Diagnosed by a Receptionist?

[Hummingbird46]

I have read a few of the comments regarding this issue of having to speak to the Doctor's receptionists about my systems in order to have an appointment. I feel very offended about this action especially as I am not one for seeing a doctor at the worst of times. And my last experienced I told the receptionist that I'd come out in a load of what looks like boils over most parts of my body and that I thought I might have measles I was told it was probably a allergy to something I'd eaten and I could attend a walk in clinic about 3 miles away. Hence I covered myself in calamine lotion and vaseline and stayed in only to find out that i had passed on Chicken pox to my grandchild. And now I have a more serious problem that I've been plagued with for years that ceased a year ago. and as come back which I needed to get a referral to see the specialist again. But I do not want to make that phone call that will lead me to either get rude or offended.

It sounds quite hard to get the two mixed up!

Have no idea where that sounds came from

Yeah I would lie. As for the post on the previous page, by questioning everything (post No 5...) about the receptionist pointing and saying 'there's the snooty cow etc;' I would have demanded to know her name and put in a written complaint about her. I don't understand how the receptionist recognised you though from your phone call...

A friend of mine used to get very upset and embarrassed at the behaviour of a receptionist at her surgery. My friend was on a number of meds, (for a serious condition,) and she used to go get prescriptions some 2-3 times a month, and this one nasty cow receptionist used to say 'ooooh here she comes toddling along for her mammoth basket of meds hahaha. '

Cheeky cow. I would have reported her. How dare she mock like this?! Some doctors receptionists are nice, but some are utter twats.

YANBU. I'm amazed they bother employing doctors at my surgery seeing as the receptionist seems to know it all.

I now do online appointment booking, so much easier!

Just say its confidential, no excuses needed. You are entitled to confidentiality and to share information with who you see fit. If they use a triage system then state your happy to discuss your issue with whichever clinician is triaging. The receptionists do work very very hard, but they are not clinicians and certainly shouldn't be offering a diagnosis or treatment options, this is potentially a very dangerous road and I would expect a good and professional receptionist to be aware of their own limitations and work within them. Signposting or offering alternative options is very useful information for the patient.

I don't have an issue with saying why I need an appointment, it helps them in the long run. But I will dismiss their opinion - I had a terrible ear and chest infection when I phoned the week before last, and the receptionist tried telling me that the Dr wouldn't prescribe antibiotics! I just calmly told her that the last time they advised me that, I ended up being admitted to A & E with pneumonia and I'd rather someone with medical training made that call this time thanks all the same.

Receptionists have a really tough job. They are asked by the GPs to ask those questions to make sure patients see the right practitioners and so they can be prepared yet they have to take the flak from patients for it along with the insults and sarcasm about their level of education, etc.

I agree no receptionist should diagnose but they are often following a doctor approved protocol (for example boils = minor ailment = walk in centre whereas blistery rash = book in with GP) and suspect if patients were all booked in with a GP on request without question the wait for an appointment would be months rather than weeks

My DH had the skin peeling off his scrotum. When he went to the doctors the receptionist asked him what was wrong. He told her he'd got trouble with his balls. She replied that she too, had trouble with her boils.

My son's dr did not recognise chicken pox when it was starting! I wanted a diagnosis as we were travelling by train the next day. She said it was insect bites. By the time we got there, it was obviously chicken pox.

It's not always that obvious!

I don't think this is a new thing. About 20 years ago I was told loudly by a GPs' receptionist, in front of the queue, that I'd have to go on the pill.

Why's it a problem.. Phoned on a Friday morning last year because I'd found a breast lump that didn't feel like my usual breast lumps. Receptionist was really helpful, said she understood the worry and urgency, asked me when I cd get there. Was at work. She spoke to Dr who said she'd see me at 6pm after surgery.

Referred me to Marsden. Got apt within ten days. Two cysts on top of each other. Aspirated. All well, all good.

Don't see the issue about telling the recept tbh.

Good for you 'ohtheroses' Not everyone wants to discuss it with the receptionists

I think the problem is some receptionists. There's one receptionist at our practise who I just hang up and ring again hoping to get someone else. She speaks to the doctors like they are thick idiots so you can imagine how she speaks to the patients...

Unless you say women's problems. Then she can't pass you on quick enough.

Receptionists at my surgery don't usually ask but if theyre struggling to find a suitable appointment time they might say 'do you mind if I ask what its for' which i dont mind at all.

