GP receptionists?

How do they know they are not medically trained. They don’t have any training.

if they are carrying out the go instructions, why don’t they diagnose and prescribe if it’s that easy?

I think they have it all wrong. The most senior person should do all the triaging. As they are doing in some places.

As in all professions, there are pure arseholes who seem to enjoy making other people miserable.

GP receptionists seem to be at the top of this list because we only contact them when we are feeling our lowest and in need of help.

Far too many GP surgeries adopted new procedures during covid and have not reverted back to what was a workable system in that you could phone up, book an appointment for the next week or so and feel reassured that you were going to see a doctor face to face and discuss whatever was concerning you.

These days, you have to phone up at exactly 8.30am and 4 seconds and are made to feel as though you are a complete arsehole for even daring to phone up and merely exist let alone feel the need to see or want to speak to a doctor.

Scheduled appointments really need to return as the lack of these is straining our A&E depts.

But they don't always get it right. I rang my GP to speak to someone about my babies development. The receptionist told me to speak to my health visitor I did. They came and saw my.little one and said he needed to see a GP and the receptionist refused an appointment stating that it was the health visitor who needed to deal with it. And even though the health visitor contacted the GP receptionist whilst I was with her, the appointment was still refused. This went back and forth for weeks until I finally got a triage appointment through 111 and my little boy and when I took him to the GP later that day the GP was really concerned he hadn't been seen sooner and needed urgently seeing by people the health visitor couldn't refer to.

Someone suffering dementia is in the same predicament if they need to use the phone? Someone would presumably do it for them?

How about someone suffering dementia then? I used to have issues back in the day getting appts at an old GP surgery as they insisted you had to phone. And phoning is difficult for me with poor hearing. So I can imagine the way receptionists treat people

Well they are disadvantaging themselves on purpose, which is an odd choice. And then can't complain they don't have access to x, y z.

But it's not always about "slots" and appointments.

It took me several months last year to get the GP to properly deal with anamolous blood tests - he kept "signing them off" as "patient can be advised", so the receptionist would never even "Ping" a message through with my concerns as she claimed the blood tests were fine, which I knew was wrong. It was only when I actually spoke to a different GP for a different ailment that I casually mentioned the blood tests and he agreed they needed action and I got a phone call from another different GP the day after to change the medication!

Similarly, OH has been trying to get a referral for a specialist for the last six months. He doesn't need to "see" the gp. It's his hospital oncologist who has told him to get the GP to make the referral, written to the GP accordingly etc., but it's impossible to get the receptionists to chase up the GP to actually do it. Again, they say it's not something requiring an appointment and that the GP will "get around to it" when they get chance, again, refusing to "ping" a reminder/request to expedite. No idea whether the GP will ever do it or whether it's got lost in their system somewhere. Receptionists just won't engage at all with the process.

Sometimes the receptionists just won't listen and won't even do things that don't require an actual GP appointment!

If any of that made sense I would reply to it.

You do realise these “online forms” can be completed by the Receptionist on behalf of the patient I assume?

You don’t work there I take it? This is just what you think you overheard?

If so, please report the practice to CQC as this is not permitted practice.

Ok then the pp was lying then?

They stated " BusWankers · Today 21:12

Our GP has no phone appointments now. It makes you fill in a form online...it gets assessed and often they ask for photos back etc. then they make an appointment with who they decide..

They will not talk to you about appointments on the phone, not will they book anything for you in person. They will make no exception, doesn't matter if you've spent £35 on a taxi or caught 3 buses, they will direct you to the online appointment system.

This works really well, because, they can triage and send you to the right person in the first place, instead of having to deal with the fucking arseholes who say "I will only discuss my health issues with my GP" when actually they just need a quick flu jab that the walk in pharmacy could have provided for free with no appointment."

So why the fuck are you telling ME to grow up?

Actually with your attitude it shows you work in primary care

But it's not always about "slots" and appointments.

It took me several months last year to get the GP to properly deal with anamolous blood tests - he kept "signing them off" as "patient can be advised", so the receptionist would never even "Ping" a message through with my concerns as she claimed the blood tests were fine, which I knew was wrong. It was only when I actually spoke to a different GP for a different ailment that I casually mentioned the blood tests and he agreed they needed action and I got a phone call from another different GP the day after to change the medication!

Similarly, OH has been trying to get a referral for a specialist for the last six months. He doesn't need to "see" the gp. It's his hospital oncologist who has told him to get the GP to make the referral, written to the GP accordingly etc., but it's impossible to get the receptionists to chase up the GP to actually do it. Again, they say it's not something requiring an appointment and that the GP will "get around to it" when they get chance, again, refusing to "ping" a reminder/request to expedite. No idea whether the GP will ever do it or whether it's got lost in their system somewhere. Receptionists just won't engage at all with the process.

Sometimes the receptionists just won't listen and won't even do things that don't require an actual GP appointment!

But they DO only accept online appointments.

They absolutely will not book one on the phone or in person. They made it very clear and sent some woman away to to the library to use a computer to book an appointment.

Choice perhaps?

Nope. My mother is 84 and can use an iPad. They're very easy. Even 3 yes olds can use iPads..

And if she wasn't capable, there's other people in her life who could.
The sofa surfers are staying with people who have internet access.
The blind have adaptive technology or again,know people who could do this.

People can go to libraries etc.

How do they know they are not medically trained. They don’t have any training.

if they are carrying out the go instructions, why don’t they diagnose and prescribe if it’s that easy?

I think they have it all wrong. The most senior person should do all the triaging. As they are doing in some places.

Why aren't they using mobile phones or tablets ?.
They know you who has internet access and could book for them.
They presumably have the ability to go to a library or whatever.

My mother is 84 and uses her iPad and Samsung phone quite happily.

The 80 plus year olds often and they need more appointments. Anyone who is blind sometimes the homless who are sofa surfing.

But they DO only accept online appointments.

They absolutely will not book one on the phone or in person. They made it very clear and sent some woman away to to the library to use a computer to book an appointment.

Oh do grow up. Of course there will be a phone option. I’ve worked in primary care for many years, it is NEVER a one size fits all approach. No need for the teenage “next”. How embarrassing for you.

My parents. Late 70s. No Internet, mobile phones, WiFi, computers. They only got a telephone in 1995, still write cheques and any banking is done via visiting the branch.
They can't be the only ones.

Who has no access to the internet?

Like seriously... Who?