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AIBU?

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Original poster

that I am annoyed at GP receptionist.....

84 replies

3easterbunniesandnomore · 29/03/2007 16:22

Well...I am fuming at with that stupid cow, I must say!
Story is...ms had his school booster jabs appointment....I timed it, so that we wouldn't have a long waiting time...but of course that doesn't matter does it...when they, yet again not on the timed schedule.
They have no toys neither...nothing for Kids...and the few bits we took didn't entertain my ms4 and ys 2 1/2 very long....!
Anyway, at first they were playing quietly, but after 30 minutes they got a bit unsettled and got louder and started running about, which I tried to stop of course....anyway, that stupid cow of receptionist glares at me and tells me to make my Kids sit down quietly (and not in a polite manner neither)...so, I got my Kids told them gruffily to sit down and be quiet and mumbled something along the lines...what do they expect when tehy let ys wait for yonks like this...grr...!
Anyway, I then go huffily up to the recpetionist as we still hadn't been called in, asking when my son was gonna be called in, afterall, his appointment was 20 minutes ago, to which she replied, oh he is going to be called in any minute now...took another 5 minutes from then and in that time my ys, who was being told off, again, for getting up and making a noise then started to scream his head off...I get mega glares from teh receptionists , which really was a bit to much, so, I jsut told them, well, you didn't want them running about and playing, what ya expect...I mean...honestly...talk about child UN friendly....grrr....!Surely their expectations are pretty unrealistic?
IT wasn't even if there was many people waiting ...as all the other Kids had been called in already, and left and there was maybe another 3 people all in all waiting with us!
I am fed up with that surgery anywya, I msut admit...had a GP appointment the other day, at 20 past and didn't get in with him till the full hour...I mean, talk about taking the piss....

OP posts:
LowFatMilkshake · 29/03/2007 20:32

Ours are quite a nice bunch and there are toys everywhere for children.

monkeytrousers · 29/03/2007 20:39

I temp at a GP, not on reception though.

They shouldn't think they can talk to anyone like that. Ring and ask to speak to the practice manager and make a complaint, back it up in writing if you can. Tell them to get some toys in if they expect very young children to wait half an hour.

monkeytrousers · 29/03/2007 20:42

eliselady, that is terrible! I hope you made a complaint?

mummydoc · 30/03/2007 13:01

3 easterbunnies i agree that no toys at all is dreadful, i have special jigsaws in my room which have a picture of a boy and a girl ( cartoony) with labelled body parts as the pieces to take out i.e "ear" nothing to extreme and all the children love them unfortunately if they were in the waitng room they would all "disappear" .

rantinghousewife · 30/03/2007 13:11

A friend of mine (nurse at the local GPs surgery) reckons that all dr's receptionists have god complexes and she works with them!! Another friend took her dd to the docs with a really high temperature and they told her that there was nothing they could do, she couldn't see anyone and would have to drive to the A&E. When she explained that she couldn't drive they just said 'tough'.

SlightlyMadSpringBunny · 30/03/2007 13:31

POSITIVE RECEPTIONIST STORY

I just want to point out that not all receptionists are evil dragons with no level of sensitivity.

I rang at 8:15 this morning to get an appointment for DD3, when I discoved a pinprick rash that didn't disappear under pressure. She earliest appointment she could offer me was 10:50. I turned to talk to DP saying I thought it would be better to take her to Walk-in centre immediately rather than wait. She hears this and asks what the problem is - I tell her and she immediately says "OK bring her at 8:45".

SHe was seen quicker than she would have been if I had taken her to walk in centre.

blodwen · 30/03/2007 13:44

The receptionists at my GPs seem ok, but there is one thing that annoys me that would be SO SIMPLE to do something about! Why don't they tell us when we check in if the GP is running late (approx how late) or how many are in front of us not yet seen? At least we would then know right from the start what to expect, how much child entertaining might be necessary, whether we need to inform babysitter we will be longer than expected, or at the very least, what length artice to start reading in a magazine!

beckybrastraps · 30/03/2007 13:47

Our receptionists are fab. They have won an award for being nice (really). And they look after dd for me when I have a smear.

lucyellensmum · 30/03/2007 13:55

i think that on the whole GP receptionists do a great job. They are under a great deal of pressure to keep to targets etc. Our surgery can only give appts if you phone that morning, i have often been on hold to get to see a doc for over half hour and once didnt get through before all the appointments were gone, only to be told that i should have phoned earlier, needless to say this particular recep was given an earful. Its bloody ridiculous actually having to take the appointment lottery at 8 am when there are sick children needing attention etc. And as for out of hours, round here, forget it, go to A&E, then of course that puts pressure on them. Have often had to settle for advice from nurse over phone. Ok this is often all that is needed but refused to accept this when dd had a high temp and rash which i was pretty sure wasnt anything dangerous but the whole point is that i am not a doctor and the last time i checked they can't see down the phone line. It took 5 phone conversations but got there in the end - terrible. I woudlnt mind if i lived in the middle of nowhere but i dont. However, none of this is actually the receptionists personal fault so i kind of feel sorry for them. Unless they are the crabby rude bitches who stand out a mile even in tesco - you just know they go to bridge evenings etc!

llareggub · 30/03/2007 13:57

Some years ago my father went to visit the surgery. Whilst sitting in the waiting room he sat listening to the receptionists talking loudly about an elderly lady who had just died. They showed no compassion or respect.

