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.

I've never had any problems with "I need to see a doctor today" vs "please can I make an appointment". But then again, I think I'm at the best surgery ever. Always see the kids when needed and trust patients to use the services appropriately. I think that trust means that people on the whole don't abuse it.

Ok erm I was a nurse (not practice nurse).

I know not all nurses are good/kind/capable but most in my experience are.

also I'm in Scotland it's not just England with a shortage of gp's. Wondering why it's better in NI and is that all over NI or just one posters experience?

Some people can be so judge mental, being a grandmother does not give me an insight to medical conditions. My concern wasn't about what I had, It was and Is about having to discuss my personal business with a receptionist. (Unqualified doctor) 1.= I mentioned one of my concerns why I had to see a Doctor, (Thank God I didn't tell the rest). 2.= I didn't sign up to a walk-in-clinic 3 miles away. Their not paid for having my name on their books and since I rarely ever go to the Doctor I think I'm entitled to be seen at the surgery 10 minutes away for 10 minutes a year. 3. When I finally got an appointment via a different receptionist, I was told by my Doctor I should have made an appointment when my issues started. Thank You to those of you without the Negative vibes.

Are people really routinely asked why they want to see a doctor and expected to explicitly give their symptoms? The only time I am ever asked is if I am trying to make an emergency appointment, and understandably they are going to ask a few questions to see whether it's something that genuinely needs to be dealt with that day, as the emergency appointment system is, unfortunately, abused by people who don't actually need to be seen the same day but don't want to wait for the next available appointment.

If I am at the stage of needing an emergency appointment, I would stand in the town centre with a megaphone and tell the world my issues if it meant that I could see a doctor the same day, and if I'm not willing to be frank and honest with an employee at my doctor's surgery (who has been given a guideline by the doctor as to what to prioritise for the emergency appointments) as to why I need the appointment over the other 20 people also wanting an emergency appointment, how are they supposed to ensure the people with the most need are seen first?

If I call up to make an appointment the receptionist will ask what the appointment is for but they basically just want to know if it's a general appointment, a medication review or a follow up from tests/specialist treatment etc so they can prioritise it in the system. For example I am on some medications that need to be reviewed every 3 months. I can get a months worth of the medication on each prescription, so I can request repeat prescriptions twice, but on the third time I need to see the doctor for a face to face review. The surgery doesn't book appointments 3 months ahead, so I usually call about two weeks before my last prescription runs out but the next general appointment might not be for three weeks. I can't have my medication without a review so I obviously can't wait three weeks and need a more urgent appointment but it isn't at the "need a same day emergency appointment" stage either. So by checking why I am making an appointment, the receptionist can assess my priority and fit me in to an appointment in the next two weeks that wouldn't be available to someone who just wanted a general appointment, unless they had a genuine medical need for it.

I did some medical admin/reception although not in a GP' surgery. I used to have to ask the problem and decide how urgent it was.

I hated it, I wasn't properly medically trained and a fuck up could of resulted in someone getting hurt or worse.

Needs Actually you're very wrong there.

Chicken Pox has recently been discovered to be EXTREMELY dangerous. To both children and adults. And especially the elderly. Do your research!!!!

That receptionist sounds awful and you could complain to practice manager.

These threads always astonish me. Generally if receptionists ask what problem is they have been told to by gP but people think its OK to speak to them like shit "what are your qualifications" etc..then complain that THEY dont have a fluffy manner in return.

stolen from the interweb

There's nothing worse than a Doctor's Receptionist who insists you tell her what is wrong with you, in a room full of other patients. I know many of us have experienced this, and I love the way this man handled it.

A 75-year-old man walked into a crowded waiting room and approached the desk. The Receptionist said, 'Yes sir, what are you seeing the Doctor for today?'

'There's something wrong with my dick', he replied.

The receptionist became irritated and said, 'You shouldn't come into a crowded waiting room and say things like that.'

'Why not, you asked me what was wrong and I told you,' he said.

The Receptionist replied; 'Now you have caused some needless embarrassment in this room full of people. You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something and discussed the problem further with the Doctor in private.'

The man replied, 'You should not ask people questions in a roomful of strangers if the answer could embarrass anyone.' The man then decided to walk out, waited several minutes and then re-entered.

The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, 'Yes??'

'There's something wrong with my ear,' he stated loudly.

The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. 'What is wrong with your ear, Sir?'

'I can't piss out of it,' he replied.

The waiting room erupted in laughter.

---

When I grow up I'm going to be like the man above, no fucks given lol

Just don't see the issue. Countless times in the last almost two years:

Me "hello Ann, I think I've got a chest infection could the Dr see me today please?". Yes, 10.50.

