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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:
WaroftheRoses · 05/12/2014 22:52

If you've had the same job yourself OP and know the receptionist wasn't doing her job correctly then why didn't you challenge her/insist on seeing a doctor/midwife/practice nurse?!!
You're poorly-get it sorted. ANYBODY in the UK receives essential treatment free-non residents, people from different parts of the country etc etc. I think you needed to be more pro-active if you have worked as a GP receptionist yourself.
And why the bloody hell does it take 12 WEEKS to get records transferred?? What if you need repeats of prescriptions etc? How can it possibly take that long?! Shock

KatieKatie1980 · 05/12/2014 22:58

It must be frustrating to feel like the receptionist couldn't help you. I moved surgeries in Spring and it only took 10 days to move my notes?! (I only found this out because my old surgery attached someone else's info to my records, oops!)

Aren't you entitled to a free flu jab from pharmacies if you fall into high risk categories (asthma?). I'm not sure if that's correct but my Mum has MS and is always going on at me to have the jab! Maybe ask your Midwife?

However! That aside, if you are struggling with your asthma/breathing..can you maybe call the NHS number for advice? Perhaps they can guide you towards what to do as it's now the weekend.

ilovesooty · 05/12/2014 23:05

Your nose is permanently damaged?

KnackeredMerrily · 05/12/2014 23:08

I couldn't quite work it out from your post, but is your nose damaged, and also one nostril blocked from snot?

You can take a saline nasal spray it will be effective at helping your nose run rather than stay blocked. No medicine in it just salt - will be fine to take when pregnant.

MNHQ
TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 05/12/2014 23:13

Evenign all
Do we need a link to the guidelines

LineRunner · 05/12/2014 23:14

Milly, the foetus doesn't grow in a woman's belly. It grows in her uterus.

ArgyMargy · 05/12/2014 23:16

This is so funny! Is it some kind of joke thread?

Quiero · 05/12/2014 23:26

Well regardless of circumstance, getting the flu jab will not prevent you from or ease the symptoms of a cold.

If you feel you need emergency treatment for your illness, go and get it. The situation with your GP will not prevent this.

You will get your flu jab once your records come through (I agree the timescale is madness). If you feel you need it sooner you need to save up and get it from a pharmacy.

It's not that woman's fault that the system is shit.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 05/12/2014 23:30

I wish you came on MN before getting ill, as I would have informed you of getting the flu jab private is £9.

I hope you get well soon.

AutumnshadesofGold · 05/12/2014 23:32

I'm not flaming you OP, but yes I'm afraid to call someone utterly stupid when she was only doing her job isn't very nice. Even allowing for the fact that you're worried and anxious and not feeling 100%. She didn't need to check with anyone more senior - she was correct in her stance.

The 6 months it takes for your notes to transfer is another story - just try transferring from England to Scotland and then you'll really have a wait on your hands! But, this again isn't her fault.
I hope you feel better soon

Lucyandpoppy · 05/12/2014 23:35

I recently moved practices about 2 months ago and gad my flu jab 2 wks ago. I think that the receptionist should have known that flu jab reccomended for all pregnant ladies (to the posters saying not sure if pregnant ladies allowed it it is actually reccomended in pregnancy as not a live vaccine so no way to actually get the flu from it) and as you were registered and had mat notes with you could have booked you in. Book an app with gp to get this sorted, or ask midwife. When I went for scan at hospital they were doing it there so could ring and ask your maternity unit as well, or see if asda/tesco/boots pharmacy are doing it free for pregnant ladies?

AutumnshadesofGold · 05/12/2014 23:36

Haha I've never been deleted before :)

Lucyandpoppy · 05/12/2014 23:37

To the people saying the receptionist was correct - gps offer free flu jabs to pregnant people, they didnt need to wait for her whole gp notes to come through to see that she was eligible as she had her maternity notes with her?

Idiotdh · 05/12/2014 23:44

Seems a bit stingey
We get free jabs at work and they obviously don't have our records we sign a disclaimer.

