I work in a GP surgery AMA

[phonetedt]

healthcare role - safeguarding

AMA

What does your job entail?

I handle all the safeguarded patients - so this means keeping a register of all adults and children with active safeguarding concerns. For adults this may be victims of domestic abuse, vulnerability due to refusal of carers for example. For children this may be those who are abused, neglected, or who live in a household with parents who are safeguarding concerns (eg living in a house with parents where one is a domestic abuse victim)

Then there's the referrals, meetings, queries, arranging appointments as necessary. Assessing whether or not an A&E attendance is of concern etc

Why are doctors’ receptionists so rude and unpleasant?

Are the receptionists nice to you?

The doctor's receptionists are nice in my surgery but then again i treat them with respect and don't dismiss them like they are all the same..

Are people nice to you op? I hope so.

Are the GPs respectful to you?

My DM was told seven months ago that she needed a rodent ulcer removed from her leg. The c word was mentioned. She was referred to Dermatology as "Urgent" for this to be done, but has heard nothing. Do you think she has dropped down the list because of age? She is 76. Is age an issue in getting treatment?

Are you a social worker?

I was going to ask this! I understand it if you are being difficult but being a polite, kind person, I just don’t understand why they are always rude. I have a stressful job as a teacher but I am never rude to children, colleagues, parents or anyone. It’s uncalled for.

where you a nurse first? Your job sounds very interesting.

Do all gp surgeries have one of you?

I work in safeguarding as well, but in schools and I've never heard of your role

Should I be asking for <your job title> when I have to contact the gp?

Is it easy to switch off after work or do you find yourself worrying about certain patients?

I was going to ask this! I understand it if you are being difficult but being a polite, kind person, I just don’t understand why they are always rude. I have a stressful job as a teacher but I am never rude to children, colleagues, parents or anyone. It’s uncalled for.

This. Thank you.

Because they deal with so much crap it's unbelievable. They're working a thankless job on minimum wage and they do a lot more than just answer the phones!

Yes :)

Yes, they are really lovely and treat me like one of them

The waiting lists are catastrophic. If the big C is majorly suspected she should be fast tracked - book another app if you can. Waiting lists are sadly out of our control but I really wish they weren't

No but I work closely with them.

Only if you have a safeguarding concern, but typically you can tell your GP and they'll inform me anyway

I'm not sure, I believe so. It's a relatively new role and some will do less than I do, it all depends on the PCN (primary care network) they work for.

I can switch off but there is the odd one that gets under my skin. A lot of child protection ones make me worry. especially when we are fighting so hard to get the social workers involved. The threshold is scarily high. One patient has had multiple referrals from us and school but still nothing. That stays with me when I go home

Do you think GP practices would get better quality receptionists if, as the small businesses they are, they paid above minimum wage?

However much crap they are dealing with, how thankless the job, or how low the wages, there is still no excuse to treat patients in the condescending, downright unhelpful and deliberately obstructive way that so many of them do.

'they do a lot more than just answer the phone'
Your receptionists actually answer the phone? Blimey.

When you say you "handle" people where there are safeguarding concerns, what does handle mean? What do you actually do for them?

No, I think the answer is more of them. It's a horrific and tiring job at times. I think personally the whole booking system needs a revamp!