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AIBU?

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Original poster

Utterly stupid GP receptionist

84 replies

BrereRabbit · 05/12/2014 20:21

Snotty stupid woman who just couldn't be arsed doing absolutely anything to help. I have a flu jab every year. It's much needed. I missed it one year and was blue lighted to hospital ending up very poorly.

I swapped surgeries over summer. turned up late October asking to book a flu jab and was told by the receptionist that my medical records had not been moved over onto the computer system yet so she couldn't book me an appt as she had no confirmation I needed one. Apart from the fact I have asthma and get one every year, I was standing there with my maternity notes and she said she couldn't help me, if I was entitled to one I would receive a letter inviting me and to wait for it. which I did. nothing. After having the same conversation again with her I came down with some kind of cold/virus/flu.
My throat has felt like razor blades for nearly three weeks now. It's not getting better. Really hurts to swallow and I have no voice. fine. But at night time it's making my asthma play up to the point where I spend all night coughing and it's really painful. struggling to breathe and getting no sleep. nothing is making it better and my nose is blocked too. I just want to sleep. This wouldn't be happening If she had just been helpful and booked me in. three weeks. I know people have far worse problems but I'm so so so fed up.

Tips for help with asthma attacks and sore throats that are safe for pregnant women below please?

PleaseSad

OP posts:
everybodysang · 05/12/2014 21:17

Wow. Milly what a horrible thing to say. You have no idea what people's circumstances are. I hope you don't ever speak to your patients like that.

timetoplay · 05/12/2014 21:19

Get some manukka honey for your throat, it will help. Eucalyptus oil is good for unblocking noses. If you have a bath, run it hot and put some oil on the side in containers. Shut the bathroom door and leave for a little, then go and sit in the steamy oily smelling room and once the bath is cooler- get in.

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 05/12/2014 21:20

You are entitled to the flu jab for free when pregnant. I had it in October for the first time ever, no medical need for it other than I was pregnant.

WidowWadman · 05/12/2014 21:23

Would a pharmacy even jab a pregnant woman? I now they refused to sell me thrush creme without a prescription when I was visibly pregnant

KnackeredMerrily · 05/12/2014 21:25

I think I had the same virus!

Also asthmatic and pregnant. I bought a humidifier for wet air to help my cough. I gargled with salt water. I had a honey lemon and clove drink every night before bed - all ingredients in warm lemonade, It's my homemade lemsip. Regular paracetamol. Lots of rest and water. Bit of orange juice when I could. Vicks is also better than nothing.

YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually · 05/12/2014 21:27

Nice to see MillyStar contributing to the stereotype of rude and unhelpful receptionists...bit of an own goal there!

OP you need to be a bit more proactive though and see your GP if you're pregnant and unwell.

MillyStar · 05/12/2014 21:49

I wouldn't speak to a patient like that no, I would have done everything I could to help her, I'd have spoken to our nurses and gps and made sure she was seen to, I do t really understand why they would need medical records if someone is pregnant as any gestation is accepted by a flu jab. If it was our policy not to give it without the records then I'd have googled the closest chemist who do flu jabs and printed out the address and price etc.

I do however find someone blaming a receptionist for them being poorly utterly rediculous!!

All I'm saying is if it was that important I'd have eaten beans on toast and apples for a week to save the £9. I wouldn't be on mumsnet over a month later blaming someone else!! Take some responsibility

Original poster
BrereRabbit · 05/12/2014 22:04

Thanks for the flaming autumnshades. its nice to know I sound vile. I do know she wasn't doing her job correctly as I had that job myself. And if it was me I would have at least asked someone else more senior for advice. I may not have flu but I've not been able to breathe each night due to asthma and vomiting some nights just to breathe as it's like choking on all of the mucous in my throats. My nose won't unblock, it's permanently damaged so I have one airway that has been leaving me too scared to sleep for three weeks. And to top it off, now I've caught something as other posters pointed out I can't have the jab now until I'm better. It's so so frustrating as it doesn't seem to be easing off at all and when I ended up in a & e with breathing difficulties last weekend they said there was nothing they could do because I was pregnant. If she had just listened to me I'm sure I would be ok. I've had it every other year except one and was horribly ill then. I'm sorry I sound vile to you but it's horrible being too scared to sleep because some snotty woman hasn't got the time to listen. There's my rant over. I needed to get it out as I don't have the breath to actually speak to anybody about it right now. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
BrereRabbit · 05/12/2014 22:05

And 6 months for my records transferring is a joke!