AutumnshadesofGold · 05/12/2014 23:52

Yes but your employer will be paying for your vaccination - not the NHS

Idiotdh · 05/12/2014 23:54

Nhs

BumWad · 05/12/2014 23:59

OP you can't blame this entirely on the receptionist. You are responsible for your own wellbeing too and all you had to do was chase it up or insist on seeing the GP. Or like others have said gone elsewhere to get your flu jab for free.

It is highly unlikely the flu jab would have prevented your sore throat, you have a cold. Get lots of rest, I hope you feel better soon.

I think GP receptionists get a hard time of it from many, they are taking up more and more responsibilities as it is.

BumWad · 06/12/2014 00:02

Isn't belly a term for your abdomen? Your uterus is in your abdomens therefore her foetus is in her belly.

#justsaying

ohdearitshappeningtome · 06/12/2014 00:06

I don't see how this is the receptionist fault. It's not her fault the notes weren't there.

Sounds like you need a bit more than a flu jab that probably wouldn't have stopped you being poorly anyway.

Get well soon

everybodysang · 06/12/2014 00:20

The judginess here is making me feel queasy. Yes, saying the receptionist was stupid is a bit off but she's ill, pregnant, frustrated, perhaps we could cut her a little slack.
As for 'well if you can't afford £9 you can't afford a baby', let me tell you a story about my pregnancy.
DH lost his job when I was 4 months pregnant. He did get another quickly and I was still in work but it left us with a period of about 3 weeks where things were really desperate. During that time I pretty much lost the sight in one eye. Was rushed to hospital and after much fading and monitoring to check I didn't have pre eclampsia, I was sent home and told to get an eye test, urgently. Which I had to pay for. It was about £18, if I remember correctly, but we had NOTHING. We had to pawn things to get money for an eye test. Which showed up a serious problem and I was rushed back into hospital.
Now, I SHOULD have been tested in hospital, but it all got fucked up (they screwed up pretty much everything else about my care but I did get my sight back when the baby was born!) and I was left in a very desperate situation. If I'd left it it would have become very serious. And I was very scared. 3 weeks later we had a reasonable amount of money again but it was a horrible situation to be in. And if DH hadn't found work we'd have been in the shit.
I've been in proper, serious poverty before and it's not always your fault, it can happen suddenly and it feels dreadful. That little blip brought back the fear and desperation of those times, even though this time it was temporary.
Don't judge. There but for the grace...etc.

zoemaguire · 06/12/2014 05:22

The receptionist was clearly being obstructive.But she isn't responsible for your current plight, because you don't have flu!!! The flu jab honestly doesn't protect you against sore throats. If you got ill like this the only other year you didn't have the flu jab, that was just coincidence, it had nothing to do with not having the jab. It isn't a magic talisman, it protects you only against the particular set of viruses it is designed to. Sore throats (alas) are not covered. It does sound like you need to see a doctor though.

Altinkum · 06/12/2014 06:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mouthfulofquiz · 06/12/2014 06:56

It doesn't really sound like you have flu to me, therefore the jab won't have stopped you getting a sore throat and a probabu a virus which is exacerbating your asthma. So I wouldn't bother getting so worked up about it.
However - asthma exacerbation in pregnant women is taken seriously so I would call 111 and try to see an out of hours GP tomorrow to get checked over. You don't want your poor inflamed lungs getting infected and ending up with pneumonia do you?
I would let the whole flu jab thing go - and focus on sorting out what is wrong and getting better.
Make an appointment for your flu jab over the phone as soon as possible.
Hope you feel better soon,

Mouthfulofquiz · 06/12/2014 06:58

Ps I had pneumonia in pregnancy caused by my lungs getting inflamed following a week of asthma attacks. It was grim and I spent a week in hospital and 8 weeks getting over it. Please get it sorted.

confusedandemployed · 06/12/2014 06:58

Hang on. Your letter will have been sent back in September, or possibly even August. Why didn't you do this sooner? We're slap bang in flu season now.