How to get past GP receptionist

[Overwhelmedandunsure]

I live in a large village. Many people know each other. I am not friends with any of the GP reception team, but know most of them to chat in passing.

I feel like I am sinking following bereavement, and having tried exercise, meditation, herbal remedies, etc I have reached the stage where I think I need prescribed medication.

My GP does not have E Consult and it is never possible to book an appointment online. Everyone has to phone at 8.00am, which I realise is the case for many people.

The receptionist wants to know the reason for the appointment before booking one. I know I will break down and don’t want to do so with someone I know. I also know that they are meant to be bound by confidentiality, but have reason to have little faith in this in practice.

I need to be strong for my young adult children. They, and many other people, say that I appear to be coping so well. They would be so upset if they knew how I am feeling. They have lost their father. I want them to get out and live their lives without worrying about me.

I could possibly afford one private appointment, but not on an ongoing basis, especially if I have to have private prescriptions.

I don’t know that I am currently strong enough to point blank refuse to give any details to the receptionist and say I need to speak to the GP. Has anyone successfully done this? or does anyone have any other ideas?

Agree just say it’s a personal matter. If pressed say it’s embarrassing.

Th receptionists can see your consultation notes anyway when you've been into see GP so no point lying to them. Just say struggling with bereavement and that's it.

OP clearly has reason to believe that the receptionist is a gossip (hardly unknown in a village) so I’m not sure why people are suggesting she tells them the real reason for calling.

I think even the most determined village gossip would balk at actively going through patient records to find material - however I certainly wouldn’t put it past them to do the old “oh, Jane is struggling with her mental health again, isn’t it a shame, oh didn’t you know? Well, it all started when…” routine based on a phone call for an appointment.

@Soigneur receptionists are allowed to click on whatever options are available to them, as a former GP receptionist I can tell you that I can see the list of daily appointments on the consult notes for each patient alongside meds because we are usually clicking on and out checking things, getting things printed or signed. It's part of the job and if the patient was in seeing the GP that day then that's enough reason.

Because the receptionist will see the consult notes straight after her appointment as it's routine to check things like I've said

I'm sorry for your loss. I think you will have to be honest that you're struggling with your mental health - absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and whoever answered the phone would be able to get you help as soon as they can. The danger of saying something other than that is you could be deemed as not urgent so given an appointment in several weeks time as opposed to that day.

I appreciate it is difficult, I've broken down in the middle of a surgery reception as I was in a crisis and suicidal and everyone acted quickly and I'm grateful for that.

I would drop in a letter to the practice and address it to the GP you want to see and mark it confidential. Then explain what you have said here and ask if you can have an appointment made for you to come in and be seen without the receptionists knowing the exact issue as you would struggle to maintain your composure in the waiting room if you knew that they knew. Dont forget to include your phone number and email address so they can get back to you easily

please do reach out for the support you need, and also think about being more open with your dc. sometimes being open woth the ones you love gives them permission to be open back. Maybe they are struggling too but dont want to upset you, and by talking about it, you can help each other through.

I’d also recommend dropping in a letter. You aren’t asking for a same day appointment so no need to be triaged. A letter gives you a chance to say a bit more but also a level of privacy. I know receptionists can see your notes but I can totally understand why you wouldn’t want to talk to them or break down on the phone. GPs can make their own appointments on their system without going via reception. Mine often does it.

I'm so sorry for your loss💐
Great ideas from previous posters, have you considered the charity Cruse?

https://www.cruse.org.uk/

Everything you say will be confidential. Sadly it won't be anything they haven't heard before and will just be part of their job, which they'll forget as soon as they're onto the next person. Please don't let your reservations put you off getting support.

It might help to tell the receptionist. When I was struggling with my mental health I rang to make a drs appointment knowing it would be weeks away and the appointment I was offered was, in fact, four weeks away. I accepted it and when she asked what it was for, I said I was struggling mentally and that made me cry as I said it. The receptionist then insisted that I couldn't wait for weeks and had a gp phone me within the hour and by the end of the day I had a prescription and a referral

Thank you to everyone who has commented. It had genuinely not occurred to me to make something up in order to get to see the GP.
I briefly wondered if I might be able to just say it’s personal, but having read one reply from a GP receptionist about them having access to notes I realise that this will not work. Whilst it is less likely that someone would take an interest in patient notes than a sobbing person I don’t want to take that risk. I did not make my comment about having reason to believe that the staff don’t always maintain confidentiality lightly. I apologise to any receptionists here who do maintain professional integrity, I am not casting aspersions on anyone else.
I will follow the link provided about talking services. Thank you to the person who provided it.
I have had a slightly more clear thought that if I can’t do anything else I may be able to register with the GP in a village a few miles away.

Just to add letters to GPS are opened by the receptionists first and then given to GP this is routine. All results letters are marked confidential and again open by receptionists. GP don't have time to sit and personally open confidential letters.

It is a receptionist job to remain professional and ensure confidentially is adhered to, op they have heard and seen everything before please don't worry it's very routine.

Just say you want to speak to the GP about your mental health that's all you need to say. Sorry about your DH please contact them for support nobody would bat an eyelid you are bereaved.

Don't say that because you'll be advised to go to A&E. You just have to say nothing more than my mental health.

It really annoys GPs if you tell the Receptionist one thing and the GP something entirely different. Without being too blunt GP Receptionists don't care what the problem is but they are requested by the GP to ask. As soon as your phone call is finished it's onto the next.I

If you say it's personal, which is fine then the GP can't decide whether it's urgent or not and you could be waiting for a call from the GP until much later in the day.

If you are worried about gossip and or confidentiality, speak to the practice manager. It is an actual requirement of the receptionist job. They legally have to maintain confidentiality.