circumstance so don't take it all out on her

She doesn't have to smile on demand because it's a healthcare setting.

FFS are we not past this shit by now? She did her job and has no control over any of the main complaints. Smiling and simpering at you is not in her job description

the practice sounds poor (so probably stressful to work there)
Look for another GP practice?

The other 2 staff members sat without patients, maybe they were doing other work and their job isn't to deal with patients.

How was she rude and inefficient? She couldn't find her on the system so another person helped and she had trouble finding her too?

Absolutely not their problem you missed the bus. Always give yourself plenty of leeway, especially when working to a set time.
And if it was really that bad... get a taxi? Phone a friend?

You can't really report someone for having a grumpy face, that just makes you sound a bit mad. If they SAID something rude or unkind, that would be different. But just a facial expression...?

And what were you doing while the receptionist was trying to get your request sorted? Huffing and puffing? Shuffling about and looking pointedly at your watch?

She may have been there at opening.. we don't know.

there are too many people blaming other people for events - people do not take responsibility

Can you change your GP to a nearer or better practice? People love to moan but aren't prepared to vote with their feet.

she should have given herself more time

If ibwas to complain, it would be how they haven't got a suitable system in place which is making things harder for the receptionists. You should have gone easier to get the bags and ir got a taxi when you missed the bus

For what? The long queue.
The fact she missed the bus because of the wait ?

And these bags are plentiful at phlebotomy services. You only need the form for a blood test. If the phlebotomist is trained to take a blood sample I'm sure they can find attaching a form to a bag extremely simple.

I agree. However given the current state of the NHS, nothing surprises me. I would be complaining to the practice managers and any relevant services- Healthwatch etc about the service, not the poor employee who has to deal with the chaos.

Change your doctor, this one sounds awful.

Why would you not have gone at another time to pick up your blood form? You seem to have gone at the busiest time when you know you've got a bus to catch.
What would she have been apologising for? It's not her fault the surgery was busy.

As others have said, sounds like trying to make her a scapegoat for the systemic issues, why should she have to look cheerful while undertaking what sounds like a very stressful role or apologise to you for issues beyond her control