"hello Mary, I broke a vertebrae yesterday and the hospital said to get pain relief further care from my GP". Yes of course 10.30.

Obvs those appointments were nit with one of the partners but they were enough to patch me up and sort meds.

Add in the apts for DD, squeezed in with the partner who know her case, often after a quick phone call first and I don't see the problem with being honest. The receptionists can see your records on the computer anyway and I bet have a pretty clear idea of who does/doesn't waste time.

DD, who has been fairly ill over the last Cpl of years has a monthly apt with her Dr because it can take that long to book routinely for Dr of choice. If dd doesn't need it I cancel it.

I have minor gripes that can be avoided. There's one unhelpful person who answers the phone, the unhelpful receptionist has left, and there are a couple of Drs I don't rate. But on the whole the practice follows things up, makes referrals, etc. It's only real issue is the phone system whereby the phones aren't answered and if you miss a call back from the doctor, they don't ring again.

Happens at my surgery. Hate it. You phone, tell receptionist the problem and gp phones back. If worried he offers an appt. you cant book an appt even for none urgent bits in a few weeks. Appts that day only but going via receptionist. I miss the old days of just booking an appt. i have exmur (itchy skin sorry dyslexia) and thats not an sos appt need so one year later after it started after nothing for years ive still not seen someone and its getting worse.

Dimples!!!! 😄😄😄😄😂😂😂😂😂😂😄😄😄😄😜😍

I think the problem usually is, as a gp administrator, if I'm asking what the problem is. It's because I'm staring at a screen with no twatting appointments wondering what the fuck to do. At that point we will have been told to get some basic clinical information. I know I'm not a fucking doctor but Jesus, the GP system can only be stretched so far. Especially when someone has had symptoms for weeks and weeks but needs to be seen as an emergency when we maybe have only one gp who's clinic we have added onto several times and it looks like they may not be going home that evening.

The receptionists only ask why to get you to the right person.
If they don't ask it can lead to wasted appointments as patients may have to rebook with the right doctor/nurse or patients end up waiting longer to see a doctor when a nurse appointment or a visit to a walk in center would have been available quicker and more appropriate care given.
Doctors surgerys are so overstretched and receptionists are just trying to ensure all patients are seen quickly and with the right person.
Lying about your symptoms simply doesn't help.
If your worried about privacy, write things down or phone. Then if you have concerns about a particular receptionist then complain.
The vast majority are just trying to get you seen as quickly as possible with the right person, who isn't always a gp!

I get this as a dental receptionist. The dentist insists i ask for details of the problem. Some people refuse And usually if they have toothache and i ask if its severe they say "oh yes"..trust me the dentist isn't impressed when they arrive and it's minor.

Dr / patient confidentiality. It doesn't extend to receptionists.

Yes it does actually

All staff are bound by confidentiality rules that work in health care. The surgery would be fined heavily of that wasn't the case. You cannot discuss anything to do with the practice outside of the workplace with anyone.

Receptionists have to apply patient confidentiality rules in EXACTLY the same way as doctors. If they didn't they would be fired.

If you tell the receptionist you have an sti, 1) they won't be embarrassed they will have heard it all before 2) they might divert you to a different service 3) they will put you down for an appointment/call back with a HCP (prob a nurse) who specialises in that kind of thing.

Why wouldn't you tell the receptionist a few basics, particularly over the phone? Why does it matter?

I dont think people should be seen if they refuse to disclose. They shouldnt have to say in front of people but if thats the policy they shouldn't be able to just bypass it because they look down on the receptionist.

I most definitely would not discuss my symptoms with a receptionist. There's an ethical code of cofidentiality between a doctor and patient. I'd simply tell her it's confidential and need to discuss it with the doctor ! I mean....is this regular practice????..... if so, it's unethical!

Chicken pox doesn't normally require a doctors appointment
I'm quite surprised that a person of a certain age has never seen it before

Visiting the doctor would not have prevented you from passing if on to your grandchildren as the most infectious period is before the spots appear

It's not a matter of 'looking down on the receptionist' as pp put it.....it's a matter of not wanting to discuss personal information with a non medical person. My relationship with my doctor and that with the doctors receptionist is totally different and so it should be !

I'm never rude to the receptionists as they are getting a lot of hassle their end I'll tell them what;s wrong if they ask but I will insist on speaking to one of the nurses if they refuse to give me an appointment based on their diagnosis.
Mind you I can't really be rude to them as I work at the other GP surgery in town and a few of the reception staff are my patients.

Then id say you would need to find a different practice with a different policy baby.