Aibu to not want the waiting room to know my name?

[Ohdearducks]

New system introduced at my doctors today, each patients name is flashed up when it's your turn to be seen.
Aibu to feel uncomfortable about it? For context I am shy, socially anxious and I admit a bit paranoid at times but it just feels a bit disarming for everyone to know who you are when you've not volunteered the info yourself?
I do actually sound a bit U don't I?🙈 But maybe I'm not the only one who feels this way?

Aside from the smear clinic example (horrible!) surely if someone else is in the doctor's waiting room they'll be just as vulnerable as you are, since you're both there?

We got a ticket with a patient and room number on previously, the numbers flashed up on an display. Completely anonymous.

I do find it odd, but not sure how else they could do it tbh.

Also our GP surgery has numbers too for the walk in.

Maybe they should the reason why you are there? Eg The woman with the bladder infection. Room number 3 please. Maybe not.

Oh you got a number before , honestly Op nobody will even register your name they will be to busy waiting on their own

WuTang: fuck you've rumbled me!

My surgery has had this system for over 15yrs and I can't say it's ever entered my head to be bothered by it.

Now, if they flashed up our Mumsnet names....

Our GPs has first name only then room number. Honestly I think most people look at the screen for a second to see if it's their name then look away. I don't remember any names from my GP visits.

YANBU. My old doctors had this system... Years ago. The last 2 doctor practices I've used have a computer where you sign yourself in and you get called over a speaker so your name isn't displayed in front of everyone.

I've never really had the thought about my name being on a screen and I can be a highly private person. I couldn't tell you one name I saw on that screen because I don't think anyone really takes any notice so they don't take it in. But I do get where you're coming from.

Can you imagine if they put 'number one' on your file?!
Jane Smith
John Brown
Bob Green
...
Number One

You'd look like a spy

I had a doctor's appointment less than 2 hours ago. I could not tell you any of the names that came up on the screen, who they saw or what they looked like as they walked through. Apart from me, obviously

I suppose if your name were fairly well known, like a local politician or radio presenter, you wouldn't want people speculating about why you were at the doctor's on social media. Some people's names are more recognisable than their faces in these situations.

Also at the doctor's, I don't scour the waiting room for familiar faces, but if I'm there for an appointment I do tend to stare at the board with the names on.

I've never seen this as an issue before

All the doctors I've ever used has always showed the name on a screen with the room in question.

Our GP shouts out names.
If they don't shout out or show your name how are you meant to know it's your turn to go on?

It's just your name - it's not like they are shouting out your medical info? Lots of people see your name - the postie, ocado delivery man, every single person on the till in shops where you pay by debit card - I don't really see what the issue is with your name being used?

our gp's come out to us, luckily it is a very small waiting room so they tend to catch your eye but I admit i am lucky with the small size.

If it bothers you, just ask for a nickname. My GP always had that system, it's great. It saves time for the receptionists, it is much clearer than shouting a name that no one understands, or that you miss because someone is coughing next to you, or a baby starts screaming. The name doesn't stay that long on the board.
If you want to remain completely anonymous, you won't accept to seat in the waiting room? You need to go private.

Nobody remembers other people's name in the waiting room.
Remember they are all waiting to see a doctor/nurse too! They only look at the name to see if it's theirs then pretty much instantly forget it and go back to fretting about what they're going to say to the doctor, their health issues etc.
Nobody but you is interested in seeing your name.

i spose the issue with Shouting Out the names might be that some names are hard to pronounce. and of course there are hard of hearing patients.

I never pay attention to names, I think if someone is in a GP waiting room they are more focused on themselves and their own issue than someone else's name flashing up. That said, I think it would be reasonable to request they use your initials maybe?

Our doctors come to the waiting room and call out "Ms Zoot" etc

When I was a child I remember thinking our surgery (different one) was really amazing, you were given a plastic shape with a number on when you booked in. Then a buzzer would sound (slightly different tone for each Dr) and a light box would light up. You'd hang your shape on a board as you left the waiting room. Seems a bit convoluted now I think of it as an adult!

Mum was moaning on friday that our Gp has installed a check in computer she spent ages trying to work it out

How is it different to them calling your name as they would normally do?

When I was a kid when you checked in the receptionist would ask "Mrs Bloggs" to identify herself in the waiting room and then tell me I was after Mrs Bloggs. Then the next patient would be after Meluzyna.
These days the doctor comes and gets us - usually he knows who the next in turn is, and if not he asks the assembled waiters by saying the name.
I suppose it's different from Starbucks where you can tell the barrista that your name is Sparatcus and have then write that on your beaker as the doc uses your real name.
Similarly to the OP I was taken aback at our insurance agent's the other day because when I popped in on the off chance I'd be able to see someone the name of one of my friends was on a whiteboard next to the time of her appointment and the name of the advisor she'd be seeing. Not very discreet, is it?
However, I'm not sure what the alternative is.

Noah That's true, I find that annoying as well. I like the number system like they have in Argos, ha!