Utterly stupid GP receptionist

[BrereRabbit]

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?

Please

OP, you can't argue both that this is serious, even life threatening, and not worth nine quid of your money.

You definitely can argue that the GP's receptionist was unhelpful and obstructive. You can say that you shouldn't have to pay £9 when it should be free. But you cannot talk in dramatic terms about three weeks of illness and being blue lighted to hospital and not go and seek (what you say is) the remedy yourself, when it is available over the counter for the cost of a couple of bus fares (and actually with your maternity card, as others have said, for free). That's just martyring yourself. And yes, I have been thoroughly on my uppers.

Anyway all that aside, I agree - you sound quite ill and get thee to a doctor asap. Feel better

I went to Boots for the flu jab. I ticked the 'pregnant' box on the form so they gave it to me for free ( I had already paid and they actually refunded me!)

I was only 5 weeks pg and didn't have to prove it!

Sorry. Sympathy with OP for her illness. Currently v unwell myself with same thing. That's why I have been up since 6am drinking hot tea to ease sinus pain. BUT it isn't flu.

Also why blame the receptionist - not her fault - she is just another person doing a job. We all have a job to do and mostly we do our best. We are not stupid just because we are a receptionist or work in retail whatever else someone wants to rant at because they don't get their own way

The money thing is a red herring. It is a question of priorities. True we don't know OP's circumstances but I don't think anybody reading this seriously doubts that she could not find £9 for a flu jab. (She owns a house, she has paid for repairs, she is having a second child, she has a laptop and an internet connection...) None of that is anyone's business of course and we cannot judge her decision BUT we can judge blaming everyone else for the fact that she feels ill especially since the fact that she didn't have a flu jab probably wouldn't have made any difference.

Sorry if that comes across as rude but we all get ill and maybe, not having had much sleep myself this week, I am a bit grouchy too.

The OP may be able to get the jab privately but should she have to???

She is pregnant and asthmatic so should get it on the NHS. There is a fairly narrow window each year when the jab can be given in order to be effective and not meeting a patient's medical needs because their records have not been transferred in this time frame is unacceptable.

I can understand the policy but don't see why a bit of common sense can't be used for new patients. When I had to register at a new practice in the autumn I had a medical with the nurse, told her about my asthma, mentioned I was due the jab and she did it there and then.

You can get the jab free in Boots if you are pregnant - you don't even have to prove you are!!

OP wouldn't have to pay if she went elsewhere anyway!!

Just want to say for those of you who gave support and good suggestions and good old common sense thank you so much! I've been so so tired and stressed and ill that I didn't give much thought past the fact that it might not have been flu. The amount of mucous I've been coughing up made me just wish I had had it and the doctor at the hospital looked at me like I was stupid for not, (maybe right). But it is incredibly hard to find £9 for something you keep hoping will be sorted for free in the next few days and have to jump through hoops and then get ill. I put that my nose was blocked just to get the point across that I can't breathe through it, because I don't think going into detail about why I'm permanently unable to breathe through it is relevant to the thread really. I'm not saying all go receptionists are awful, I'm saying I found one to be and having a bit of a rant because I'm just fed up. The judginess on here brings out really awful qualities in some. Maybe slating other people makes you feel better about your own parenting. I don't know. but no. I don't have a laptop, because I can't afford one. But my dc has nice things and lively experiences. You don't know anybody else's story. Things they are forced to spend their money on. Problems in their lives so excuse me for trying to save £9 on something I thought I might get for free.

To all the lovely people who said they can take medical exemption cards in pharmacies, I did not know that. I'll try and see if I can get it done today. Thanks for all the help

Op you don't have flu. It's not the receptionists fault either, she didn't have your notes. Accept some responsibility and stop trying to blame other people.

op make your mind up, you can't start an op stating

"Snotty stupid woman who just couldn't be arsed doing absolutely anything to help"

then end it with

" The judginess on here brings out really awful qualities in some."

...the receptionist doesnt sound the most helpful but you sure didn't help yourself either, if you have worked in that field before, you should know to ask for a chat with the practise nurse or a doctor, not just to walk away and give up and moan that you won't pay £9 for something you expect to get for free.

But you can't have it when you're ill?