Why aren’t doctor’s receptionists more discrete?

I think it is appalling that anyone has to be overheard discussing any medical condition, triage system in place or not. I recently got sent back to the reception post seeing the GP to make a follow up appointment for a suspicious mole. I didn't want to discuss it with her whatsoever as I'd already seen the GP. She grilled me about what the FU was for. "Vaginal lesion" may have shut her up.

It's similar on hospital wards if you are not in your own room. You know everything about the other patients. Not sure how ot can be avoided. And similarly, drawing the curtain does not block out sounds or voices.

How would it be possible to do this when there's just one receptionist on?
Does she just abandon the desk?
Who deals with queries whilst she's away dealing with one person?
I love it when people decide there's a problem and say confidently what needs to be done without looking at the bigger picture/practicalities/staffing .

But you'd know the answers even if the receptionist spoke quietly. I'm always hearing the receptionist and patients in our doctors. Yes they have a screen but you can still hear.
Our doctors will only triage on the phone though so you don't hear any details

Yes, it's bizarre. I'd also add building societies (though these days I'm exclusively online for that) - once I had to take out £4k cash, and everyone behind me in the queue would have known about it.

Me too. 😀
But OP I do hate having to give private confidential information out loud to receptionists or in shops etc. I often will say may I write it (the info) down for you please (rather than shout it out across a perspex or glass divider). Usually they think I’m nuts.

I’m not sure how you avoid it. If you’re having to man a reception desk and take calls (or in this instance request information face to face) then inevitably other people are going to hear. Only way around it is to have separate rooms/staff for these conversations which isn’t practical.

A unireceptionist, if you will.

I agree - phone calls are similar at my surgery as the receptionists take and make calls in the main waiting area. Whilst sitting there recently, I could not help overhearing confidential patient information. The receptionist making the call referred several times to Mrs [unusual second name], who I happen to know vaguely. I now know that she is waiting to see a gynaecologist.

I love the idea that there are several receptionists behind a desk, all joined together to make one continuous receptionist...

Blame the system, not the receptionist. I suppose the priority is triage and not privacy.

Once I had to book an appointment for a UTI and there was a queue behind me. The receptionist asked why I wanted to see the doctor. I was too embarrassed to say I had an infection so I said, "Waterworks!". She got the message and didn't ask further.

I now phone the doctors to book an appointment because I don't want to tell the whole waiting room what the problem is. Not everyone will be bothered by lack of privacy but I definitely am.

Discreet. And yes, I do belong in pedant’s corner.

YANBU. People should be given privacy in GP surgeries.

Our used to have a screen where you checked in, which displayed your details to everyone in the queue behind you, and a bigger screen in the waiting area which displayed your DOB to everyone!

While I agree that the receptionist could be more discreet, the patient is not being, and if it was something she was concerned about, she would moderate her own behaviour, or request a private room.

I think this is a difficult one depending on the layout of the surgery. In our waiting area there is a screen between reception area so it makes it more private. Also when queuing for reception patients are asked to wait further back so there is more privacy but you can still hear what's being said.