Surgery staff taking about me in earshot

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Apparently it's a "pain in the backside" as I've turned up 15 minutes early (I've not? It's 5 minutes early) and they invited me to wait in the waiting room yet this is now causing an issue? I'm the only one here.

When I arrived at the surgery the sign on the door says "please wear a mask. If you do not have one, one will be provided for you". I didn't have one. So I was provided one from a big stack on the counter.

She has said to her colleague "and she didn't turn up with a mask, I mean it's obvious isn't it?"

I'm sitting right here! And the sign on the door says I would be provided with one

I wasn't asked on the phone to arrive exactly on time or wear a mask.

EnlightenedOwl just because you see the surgery empty doesn't mean we are not stressed as you don't see what goes on behind the scenes. I worked for 4 1/2 hours today and was run ragged. The phone didn't stop ringing, the prescriptions were being processed, queries being dealt with and to be honest I was glad to go home.

The Receptionists were rude to the OP but please don't tar us all with the same brush.

The fact that they may be under pressure at the moment (which I doubt in a GP surgery) is absolutely no excuse whatsoever for such staggering lack of professionalism. Sorry you had to put up with this OP.

If they wanted you to wear a mask they should have said when you made the appt. That is on them.

I was told when I had a doctor's appt that I did not need to wear a mask.
So all the people saying, ' you should have known' are wrong. Masks are not compulsory here. So if a service provider has a 'mask wearing' rule, the onus is on them to let people know that.

Not read the full thread, but I had a smear test today (delightful!) and specifically asked the doctors was I made the appointment if I needed to wear a mask or do anything differently.

I was specifically told I didn't need a mask. They just said to turn up on time.

I booked my smear last Thursday and the doctor told me that a mask would be provided if I needed one.
Our hospital only made masks compulsory last Monday.

I've voted YABU, i do think what she said was rude and didn't go about it the right way, however, it's obvious that you wear a mask, if anything for your own protection at the GP's.

YANBU. How awful OP, especially before a smear test too. And for all those commenting that you should have had a mask - why would you if they said they’d be supplying one? I went to my go last week and they had disposable masks (plus gloves and aprons) for patients to use. You’re not at fault.

Well Ive checked both mine and my MILs gps and neither of them state you must have a mask. Both do state to be exactly on time and no admittance without a booked appointment so they havent put Covid-19 information somewhere else.
Our hospital has widely advertised that they are giving out masks to everyone who enters the doors. Although I do carry a wrapped mask with me I would also expect a gp surgery to offer one if necessary.
And take no notice of the doctors receptionists goady posters with no empathy. You did nothing wrong and I do hope you complain to the practice manager.

I've drafted a letter (their complaints procedure specifically says letter).

The only email address is the general inbox for the surgery, which given is likely to be opened by the same staff member I've gone for the of the option.

I'm going to look at it tomorrow and finalise as I don't want to let my feelings today get in the way of fact.

When I reach a point where I require one, I will procure one

You need a mask. Get one.

They were unprofessional, but come on. Take some responsibility for yourself.

I didn't not need a mask.

I went to a place which asked that I either wear my own or wear one of theirs. I wore one of theirs.

That is unacceptable to speak that way about a patient, unprofessional & bad manners, you are right to complain OP.

We don't NEED masks. I don't go anywhere which requires one. Like OP, if I did go anywhere that required one I would get one.

OP they were very unprofessional. You should complain. If they wanted you to wear a mask they should have let you know before hand. As you said you would have bought one had you not been provided with one. Also they could have asked you to wait outside if thats what they wanted. I'm a nurse and think it's very unprofessional to do what they did. We'd be in trouble if we did that.

OP thankfully most posters on here are sane, rational beings- just ignore the couple of nasty embittered posters. Probably waiting for a thread where they can take out their own misery on others. Our GP surgery doesn’t require masks and is ok with being a few mins early. It’s not a big deal that you got there a bit early. They were unbelievably rude. Can you imagine if they had been private health care reception staff that had dared to speak about patients/clients in that way. We seem to accept an incredibly low level of service from the NHS in terms of how we are spoken to by staff. Clearly there are many fabulous staff but I hear so often about rude receptionist staff and nurses.

@worzelsnurzel123

OP thankfully most posters on here are sane, rational beings- just ignore the couple of nasty embittered posters. Probably waiting for a thread where they can take out their own misery on others. Our GP surgery doesn’t require masks and is ok with being a few mins early. It’s not a big deal that you got there a bit early. They were unbelievably rude. Can you imagine if they had been private health care reception staff that had dared to speak about patients/clients in that way. We seem to accept an incredibly low level of service from the NHS in terms of how we are spoken to by staff. Clearly there are many fabulous staff but I hear so often about rude receptionist staff and nurses.

This is very true

Complain. I anonymously reported my mate (maybe I'm a bitch idk). My friend is a doctors receptionist she takes the piss, I know who's had abortions, whos got depression. No confidentiality. I changed doctors as I was at the one she worked at and knew if shes telling me about other people she will be telling them about me. Dont speak to her much now but she still works there.

Op
I think I read somewhere to smear a bit of diluted washing up liquid over your glasses and it stops your glasses from misting up.
You will have to double check that though.
I can well believe some people would talk about others whilst they are within earshot.A work colleague does this all the time- not just at work- I cringe as it’s so embarrassing and I’d hate to think other people judge me because of her.I now tell her to be quiet- but she likes to hear her own voice so that doesn’t always work.Must have been horrible for you

FWIW I was told off at our GP for wearing a mask as they want to provide their own brand new ones that haven't been outside in unknown places all day....you can't win. :-)

Makes me laugh - I work in a pharmacy next door to a surgery. Surgery has been closed through this entire pandemic yet continue to send patients into the pharmacy for advice! So it’s ok for us to see people face to face but not them? Ridiculous - time they got back to work seeing patients.

Who would go into a hospital NOW without wearing one??

@letmethinkaboutitfornow, how about living up to your username? Hospitals have precisely no relevance as OP wasn't in one.

However - the mask issue is valid - it's been public knowledge (daily briefings, government info widely publicised) in England for a week or two now

And someone at the surgery dealt with it sensibly by providing masks for patients to wear. It follows, therefore, that it is not valid to bitch about a patient who used one of the masks provided. Would they rather they sat there and gathered dust?

@RedskyAtnight

How do you know they were talking about you? From the snippets you've posted, it could be anyone.

I think the clue's in the words "I'm the only one here."

I was at the gp a few weeks ago with dd and didn't get given a mask.

The woman was completely out of order and you are right to complain OP. Extremely unprofessional and rude behaviour.