OP posts:
Original poster
BrereRabbit · 05/12/2014 22:09

Oh and thanks millystar. Money is incredibly tight for some people at the moment. We have had necessary huge house repairs the last month and every penny of my money has gone to dc1, that's why right or wrong I've not spent the £9 on a flu jab. It should have been sorted out via nhs, I don't think the fact I haven't paid for something that is prescribed should reflect my parenting skills really.

OP posts:
MillyStar · 05/12/2014 22:11

You do need to see someone if you are so poorly! Have you had a midwife app in the last three weeks when you've been bad?

If you're this bad then you need to phone out of hours or book an emergency appointment on Monday, you must know from doing the job yourself that people take those appointments for much less!

Stop being silly and get seen to, and pay the £9 when you're better if you can't get the jab at the gps

MillyStar · 05/12/2014 22:14

It doesn't matter who 'should' have paid though does it, it's not time to be moralistic when you've got a baby in your belly and you want something that can stop you getting poorly!

I'm a skint single mother myself but if I had asthma then I'd beg borrow and steal to pay for a flu jab

I wasn't judging your parenting skills, just saying be prepared to pull a fair few more £9's out of nowhere when they come along

divingoffthebalcony · 05/12/2014 22:17

I'm pregnant and got my (free) flu jab at Boots. I was picking up a prescription so they saw my maternity exemption card as "proof" I was pregnant.

Really easy.

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 05/12/2014 22:17

Firstly,see a doctor.

Secondly,you do not have flu.A flu vaccine would not have made any difference to how you are now.Stop blaming the receptionist,it is not her fault you have a virus or infection.

NewNamePlease · 05/12/2014 22:18

I don't think you should be having a baby if you don't have £9 to spare, they're expensive!
Book an appointment and get seen to they may be able to give you something. The Covina catarrh remedy is good at clearing the mucus at back of throat or at least stopping it getting worse, pretty sure it foetus friendly but do check.

NewNamePlease · 05/12/2014 22:18
  • covonia catarrh remedy
simbacatlivesagain · 05/12/2014 22:21

If you can type on your laptop you havent got flu.

TooMuchCantBreathe · 05/12/2014 22:22

Well I'd have thought they'd want your records to ensure you haven't already had the jab. I doubt they'd want to risk giving it twice when pregnant. I still don't get how you being ill is her fault. You say ^ I'm sure if she'd listened I'd be fine but you don't have flu so how would her listening have helped? It sounds crap being ill like you are but I'm just not getting the link to the receptionist, sorry.

clapalongifyoufeelhappy · 05/12/2014 22:24

Whether OP is BU or not, you cannot just say "pay for it then". If she is entitled to get it free, why would she pay for it? I agree that I would have paid for it myself if I was prone to catching bugs, but I am not entitled to get it free.

TheXxed · 05/12/2014 22:28

OP many pharmacies provide free flu jabs to pregnant women and other at risk groups for free. Yabu to not look for alternate ways of getting the flu jab.

Also your symptoms do not sound like the flu, you could have accessed ooh G.P services, seen your midwife or made a routine G.P appointment.

camtt · 05/12/2014 22:29

I wouldn't have begged, borrowed and stolen to pay for a flu jab, OP is precisely the category of person who most needs a flu jab and shouldn't have been turned away - her medical needs are more important than the filing really. OP you were too nice, you have to insist and keep on insisting until you see someone with the ability to see beyond the filing system.

helensburgh · 05/12/2014 22:36

The flu jab protects,against a few strains of,flu.

You most deftly don't have flu, therefore you would,still have what you have now had you had the jab.

Nanny0gg · 05/12/2014 22:37

I don't think you should be having a baby if you don't have £9 to spare, they're expensive!

This is the single most stupid statement I've ever read on here

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 05/12/2014 22:45

MillyStar- so many stupid and judgmental statements. You sound like a first class doctor's receptionist. Honestly. OP- YANBU. Hope you feel better soon.

ParisWhenItSizzles · 05/12/2014 22:49

Wow at the judginess on this thread.

OP - I hope you feel better soon. I know how it feels to be pregnant/have a new baby & barely have two coins to rub together. Clearly, some people on this thread, don't. And I'm happy for them. Shame they can't have a bit of empathy.

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