That elderly lady was my father's much loved aunt, and until he overheard that conversation he had not been told of her death. What a way to find out...

ginnedupmummy · 30/03/2007 14:00

Message withdrawn

dionnelorraine · 30/03/2007 14:01

Running 20 - 40 mins late isnt too bad. Most surgeries run late, vets, docs dentist etc. they are all the same. But unfortunatly some cases take longer than others and emergencies come in which are out of their control. Its when it gets to 1hr + its a bit much.
However the receptionist should not have treated you like that. I would have snapped at her too! You should complain about her. Her customer service skills are crap! Also maybe you should suggest they invest in some toys and set up a kiddies play area.

powder28 · 30/03/2007 14:02

My solicitors secretary is quite unhelpful....

mytwocents · 30/03/2007 14:05

My sister is a doc's receptionist and she's lovely,very mild mannered mind and able to deal with alot of moody , often rude patients.

However, the ones at my surgery are mostly scary dragons who will only very rarely help you as if their happy to. Their desk is on a little platform so they are above you looking down, one in particular will wait ages ignoring you before even looking at you. Think it's one of those jobs that if you are n't extremely patient and you don't much like the public then maybe it's not for you...

dionnelorraine · 30/03/2007 14:06

eliselady - I just read your thread. How awful. what a bloody cheek!! Have you complained?? I would, and inform them that you have broken you ankle. Go in there and rant at them! I just cant believe the nerve! Shocking!

Original poster
3easterbunniesandnomore · 30/03/2007 14:14

I shall suggest a toycorner....they definately have enough space for one, it's a huge Medical centre...the biggest we have ever been with.
And by the way, I can understand they run late, etc...like I said, I know my doctor takes his time with his patients, which I see as a positive thing, really....but, I suppsoe, liek someone else mentioend, it would be nice if they let ya know that they run late, and how late, approximately.
I shan't complain this time, but, next time I go I will mention that I didn't appreciate it, and that, if tehy run late, they have to expect Baby's, Tots and preschoolers to get unsettled.
It's hard enough to be a parent of a young children, wihtout having the added stress of trying to keep them quiet and sat down, sigh!

OP posts:
Olihan · 30/03/2007 14:21

I used to maon all the time about the doctors running late until my friend's dh died of cancer early one morning at home. Our local gp, who had been treating him, went to the house, did the death cert, talked to my friend and her 2 dd's, waited until the ambulance turned up, then went into the surgery for a full day's work. His appointments would have been hugely delayed but my friend was so grateful for his care and the time he gave to them at such a horrible time.

Having said that, the receptionists at my surgery used to be the highest level of horrible bitches but the worst ones seem to have left now and, apart from one, they're not too bad now.

dionnelorraine · 30/03/2007 14:49

Yes, I agree. They should definatley inform you if they are running late. Its common curtacy tbh

expatinscotland · 30/03/2007 14:51

Our receptionist is a prize bitch, too.

I get so sick of this type of behaviour sometimes.

I'm not here to tell the receptionist my personal health business in front of a whole waiting room.

Hillary · 30/03/2007 14:55

I hate it when you call to make an appointment and the receptionist asks what the problem is, then tells you how urgent it is, I mean whats it got to do with them they're there to logg you in and answer the phone ffs! I just say "Whats it got to do with you, I give them as good as I get these days, it must be part of the training

powder28 · 30/03/2007 16:57

You can hear everything people are saying at the desk from the waiting room in our doctors surgery, especially if its really quiet.
Thasts why i ring up to make an appointment normally.
However there is a really, really fit young male nurse there, and just about the only time i had something a bit embarrassing, it was him who rang me back.

SmudgeMum · 30/03/2007 17:08

Our receptionist was really off with me because I missed an appointment. My DH had phoned the next day on my behalf to apologise and explain that I was in labour. That apparantly isn't a good enough reason!!!

MeAndMyMonkey · 30/03/2007 17:11

Hi all (first post btw )

I recently went to the doctor's surgery for dd's immunisations. When I arrived, on the dot of 11am, for an 11am appointment, I was told by the receptionist:
"Sorry, you'll have to rebook"
Me: "Why?"
Recep: "Because you're 20 minutes late"
Me [showing her my watch and mobile phone with correct time on]: "No, I'm not, I'm bang on time"
R: "Not by our clock I'm afraid; it's 20 minutes fast."
Hello?!?
Ok, so after much to and fro-ing in this vein, the receptionist conceded that the nurse would see me on this occasion; as if it was some kind of favour! To be honest, she wasn't even rude about it, I just felt like I was living in some kind of bizarro world.
Upshot was that I explained all this to the nurse, who said graciously:
"Oh don't worry, I never turn anybody away".
Alrighty then!

Original poster
3easterbunniesandnomore · 30/03/2007 18:13

MAMM...that made me laugh, actually....were you ment to know then that they go by their clock which is 20 minutes fast...sometimes one wonders where they find these people....lol!
(Obviously the good receptionists, that do exist, too, come from a good place)

OP posts:
Milliways · 30/03/2007 18:31

Our GP receptionists are LOVELY

They have to ask what it's for as the practice is HUGE & they have many nurses, Health Care Assistants, Midwives even Physiotherapists on site that can do the job that is required. If you say "it is private" (as per recorded message while you wait) they NEVER push for more.

However, speaking to a friend, they often get calls requesting an emergency appt. OK, can you come in now? No.... not just now, how about in 1 hour? No.... I've sent them to school / watching neighbours then etc . Really - it does happen!

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