To expect the GP receptionist to NOT question medical advice?

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

I shall preface this by saying that my GP surgery are fantastic 99.9% of the time. The receptionists are usually kind, caring, remember my name and what I'm studying at university, help me out if I've forgotten to put a prescription in on time etc.

I have an autoimmune illness and I am on 3 types of immunosuppressant drugs. If I have signs of infection, particularly a UTI which is common with one of my newer drugs, I have been told by my consultant and the specialist nurses to go straight to the GP.

I explained this in simple terms to the GP receptionist who insisted that it was not surgery policy, that they expect people to drop off a urine sample and to wait a week for results. I explained that my situation is different and that I am following medical advice. Stony silence. "We are very busy today." Cue me trying to be apologetic while being firm that I needed an appointment. I tried again with "this is medical advice". She then told me to come at 9.30 and ended the call abruptly.

AIBU to feel quite pissed off? I don't particularly enjoy a heated discussion at 8.30 am on a Monday morning when I'm feeling like crap and also panicking because I need to be in work for an important meeting. AIBU to insist that it's added on my notes that I should be seen if I have signs of an infection?

Yanbu. In future don't disclose what it is about. Just say you need an emergency appointment

No, YANBU because this could have serious consequences for you. I'd have a word with the practice manager and also see if you can get a statement in writing from your consultant to back you up.

At the very least, the receptionist should have offered a triage appointment with one of the doctors so you could get your point across, this is very poor.

I know that they have an incredibly difficult job but frankly this sort of thing does piss me off. Next time they question you, as them to provide their medical qualifications!! They are not doctors or nurses. I don't think they have training of that sort and so are not qualified to make such judgements.

Sounds like her 'nose was put out of joint' because she was wrong and she could not refuse your appointment. At least you got your appointment.

YANBU. I'd be pissed off (and angry) if any of my receptionists did this. I'd insist on at least a telephone consultation with your GP, or if they won't put you through, ask for the practice manager. All patients on Immunosuppressant therapy should have written action plans in the notes (these are usually written up by hospital docs and copy sent to GP for notes) which should have these instructions clearly documented.

And tell the GP about it when you get there.

I agree to writing a letter to the practice manager. Don't be "angry from angrysville" in your letter - just stick to the facts and ask how this situation could be avoided going forward.

The only response to this should have been "right let me see where I can fit you in". Adding it to your notes might not be that effective as the receptionist wouldn't automatically see your actual notes when she made the appointment unless you told her specifically to look. The system we used would have a yellow box in the corner of the screen with important info there so it might be worth asking about, it's always worth a try.
YANBU at all. Speak to the GP when you see them.

I would be on to the pratice manager like a shot. In fact I would have asked for her to put me straight through to the PM and part of that conversation would be about staff training. Ending the call abruptly ie hanging up, when you are trying to explain the previous medical advice you have been given is bang out of order.

My notes have a similar item in them regarding a non standard med I'm on.

It is not up to the receptionist. Tell the GP when you see them.

i think your being a little bit unreasonable. i have no doubt the receptionsit has heard it a million times where patients say they are taking medical advice and that think their situation is different than others. Im sure if you had spoken to your GP and it was on your notes then the receptionsit would have been a bit more receptive.

We always open up people's notes when they phone in.

She sounds like one of the bad ones we always have to ask what the problem is but I always say 'or would you prefer not to say?'. I would expect them to require a sample but just to dip and then send off to ensure the correct antibiotics are prescribed.

So yanbu she sounds like a nob I would also ring and speak to the pm.

I'm in the same situation as you, it took me ages to train up the receptionist at my old practice and now we've moved house I've got to start again with the new one.
Once when I couldn't get an appointment for love nor money I ended up phoning my specialist nurse at the hospital and he sorted out ABs for me.

I'm surprised tbh.

I take immunosuppresants and if I'm ever in need of an emergency appointment all I say is "im on immunosuppresants" and they always always find a way to fit me in.

It's like a magic phrase One time I got told off by the GP for not going in sooner.

I would just have a word when you go in.

I'm not really a complainer, I just don't want to have a 'discussion' over it with someone not medically trained. I'll pop in later and see if I can speak to someone face to face about getting it added to my notes. It just annoyed me because I'm not the sort of person to willingly trundle off to the GP anyway!

I'm also surprised, they are usually really helpful. Maybe the receptionist had Monday morningitis which, incidentally, I am also now suffering from too. Got my antibiotics and off to work I shall trundle. Oh bed, oh bed......

YANBU

YANBU......but every other patient is probably explaining that their 'situation is different' and requiring special care and attention. Maybe she was suffering from Monday morningitis, as you say, and for whatever reason on a short fuse.

Ive personally found in all the doctors surgeries Ive belonged to the receptionists are either really great or horrifyingly rude. I once did an AIBU about the manor or a particular receptionist who tutted, sighed and got irritated by me asking for one number on my sons blood test result because me knowing the number effected his life from second I knew it (i.e can I feed the kid bread at lunch or is he allergic to it? Its a big deal!) she said wait for an appointment days and days later.

Anyway, the generally consensus was I wasnt BU and the stories that followed about rude receptionists were awful.

Ive personally found the younger ones to have far more patience, tact and understanding.

I think YANBU, but this should have been put on your notes by the GP.

I don't doubt that every 10 mins the receptionist has someone telling her they are a special case.

It's the Doc's job to ensure you are recognisable to the staff as a genuine special case.

Oh my goodness, the attitude of some of the receptionists at our surgery is dreadful!

'Can I ask what the issue is?' Well no, not really, I'd rather discuss it with the person who's trained for thousands of years to be a medical professional!

Got to say though, when she asked this morning and I said 'I'm in pain' she didn't question it and got me in an hour later.

I think the PP was right, the younger ones seem to be more friendly!

With the computer system that GPs use, an alert can be put on that flashes up when the receptionist types your name in tellask you GP nicely to put an alert on for you

YANBU, my dad has to take immunosuppressants and he can always get an appt ASAP.

Although I have to say that my (new) docs is really good. This morning I overheard the receptionist say to someone on the phone "You'll have to discuss that with the doctor, I'm afraid we're not medically trained here on reception". I bet whoever was on the other end of that phone is complaining as we speak

I don't blame you for being annoyed. I don't think that a receptionist should be advising patients on "surgery policy" regarding treatment. There are exceptions to most rules and they are not qualified to decide who is and who isn't an exception. I think that someone in the practice (a GP?) needs to have a word with her.