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.

Fanjo : receptionists get the blame for everything? Really? On this thread? This is about rude receptionists. It's not preconceptions, it's about sheer rudeness and a lack of ability to deal with people from some doctors' receptionists.

It does make me laugh on these types of threads when disgruntled doctors receptionists come out of the woodwork all defensive and totally missing the point of the thread! I remember a similar thing happening once on a thread about a rude school secretary!

It's all just bad management. Being unable to respond to customers' needs, and insisting that they, the customers, are in the wrong.

Hexagonalqueen..no, in general there are lots of misconceptions about the role of reception staff, which come out on threads like this.

And I'm not a doctors receptionist although I am disgruntled.

Again, baroozers receptionist was busy and made a mistake but because of her job its seen as her being a bitch. As for 'berating for being late' I am told I have to.do this, avoid it where I can but its not a power trip.

But carry on with your 'my receptionist is such a bitch, she once spelt my name wrong and was.rude when I called her a fucking cow' stories

OMG the one at my doctors surgery is amazing, never asks 'whats if for' and deems your ailment/complaint not important, and always does me a repeat prescription over the phone even though its against PCT guidelines because im a twat and forget to order intime when I run out.

No I'm not saying that at all Hexagonal. I think you're just reading bits of my posts and taking them out of context, and ignoring the many comments I've made that there is no excuse for rudeness.

I haven't seen any misconceptions on here, Fango, just stories of peoples' actual experiences.

If you're disgruntled, get another job.

And I don't know how you can excuse the behaviour of Baroozer's receptionist. She can't have been that busy if she was chatting to colleagues whilst Baroozer was in full view of her. So yes, that receptionist was being a bitch, there was no mistake made there.

Sidge to be fair it is you that is reading bits of peoples' posts and taking them out of context. You have contradicted yourself by saying that there is no excuse for rudeness but then that people should be understanding as a doctors receptionist has a stressful job. Which is it? Is it acceptable for receptionists to be rude or is it not acceptable? Your posts are unclear.

Yanbu. My doctors receptionist is currently facing no less than 6 complaints with the practice manager. One from me, as she refused to allow me and my child to wait in the seperated infectious room as, she told me, I cannot just decide that I/dd is infectious- the doctor has to tell me(before the appt?) Dd had chicken pox. We should not have sat with other ill vulnerable people just because she couldn't be arsed to unlock the designated infectious room. Pompous bitch.

BTW I work in a call centre- I take horrendous and often very personal abuse day in and out. I have had letters sent to the office threatening death, customers shouting abuse as I leave/enter the building. We have to give our names so I can't be on fb as one lad got a disgruntled customer stalking him VIA that. We are reminded in my job that you may have spoken to 50 angry rude people before this person, but its their first interaction with you, you can't take it out on them.

Article about why GP receptionists are grumpy

I'm.not.disgruntled with my.job thanks, but with narrow minded posters

I have a feeling, Fanjo, that your customer service skills are less than good and that you are probably like many of the receptionists described in this thread. I can only think that must be the reason why you are so defensive and prickly and taking it all so very personally.

Er no I haven't.

I said there was no excuse for rudeness. By anyone, patient or staff. Twice.

You are paraphrasing my posts and getting them wrong. I think my posts are quite clear.

Anyway this is getting silly. I'm off.

Pregnantpause, just possibly she is told she has to ask the doctor before using it.

You lot sound a bit paranoid tbh

Yes, do flounce please, sidge

One of our GP Receptionists used to do a 'diagnosis' of my DC when I sat in the waiting room.She probably thought she was showing empathy/sympathy/re-assurance.
When my DS was little and had discharge coming out of his painful ear, she said in the waiting room,in full view of everyone waiting "Oh, he's probably had a abcess that's burst.He'll feel alot better now"
thank you. I know ears are not exactly intimate, but it's not her place to discuss in public.
And the GP (who was a Berkshire Hunt of the highest order) berated me for not cleaning his ear!
I had taken him from nursery to an Emergency Appointment (yes I phoned, I didn't just arrive) but I'd left the ear manky so that he could see it. He was one of those GPs who didn't even touch the baby, just a cursory look and a prescription. He didn't look at DS ear.

Hexagonalqueen..well, I just won a national award so you decide, you are just getting petty now love

And childish with your comment to Sidge

No flounce, just going to work

What did I say that was childish, Fanjo?

Fanjo, no one said the receptionist who dealt with me was a bitch, until you did. Personally I wouldn't have called her that. Rude, unpleasant, stupid, yes. Bitch, no.

I do find it odd that you would think she made a mistake. Being busy and making me "officially" late is a mistake; berating me for being late is not making a mistake. She saw me waiting, made eye contact, dealt with other stuff. I don't mind waiting, but I do object to being told off for something that was her fault. She could have taken 10 seconds out of her terrifyingly busy schedule to check my name against the list and press a button, but she chose to waste an extra 30 seconds telling me off.

I am never anything but polite to receptionists, as someone who has worked in the NHS and been at the receiving end of abuse and rudeness I really understand what it is like , BUT repeatedly being distressed by rudeness and obstructive receptionists is hideous. As I said previously we are leaving our current practice for this very reason. My friend's DC nearly died due to the behaviour of receptionists at the same practice due to my friend constantly being prevented from accessing the care she needed. I'm sorry Fanjo you may be fab at your job but it DOES happen and from reading this thread and others far to much.

i think all receptionists are dragons.
maybe its thier training
maybe its because they are at the beck and call of a bell for 8 hours

You need to chill out Fanjo, peoples experiences are valid and not an attack on you

OP YANBU to expect them to have empathy.

I have come across some lovely, polite and helpful GP receptionists. I have also had some shocking experiences with some.

I understand they are tied in some situations by the rules/expectations of their job description, but some go beyond that. when you are unwell or have an unwell child that you are worried about you need understanding, not rudeness or brushing off.

My mum was a GPs receptionist and later a practice manager, even she said some are jobsworth and lacking in people skills...some made dangerous mistakes.

Some people in general are arseholes...so by that rule some GP receptionists will be arseholes...just like in any job.