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AMA

I'm a GP receptionist AMA

72 replies

Lalaisloopsy · 18/07/2018 08:56

I read a thread about GP receptionist yesterday so I thought I would add a thread here for questions. We seem a hated lot.

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Lalaisloopsy · 19/07/2018 15:27

OP: Has anyone ever turned up with pet that they want a Dr to see? Nope thank goodness

What is the weirdest thing you have been asked (assuming someone will have come in and it not being a medical issue at all...)?* a drunk guy came in once demanding an xray he seemed to think we had a machine since the dentist has one why wouldn't we Hmm

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NeatFreakMama · 19/07/2018 15:31

Do receptionists get a false sense of their own medical knowledge being exposed to it all the time? I ask because that's what it seems like with the ones I see at the moment.

They also seem to hate mum's and think we're overreacting all the time. We had a case recently where they were telling mum's from a certain nursery they were overreacting and to stay at home, I heard them chatting to each other about it and then while I was there the doctor had text to advise them to see all the kids 'urgently'. It's just this sense I have that they could get it wrong, pressure you not to take an appointment and something bad could come of it.

WeAreGerbil · 19/07/2018 15:33

Do you think all receptionists keep patient confidentiality? I know someone working at mine who is a bit of a gossip and this makes me nervous about giving info, e.g. on the reason for appointment on the online booking.

Lalaisloopsy · 19/07/2018 15:33

YellowTelescope cancelled appointments can usually be filled people not turning mean a wasted slot however the GP's usually have loads of letters to read from referrals etc and out going admin so the time will be used then. We usually run late because 7 mins in not a lot of time for something serious or complicated.

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Lalaisloopsy · 19/07/2018 15:36

Do receptionists get a false sense of their own medical knowledge being exposed to it all the time? Yes some do

Do you think all receptionists keep patient confidentiality? Here yes it's not worth our jobs to gossip. Tbh we have so many people everyday I tend to forget as soon as the next face turns up.

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CorianderSnell · 19/07/2018 15:46

Do receptionists get any say in eg appointment booking procedures or how the practice works? What I’m thinking is that you guys will have a lot of interactions with patients that Drs won’t and may have good ideas re signposting different options/what most irritates patients/ what people don’t understand etc. But I don’t know how much say a practice has over their procedures or whether it is central NHS policy, and then whether they would involve non-medical staff if they are trying new things with patients.

Also, do people give presents at Xmas or thank you things? I thought last year I’d drop in some coffee vouchers or something for everyone because all the GPs, nurses and receptionists I encounter at my local practice are lovely, but didn’t get round to it in the end. Don’t know if it would be weird or something that could t be used if there are rules about that!

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 19/07/2018 15:58

Secondly how and where are people supposed to get diagnosis and prescription for a Uti if you can't see a doctor?

For many patients simple UTIs are now diagnosed and treated over the phone by GPs, you often don't need to provide a urine sample as you can be diagnosed based on symptoms. Or in some practices the nurse can diagnose and prescribe for UTI.

Due to the nationwide GP shortage, many practices are employing other professionals to do jobs previously done by GPs, eg nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, physicians assistants, health care assistants. Patients will often just ask for a GP appt as they won't know that the pharmacist now does virtually all the medication reviews, the nurse practitioner sees most on the day urgent appts and the paramedic does most home visits. Although some patients do prefer to see a GP, in some practices GP appts are a very very limited commodity and they try to reserve them for patients who need to see the GP. Many patients however are happy to see the alternative professional when suggested by reception but they wouldn't know to ask for them.

As a GP it's fairly common for patients to book an appt with me for something I can't actually do, or which requires a special type of appt eg a longer appt, although our Receptionists do ask for the reason at booking. Then they are irritated when I explain they will need to come back and see someone else.

adoggymama · 19/07/2018 16:10

@starsha I've never seen a nurse that was able to prescribe the antibiotics needed for a UTI. Only doctors can write prescriptions. I've always either just gone straight to the GP with one (I used to suffer from them chronically & they would always progress to kidney infections if not treated early on) or I've gone to a walk in centre and a nurse has tested my urine then referred me to wait for a doctor to prescribe the medicine.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 19/07/2018 16:13

Experienced nurses can have training to be able to prescribe.

WeAreGerbil · 19/07/2018 16:15

In my practice the nurse can see you then she gets the GP to sign off the prescription.

YellowTelescope · 19/07/2018 16:29

The system needs changing then. Why is it 7 mins if it's not enough time?

starsha · 19/07/2018 17:29

Yes, at my practice the nurse sees people with UTI's (and chest infections, hay fever, contraception, bites, rashes etc).

