To think the receptionist was out of order?

[umbrellaellaella]

I went to see my GP, as I've been experiencing irregular bleeding. He persuaded me to have swabs and a smear test (I have never had one). Just to rule anything out. He wrote this on a piece of paper and told me to give it to the receptionist.

I did, and she read it out, loudly - "So you want to be booked in for swabs and a smear test." The surgery wasn't crowded - there was only one patient sitting down, and the cleaner. But the cleaner was half in conversation with the receptionist when I came over, so she was standing there listening, waiting to chat again. Both people definitely heard.

I am not a prude, but I feel it was really wrong of her to say that, especially so loudly? It's my private medical business, and surely receptionists should have a little more discretion? Or am I overreacting? I know I shouldn't be embarrassed, but I was a bit shocked at how she was.

She also kept trying to give me certain dates, and I kept hinting 'those dates aren't good for me due to my cycle" (as I would be on my period), but she wasn't getting it. I had to spell it out. I would have thought a GP receptionist would understand there were certain dates women can't have smear tests?

I don't think you are overreacting. There was just no need for her to announce that when it was clearly written in front of her. I think I would write a comment on one of those feedback things to bring it to their attention.

I think you are over reacting a bit. She wasn’t in your work canteen, it’s a surgery, and it wasn’t crowded with patients. She asked you to confirm what was on the paper. Probably sounded louder due to the room being quiet.

Then you say those dates don’t work for you/can’t make them. No need to go into details or hint that you might be in your period

You're not overreacting and I'm sorry you were treated this way. GP receptionists should respect confidentiality and shouldn't treat people's medical issues in this way
It might be worth complaining as she might learn not to do this again. And it could help future patients.

You're overreacting. Nobody would care.

You’re overreacting, I just don’t think anyone would care

She really should keep her voice low for privacy but on the other hand, it's not something unexpected for a doctor's surgery. No one will care.

It's normal to the receptionist because it is normal and part of life. Women shouldn't need to be embarrassed about it. I know I have been in the past, but we shouldn't should we?

I think you’re over reacting a little, they’re normal tests that you could expect to hear about in a doctors surgery, I’m sure you wouldn’t feel as embarrassed if you were jst booking a blood test? Chances are every female will have those tests at some point.

@CottonSock agreed, we need to lose the stigma around women’s health issues, we have nothing to be ashamed of!

Please complain. All the receptionist had to do was to read the note and then offer you suitable dates. There was no need for the humiliation. If the receptionist wanted to query the note, she only had to lean towards to and confirm the details in a quiet voice.

It doesn't matter if bystanders are interested or not. There was no need to read aloud the request for a smear and swabs; it was thoughtless and lax, and would make a lot of women feel awkward.

Oh god you'd hate my drs. Just today she cooed through the little window Oh Mrs Rogers you're smear is due shall we book you in whilst you're her?

5 people in the waiting room with me! 5!!!

The cleaner was a woman, presumably she also has smear tests, I can’t see it’s anything to be bothered about TBH. Whenever I’ve sat in waiting rooms I’m really not interested in what other people are booking so the other patient probably wasn’t interested in what you were doing either. You have the option of going home and phoning if you want to be absolutely private but Drs receptions do have people around so there will always be people to overhear.

Not over reacting at all! I've experienced similar when I developed a very large cyst just inside my vagina whilst pregnant. Regular midwife referred me urgently to the maternity unit for a consultant opinion. Receptionist practically wouldn't let me through the door even when I told her by name who I was seeing and that I had been sent and they were expecting me etc. I kept repeating that it was personal etc but she literally made me spell it out in front of the whole tightly packed waiting room of people. It was excruciating! She did have the grace to look abashed and wave me through when I finally told her.

I really don’t get why it was so humiliating to be booked in for a smear. We all have to have them. It’s not a serious test, just a practical one. You sound over-sensitive.

Receptionists shouldn't be telling women their smear tests are due in an open waiting room. It puts people on the spot and may cause embarrassment. Cervical screening is optional and the receptionist must not assume that women want them.

It's not something that would bother me. A smear test is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. I actually think normalising smear tests by treating them like the routine procedure they are is a good thing. There's no need for hushed voices or being worried someone might overhear. Perhaps if young women hear people talking about them openly and as a normal thing to have, that might change.

I don’t think women get smear tests out of ‘want’. It’s a necessity. It’s not like deciding whether it’s time to trim your split ends.

Managed to delete some of my message there somehow!

*Perhaps if young women hear people talking about them openly and as a normal thing to have, the general reluctance around having them might change.

This sort of thing is what keeps shy people from getting medical help when they need it. It's not overreacting, it's some people wanting their affairs to stay private. I don't care how many people know I am having a smear test but I know that some other women feel differently.

God get a grip. By all means complain and take up yet more time energy and distress than NHS primary care just does not have spare. We spend so much time responding to ridiculous/vexatious complaintsbosom we'll have even less time to actually see patients and run the practice. I actually think the world has gone quite mad

It shouldn't be a stigma to ask for a smear test nor is is embarrassing. But the receptionist should be professional and understand that for some people it is embarrassing and discretion should be used when discussing this with a patient which could put them off making the appointment in the first place.

The fact it’s your first smear and you were “persuaded” suggests the issue is yours, not theirs.

Totally normal thing and nothing to be ashamed of generally. Absolutely imperative if you’re having bleeding.