So hard to just get an appointment

[triggeredbyidiots]

Why do unqualified people always try to block access to the trained medical professionals we want to see? Always happen with doctors' surgery receptionists and then today, the pharmacy counter assistant.
DC has a rash on his face. 111 nurse said, go and see a pharmacist today to "get eyes on the child's condition" as hospital GPs will be busy with more urgent cases on a Sunday.
I get to a supermarket pharmacy and the woman would not get the pharmacist. She tells me DC has an allergic reaction which I know it is not. She insist it is despite not even looking closely. I had to carry on insisting on the pharmacist! Finally, she comes out and confirms that it's not allergic reaction and sells me a couple of products to relieve the symptoms before getting something prescribed tomorrow. And that was all I wanted.
WiBU to just tell these gate keepers to just fuck off next time? Not really but I shan't be so patient next time.

Gatekeepers are invariably there to relieve strain on the overworked pharmacist or GP by diverting as many trivial things as possible.

It's frustrating because clearly they don't have the expertise of the people they're gatekeeping for, but the only way around that is by having GPs answering the phones when patients call for an appointment, or pharmacists manning the front desk and putting their 4 year degree to good use working the tills.

I'd rather have the pharmacist behind the counter checking and dispensing the dozens of prescriptions for end-of-life medications for dying palliative patients that she has to get done on a weekend, and the GP seeing sick patients rather than triaging your appointment over the phone.

YANBU to tell the rude ones to f@@k of!

Do people really tell unhelpful counter assistants to fuck off?

If you ask to speak to a pharmacist, an assistant has to get the pharmacist for you. They can Obv ask what’s wrong and explain that they can help if it’s sth minor, but if you’ve insisted the pharmacist has to see you (but be prepared to wait)

@Jeanvaljean27 I know how the system works but why "diagnose" something if you are not qualified. She really convinced herself to be right.
There were no other customers at the counter. I know the pharmacist was busy with something in the back but it's a service they offer so why not come out when someone request the service? And I only went there because I was advised to.

@ilovesooty I wouldn't really tell them to fuck off but I won't be asking nicely 3 or 4 times next time

People on here always moan about GP receptionists. Ours are lovely. Always positive and polite (despite dealing with people who often aren't!)
They aren't medically trained but I often say I hope they can help and then give a vague idea of the issue. Nothing too personal or detailed. They then decide how best to help me. Either seeing any GP ASAP, waiting to see mine or a phone call etc. They are fantastic.

triggeredbyidiots

Yes, she was fobbing you off because she thought it was a trivial rash that would probably improve by itself, and the easy thing for most laypeople to say is that 'it's an allergic rash'.

Incidentally, what did the pharmacist give you? Treatment for eczema?

I was a gp receptionist for years and most go above and beyond for the patients in my experience 9 times out of 10 the things they ask a patient they are told to by management such as is it urgent? What is the problem? Etc. A lot of patients got frustrated because they thought this was noseyness/non of our business etc but unfortunately it wasn't our doing

If you are not qualified in something, it is not your job to tell someone they don't need to see the qualified person.

I wonder what would happen if a receptionist at a law firm told someone they didn't need to see a solicitor - eg if I was worried I was going to get sacked. "Oh of course you're not going to get sacked, you don't need to see a lawyer, go home".

I'd be annoyed too OP. I don't have a problem with receptionists triaging people to try to make sure the urgent cases get to the GP and others go to nurses, pharmacists etc. But I don't think it's a non-qualified sales (or even dispensing ) assistant's place to block access to the pharmacist 111 have specifically told you to see. OP, did you tell them 111 had told you to go to a pharmacy? I'd be inclined to email the pharmacy concerned and let them know, because the 111 system doesn't work if people do this blocking behaviour.

@Sarahh2014 of course I wouldn't want to tar everyone with the same brush. The polite drs receptionists like yourself don't work at our surgery.

I've been pretty unlucky perhaps. I had my final appointment with the midwife at 40 weeks, arrived a few mins early for the first appointment of the day, it was winter with frost on the ground, I got shouted at through the window for trying the door. So I stood in the cold, heavily pregnant when they could have let me sit in the waiting room until everyone is ready.
Recently, I had a cough that lasted more than 3 weeks, so following advice from the NHS campaigns, I tried to book an appointment for a check up, got told that people tend to "self treat" for coughs.

And then the many, many times I awkwardly stood at the reception counter being ignored, tried to initiate a dialog only to be met with iciness.

@nearly250parkuns exactly, I did mention 111, and the whole point is that I don't waste doctors' and nurses' time in a&e or out of hours gp. I also needed an experienced, in person, opinion that it's not something more serious. When you're worried about your child being ill, it gets more frustrating.

triggeredbyidiots totally understand they are awful at my Dr's surgery too that's shocking to treat you like that