However the nurse who writes the prescriptions rung me and scolded me one day for ordering metformin when my tablets hadnt run out yet. Clearly she made a mental note that I shouldnt be allowed metformin as it wasnt included in my most recent prescription either. I rung and left a quite arsey voicemail explaining that I was down to my last dose that day and need it to keep my baby healthy ( i am 8 months pregnant with GD) and can the script be ready asap. Within 4 hours they'd prescribed enough to last me the rest of my pregnancy - my first experience of being passive aggressively given a prescription

For the most part receptionists are working their arses off and very understanding and not asking personal questions that they have no need for the answer....or diagnosing.
Sometimes there is the one who is just a twat.
We had a pre arranged emergency appointment before surgery started with our GP to see our very ill anorexic daughter. Arrived at surgery five minutes before opening. Knocked on the glass to let them know we were here. Receptionist abruptly told us that we don't open for five minutes....and closed the blind on the window! She had no idea why we were there. Our daughter was hospitalised the same day. She got a very polite and civil earful. She looked embarrassed.

If you're happy to wait for the next 'standard' appointment, then I don't see you need to tell the receptionist anything. If, however, it's Friday afternoon, and you know that if you don't get treatment today, it'll be a hospital admission, then you probably want to tell anyone who'll listen what the problem is. DH was in the latter position, and seen by a doctor 20 minutes later. We were very grateful to avoid A&E.

Thank goodness our surgery allows us to make appointments over the internet. No receptionist involved.

""I always say I have an acute UTI and need antibiotics. And if they make noises I say last time it went to my kidneys and it was a disaster. Always gets me past the gatekeepers on reception.
Then when I see the GP I tell them what's actually wrong. None of them have ever questioned me so far."

Thank you so much. I had never thought of this - so simple, and so obvious. Altho dd's best friend told her she just always says it's an emergency - no idea how she gets away with it. It's just counter-intuitive to lie to a doctor, for our generation.

I do put any old nonsense in the online system because none of it makes sense anyway.

Next standard appointment here - 4 weeks!

Our receptionists are pretty good (don't get me started on the ancient repeatedly failing phone system though ).

They don't ask 'what's wrong/symptoms' they say 'if it's Abc the nurse can see you, if not lets get you an appointment'

So then you're deciding yourself whether to see nurse or dr (though if you decide wrong purely because you think the nurse is incapable you will be re-educated by a not happy dr).

I do think a lack of education/information is part of the problem.

So many people still don't know how much nurses and pharmacists in particular

Are trained/Qualified
Can do (I still meet/talk online to people who don't know that nurses can prescribe, fit coils, refer to other hcps. That pharmacists can often assess minor ailments very accurately and know not only prescription meds inside out but also otc meds and food/drink interactions).

Northern Ireland here

Me: I need to book an appointment
Receptionist: What date/ time and would you like a specific doctor.
Me: No thanks anyone will do
Receptionist: ok is 3 days time ok.

Me: yes/no

If no then you can speak to a doctor immediately. If yes Then fine.

It actually shocks me that people from England have to detail problems to receptionists as we don't have to do that over here on NI.

Why is this

Tbh Graphista I have found it much more usual that an unhappy doctor has been annoyed that my symptoms have been dismissed by a nurse and have got loads worse by the time i've seen the doctor.

Not being snobbish (I used to be a lowly HCA) but too many nurses have horrible bedside manner, don't take symptoms seriously and don't trust patients when the patient knows themselves something is really wrong.

I really think other people must have had this experience and that is why they avoid the practice nurse, not because they think they're incapable of doing this or that.

Of course not all nurses are like that but the ones that are really turn people off seeking healthcare.

Don't make something up, no need to be rude to someone doing their job because of something some one else did. The partners need the receptionists to get as much information as possible so they can get the patients to the right people. The NHS is under s huge amount of stress. Gp surgeries are handing back contracts and closing. There are not enough gp appointments. The demand and expectations on primary care is not sustainable. So please just tell the receptionist why you need an appointment and let them sign post you to the best person.

Tell them you have an STI. Out loudly for everyone to hear.

Railgunner then you should expect to be directed to GUM clinic it is not for GP practices funding and specialism is elsewhere. So this clearly demonstrates why they ask to ensure you get an appointment with the correct person for the correct amount of time which may not be your GP.
Do accept if decline to give info that you may have to rebook with someone else or for a longer appointment. Which you may have to wait for.

Usernameinvalid I work in a and e and you don't have to tell receptionist what your symptoms are. They can book you in with the reason unwell or personal problem and you can then wait till you have a private triage with a nurse.