AIBU?
To think it's not acceptable to dental receptionists to sit there loudly bitching about patients?
MrsMangelFanciedPaulRobinson · 09/05/2013 10:57
I've just been to the dentist. She was running late so I had to sit in the waiting room for half an hour.
At the practice I go to, each day the receptionists phone up the people that have appointments booked the following day to check that they are still ok to attend their appointment, and to jog their memory that they've booked it. And that's what the receptionists were doing today.
One receptionist phoned someone, I heard their name as she asked for them when they answered the phone (and this is a small town, everyone know everyone else). Admittedly it was a long phone call, and the receptionist had to explain a lot about why they were calling; I think the person on the other end was perhaps hard of hearing. There was then a bit of faffing whilst the other person decided whether or not they wanted the appointment, turned out they did, and the receptionist put the phone down. I'd say the call was no longer than maybe three minutes.
The two receptionists then spent about 5 minutes bitching about this customer. The woman who had phoned them was mimicking them and was huffing and puffing about how indecisive they'd been and basically what a pain in the arse they were.
AIBU to think this isn't acceptable. We all moan about work/clients/customers at times, I know that, but to do it on a reception desk in front of other customers isn't appropriate IMO. They are both very miserable rude receptionists and it seems that they don't like customers very much.
Don't know if this makes any difference but it's a combined NHS and Private practice.
NomadicSneer · 09/05/2013 10:59
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.
NomadicSneer · 09/05/2013 11:02
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.
somewhereaclockisticking · 09/05/2013 11:03
If they know people are there waiting to be seen and can hear them then no they shouldn't discuss patients - it's very rude - even if no-one knows who they're talking about. It's very unprofessional but in this day and age if you register some disgust it just gets you blackballed by people it seems.
NomadicSneer · 09/05/2013 11:06
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.
YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 09/05/2013 11:07
YANBU but you should have let them know that you could hear them and weren't happy. I had a similar experience a while back. Bitch all you like in private but never in public. Its so unprofessional. Had it been a friend of mine I'd have told them and watched them squirm. I'm mean like that! :o
MrsMangelFanciedPaulRobinson · 09/05/2013 11:11
I'm not sure, Hecsy
Last time I went I complained as I sat in their waiting room for half and hour before they 'remembered' that my dentist was off sick that day and therefore my appointment was cancelled.
If I complain again they'll have me down as a serial whinger.
and I don't want to be struck off
BigBlockSingsong · 09/05/2013 11:12
It is very unprofessional, I do despair at a lot of people who work in some form of 'health and social care' , people who aren't fit to wipe jon venables arse, who are brutal,ignorant and basically go into that kind of work too easily and for the wrong reasons.
I see a lot of this is disability care for adults,
I once complained to the nurseries manager because I could hear, through a locked door! someone talking unpleasantly about a child, in the space of 5 mins I knew that child's name,contents of bag, mums name etc, I mean imagine if the mum had been there instead of me!.
NomadicSneer · 09/05/2013 11:13
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.
NomadicSneer · 09/05/2013 11:15
This reply has been deleted
Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.
fluffyraggies · 09/05/2013 11:16
If i felt strongly enough i would write a letter to the practice manager. It could be anonymous.
In fact i think you should.
One of the dental nurses at my daughters clinic was having a big show-offy-flouncy row with someone on the phone in reception about her upcoming wedding last time we were there. No one knew where to look. Silly cow. Small room, people seated round the edge, and her leaning across the desk yelling into the phone about wedding shoes 
KellyElly · 09/05/2013 11:19
sorry - calling me strange for asking a question is aggressive, at least in polite society. She didn't call you strange, she said what a strange thing to say - two completely different things. Coming on a thread and saying 'what advice would you like?' and then accusing someone of being aggressive when they clearly aren't makes you look a bit of a loon quite frankly NomadicSneer.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.