to think that doctor's receptionists should have a little bit of empathy?

[oldmcdonalds]

Yes I can appreciate they get a hard time from some members of the public, and I know its a generalisation, but usually if you are in a doctor's surgery you are likely to be ill, worried, stressed, nervous or all of the above!
It would be nice if they could appreciate that.

I had to leave this morning because she made me cry, over something that was easily fixable.
I'm now so worked up and just want to cry.

My sympathies go to you! I have cried after speaking to a horrid doctors receptionist. I know their jobs must be quite stressful, but I just felt awful after speaking to her.

Actually another time I ended up crying while I was in with the doctor (cringe) due to a receptionist cocking up an appointment. He couldnt appologuise enough, so that made me feel better.

I try my very best to remember they must bear the brunt of peoples' stresses but I quite agree. My local ones are horrendous. One in particular looks at you like you are dirt and if I open my mouth to speak, talks to me like I'm stupid. I'm always smiley and polite and friendly.

Sorry she made you cry. Could you complain?

I think I'm the only person in the entire country who likes their surgery receptionist. Mine is lovely. As is my dentist. Perhaps I live in some kind of parallel universe. Admittedly it feels like one sometimes.

One yelled at me when I went to reception to tell her that I was there for my appointment (wasn't that what you are supposed to bloody well do) .

I had been called in for test results from the hospital,, as the last time I had gone into the doctor for a routine blood test the doctor asked me to come in and see him, then told me to go directly to the hospital for tests. Oddly enough, I was a little nervous and the old bag at reception yelling "yes I know you are here, I can see you, you know" didn't help.

YANBU - but as a species they seem to take pride in being as rude and unhelpful as possible. I think they love exercising their power over patients as a 'gatekeeper' to the Doctor.

It isn't an impossible job, answer the phone, book appointments and do it with a smile on your face. Surely not too much to ask is it?

YABU. Anyone who shows the remotest sign of empathy is immediately excluded from that job.

OK, I'm joking but the empathic ones are very few and far between. Why?

There is a special rudeness school in east Essex where doctor's receptionists go to to be trained. It's compulsory as part of their induction. Those that show particular aptitude go on to work in maternity units.

Yes, the ones where I am at the moment are lovely. When I was pregnant and throwing up all the time one of them simply said 'Oh poor you, that must be miserable' and it made such a difference.

Where I used to live they once denied all notice of me having registered with the practice and were utterly adamant I was wrong when I insisted I had come and filled in forms there; turned out they had put my records in the wrong drawer. They were so rude and patronising despite it being their mistake.

SensitivityChip - I have a lovely dentist too! She's worth her weight in gold because the kids actually LOOK FORWARD to going to the dentist and make a huge effort to keep their teeth sparkly clean so as not to disappoint her.

Every single time I have a doc's appointment and go to reception to report in, the staff never, ever come straight to me. Despite there being at least four behind there at the same time, either on a computer, sorting letters or chatting, it's as if they make a point of making you stand there for a while before finally noticing you. They are never rude, but this is irritating!

Would love to see an MN campaign on this. It's not great for people's health to have unapproachable/hostile/angry doctors' receptionists. It's ironic that doctors often say: "Why didn't you come to me with this sooner?" Errrm, because I was afraid to?

Currently we have several lovely people working at our docs and one cow. I'm sure she is the reason that there is a high turnover of staff.

I musr be really lucky, as in the 3 surgeries I have been registered in the receptionists have been absolutely lovely.

Unless I am about to suffer a cardiac arrest I avoid my gp surgery for this very reason.

It's not right, though, is it, Hobnobs?

I hear this so often on here, which is a pity. But mine are fine and generally helpful, one enthusiastic receptionist even called me on a Saturday to check some record detail.

We do have some nice ones, but I too have actually cried after talking to one.

As a general rule, if you have to put up a sign saying no-one must get cross or sweary with a receptionist, perhaps it is the receptionist who should be trained not to behave in a manner likely not to make members of general public want to smash them in the face.

Make a complaint to the practice manager about it!

I needed some blood test results, results that could literally change my life.
The important one wasn't there and I asked her to check the printout. She didn't need to interpret the results, she just needed to listen to my explanation and check the printout. Instead she wanted to charge me for printing them again or make another appt with the doctor. And I didn't have my purse, so she wouldn't give them to me.
Fortunately the other receptionist had a cancellation so I waited to see the doctor who compared the print to the screen and sorted it within a minute.

the good news is that the test results were good

Even in the worst of jobs there's no need to make people cry

I agree auf, we are actually in the process of leaving the practice as accessing the care we need is nigh on impossible. Many have complained and nothing changes so we are bailing out. The last 3 times I have called to make an appointment I have come off the phone in tears with no appointment . The actual gp's are fab.

Agree you should complain to the practice manager.

Our surgery has proudly stuck a press cutting on the wall in reception about reasons receptionists are grumpy

OH is allergic to fish, carries an Epi-pen
The pen only lasts 6 months.
So every 6 months he needs a repeat prescription, but because if you have a regular prescription you have to be reviewed by the doctor so you can?t just request a repeat, you have to see the doctor.

I mean what a waste of an appointment, it is very unlikely without years of desensitivity treatment for him to suddenly become not allergic to fish.
I can understand if he was on Anti-depressives or anti hyper tensives, but an Epipen. . .

So every 6 months OH wastes an appointment, so he?s wasting 2 a year, how many others are doing the same? And because we don?t have late evening or Saturday opening he has to take time off work.

According to Wiki about 4000 people are diagnosed with peanut allergy a year
Bupa website says that 1-in every 100 people have a food allergy (as opposed to intolerance) so there?s 51 million people in England give or take. So that?s 510,000 with food allergies so even if only 5 % carry Epipens that?s 25,500 people needing an appointment every 6 months so that?s 51,000 wasted appointments a year.

Ok slightly off point but it makes me so very very

Pressed posted too soon

So every 6 months OH has to fight to get an appointment that he knows he really doesn't need.

And if he gets the strange one on the phone is questioned in depth about why he?s needs the appointment. And I get annoyed because she fishing for personal information, fair enough taking some info if it?s for an emergency, but for a routine?

We don?t want to leave as our doc is fab as are all the rest of the staff , so we just complain each time, and I coach OH to say
I am not happy to share that information I don?t think it is relevant I just need a routine 10 minute appointment with the doctor.

Our Doctors receptionists are lovely.