Flowerpower321 · 19/07/2018 17:44

Our surgery has multiple prescribing nurses, would expect most surgeries do these days. GP definitely not necessary for a uti, even my young dd got the prescription she needed for one without seeing a doctor. I make appts with the mi or illness (prescribing) nurse, if they can’t deal with it they call in the duty doctor so either way it gets resolved.

Lalaisloopsy · 19/07/2018 20:12

The system needs changing then. Why is it 7 mins if it's not enough time? most times it is but if we get someone who takes extra time say an extra 6 mins then the next 2 appointments are late. It's not an exact science.

Do receptionists get any say in eg appointment booking procedures or how the practice works? No but our practice manager is good at listening to us.

Gifts are always lovely I was given a big pack of twirl bites last week it was so nice made my day.

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Belle89 · 20/07/2018 21:05

The surgery I use. The first question I get asked is 'is it an emergency?' We're only booking emergency appointments, no as I wouldn't be on the phone I'd be seeking help from a and e.
What do GPs class as an emergency?
I had bleeding 3 weeks post surgery so got my appointment after probably being a little too blunt with the receptionist. I didn't class myself as needing 'emergency' care but did warrant seeing the GP before it potentially getting more serious and urgent.

MadisonMontgomery · 20/07/2018 21:12

At the surgery where I work we class emergency appointments as things that need seeing the same day - obviously if people ring up with chest pain, stroke symptoms etc we would signpost them to A&E.

TroysMammy · 20/07/2018 21:23

Before my time as a Receptionist but I've been told a patient was seeing a GP and a large lizard popped it's head out from the patient's jacket.

We have gifts all the time. Biscuits, chocolate, fruit and homemade cake. I personally have had a roll of weed suppressant for my garden, touch up paint and motor oil from a patient with an identical car to mine as he sold his, freshly caught trout and also Chinese New Year envelopes from a lovely Chinese patient.

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 20/07/2018 21:42

I just came on to say well done and good luck! GP receptionists are hated even more than us (midwives)!

WeAreGerbil · 20/07/2018 22:23

At the surgery where I work we class emergency appointments as things that need seeing the same day

The problem with this is knowing the things that don't necessarily need seeing that day, but also probably shouldn't wait three weeks until the next available appointment. Do you wait until it's bad enough to be urgent when it could have been sorted out more easily a few days ago?

Lalaisloopsy · 20/07/2018 22:38

What do GPs class as an emergency?

It's hard to answer but for example
Chest pains A&E
Dizzinesss and headache surgery
Fingers slammed in a car door A&E
Sunburn/minor burn minor ailments
Replacement med (if we can't issue) surgery
Conjunctivitis optician

Sometimes it can be things like a child has fallen and bumped head seems ok but parent doesn't drive it's faster to come to us. Also patients with ongoing illness who have flare ups sometimes need to be seen on the day.

Its mostly why we ask so we can put the patient in the right place.

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Lalaisloopsy · 20/07/2018 22:40

Anotherdayanotherdollar thanks Grin I've got my hard hat on

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DrWhy · 20/07/2018 22:54

There is a poster in our reception, I think it’s an NHS Scotland one that’s headed ‘why does the receptionist need to know what you are calling for?’ And goes on to explain that they are not being nosy, it’s to direct you to the correct place etc. Why aren’t these prominently displayed in every GP surgery?!
I do think it’s awkward that people have to discuss the condition somewhere that they are so easily heard though. If you have more than one receptionist why can’t one be in a private back office taking the phone calls and the one on the front desk only deal with people coming in?
While I was waiting at reception this week The receptionist was on the phone to someone who sounded a lot like they had a UTI, started with the suggestion of a home Drs visit and ended up with her DH would drop a sample in to the surgery, it would be tested and then appropriate antibiotics would then be prescribed by a Dr and her DH could collect the prescription. A total win situation, she didn’t have to leave the house, GP appointment wasn’t used. However, I do feel that I shouldn’t have been able to hear that conversation.

DrWhy · 20/07/2018 22:57

Oh and I feel I should add that I love our GPs receptionists, they are ace and can always magic up what you need one way or another. I think the longest it’s taken for my toddler to be seen (under 18 months) was 4 hours! Generally the question if he’s involved was ‘how long does it take you to get here?’.

Guardianreaderformysins · 20/07/2018 22:58

Do you take care when on the phone to respect privacy? Several times I’ve been sat on in the waiting room and heard the name and detailed problems of some poor person...

Lalaisloopsy · 20/07/2018 23:37

Why aren’t these prominently displayed in every GP surgery?!
Honestly I would love if they did I would also love if we all took the time to let our patients know why we ask.

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