Why are so many GP receptionists rude?

[Jenna2212]

I don't think I've ever heard of a surgery where people have positive things to say about the receptionists. At a time when people are most vulnerable and in need, why do GP surgeries tend to recruit such hostile people to greet sick people?

Have you had any bad experiences with your GP surgery? Feel free to post below. 💊

No it was a Government instruction and generally enforced for the good and safety of everyone.

The same kind of people objecting are the ones not getting their children vaccinated.

It takes around 10 years to develop a vaccine, yet this injection was "developed" in just over a year. There have been whistleblowers from Pfizer who have talked about what's in them. I could talk more about convid but that's probably for a different thread. Masks are a symbol of compliance to tyranny.

I suggest reading the accounts of Ernest Ramirez, whose son was killed by the injection, also Gareth Shaw, whose wife Eve died after taking it.

Great idea, can you also point us in the direct of one of the millions of people who feel their lives or the lives of their families were saved by the Covid Vaccination?
Actually don't worry about it, not need I have met plenty in real life.

As for how it was so quick - I was working in a related field at the time and knew some of the people involved in the development of the vaccines and one explained it to be like this
Getting Regulatory approval is like driving from A to B, lots of stops along the way,other traffic, red lights, traffic jams, road works.
With the Covid Vaccs the route was EXACTLY the same but with a Police escort so you can get through all the obstacles quickly. Its the same route with the same obstacles but a cleared path

If they made their online systems actually serviceable it might ease the pressure

They have to deal with the general public!

Id say a lot has to do with the demanding patients 🙁

I'd say a lot has to do with the ethos and attitude of the GP Partners. If they are abrupt and unhelpful it will permeate through the practice.

Totally.

We had a fantastic GP. He'd almost always see you on the day. If it was urgent then definitely, even if you were told "come down at 4pm and he'll try and squeeze you in". He came round to check at home if he was worried. Nothing was too much work for him - or any of the registrars that worked with him.
The receptionists were smiley and cheerful - could be firm on occasion, but really helpful.

He retired.
The same receptionists are the ones now scowling at you and offering a phone consultation (which 99% of the time turns into a text which doesn't match what you've told them) or told to phone back in a fortnight because there's no appointments (there never are) - and that included the time the app had told me that I needed an urgent appointment.

Patients will be demanding, as I said upthread, nobody usually wants to see a doctor - they are visiting the surgery because something has gone wrong with their health or their child's health. It can be a very worrying time.

Working in customer facing roles can be demanding, but you know what they say, if you can't take the heat!

Customer service is a vocation. Some people can do it well, others fail. What the failures don't realise is that when you are dealing with a customer, it becomes about them, not you. Those who grasp that tend to do very well in customer service.

I think I've said upthread that if I get a please and a thank you, I will give that back in my response but if I don't then I'm not the professional, I don't have to be nice to someone who is rude to me. I'll be as arrogant and obnoxious as I like. I'm night and day depending on the attitude I get from the server (notice that word, they are there to serve*).

We should all shun the app and insist on doing things the proper way - an appointment booked at the desk, that's a face-to-face appointment. If the GP surgery puts obstacles in the way, then they should be reported to CQC.

Your suggestion isn’t going to generate more appointments. Doing some appointments by phone has freed up more time. The records show that GP’s are doing more appointments than pre Covid but demand is greater than availability. What do you think the CQCcould do - suddenly create more GP’s??

Because receptionists only needs 5 GCSE's above C grade and no other qualifications. They're also not bound by confidentiality but think they're on par with a nurse the same way pharmacists seem to think they're on par with doctors.

Sorry but receptionists in GP surgeries absolutely are bound by patient confidentiality and are subject to disciplinary procedures if the y breach it. And pharmacists and doctors are equally qualified, it’s the specialty in the area of medicine that differs.

Phone appointments free up time for more face to face appointments. GPs are private businesses - their services are contracted to the NHS. As long as they are providing the services for which they are paid it’s up to them to provide it in the most efficient way. What do you think the CQC can do if the level of service meets their contract ?

They should employ medically trained staff to do that role tbh

As receptionists ? Why on earth would they do that ? Receptionists work to a defined procedure when allocating appointments and have access to medical opinion if there is any query as to priority in being seen.

It is the vocationanl calling of a certain type of person who think they can decide how ill or otherwise you are. I had an ulcer on my leg which required me to have dressing changes 3x a week and they kept telling me there were no appointments - even though it was serious enough that I could have lost my leg. They told me to go to the walk in centre even though walk in centres don’t deal with dressings. All done with helpless shrugs and determination not to accept the appointments were crucial to my long term health.

I'd have gone crazy! GP surgeries are supposed to reserve a certain amount of appointments such as emergencies that you had. If this happens again, I'd recommend going straight to A&E.

It's no wonder that there is a trend of disdain for the occupants of said role when they stop people getting the URGENT treatment they need so gleefully.

Spoonbillstreford-GBP ???

Try using the NHS app- I've found it cuts through all the receptionist obfuscating nonsense quite well.

Our receptionists are lovely even though they are under a huge amount of stress and abuse daily. Another 4000 homes has been built in our village and the daily calls have tripled.

Additional homes being built without extending public services is the problem. GP receptionists aren’t preventing people from having an appointment - it’s supply and demand - you can only have an appointment if one is available. Shouting at the receptionist isn’t going to change that.

I do somewhat agree with you regarding all of these additional homes that are sprouting up. There used to be a lovely pub around the corner for me. It was knocked down and replaced with what must be 8 HMO houses. They look claustrophobia inducing to say the least.

It shouldn't be a case of one in, one out to tackle the migration problem. If our resources are as stretched as governing bodies claim, then we need radical remigration soon.

But that said, regardless of the mess the country is in, receptionists should be there to help, not hinder.