Bit rude response re child with SEN

[yearnewwhatever]

On the phone to GP surgery ensuring that it's on the record that I'm a carer for my autistic son (he gets DLA and we get careers allowance) as we've been told to do to ensure group 6 vaccination.

Conversation goes....
Surgery 'so your child has problems?'
Excuse me?
Surgery 'your child isn't normal?'
Um, he is normal actually.....
Surgery 'I'm just trying to find out what's wrong with him'
Nothing is wrong with him and you're being quite offensive?
Surgery 'I'll put you on hold'

🤷‍♀️

AIBU to suggest some disability awareness training is in order?

My poor boy heard it all on speaker phone (my mistake)and is now asking why his autism makes him not normal....😡

That’s awful 😣

I would not be happy! Someone needs some communication reminders :(

That is absolutely dreadful. Complain!

I would be complaining, immediately.

Thats so strange of her. I just said I am a carer for my son and can it be added to my file. That was it.

Wow - just wow. What the hell is wrong with people! A complaint to the practice manager is definitely in order I think! Sorry you have had to go through that

What a cow! Her manners aren't normal 😤

It sounds like she does need disability awareness training.

Complain! Bloody hell she’s in the wrong job

Isn't it awful?

She was quite irritated that she wasn't getting the information that she needed and not at all sorry for being offensive. She also said that carers won't get a vaccine any sooner than others so was a bit 'why are you even phoning' 🙄

Will put a complaint in writing! 👍

I’m glad you’re complaining- how that person spoke to you about your child was needlessly offensive

Well that was a bad choice of words on her part.

But why didn’t you just say you’re a carer for your son, who has autism? Or in response to the first question ‘he has autism and I’m his carer, we receive DLA and carer’s allowance’ (to imply the severity of his condition and suppress further questions!)

All she was asking was for his medical condition. Albeit clumsily and insensitively but I’m sure she didn’t expect him to be listening in or know you had it on speakerphone!

Yes well worth a complaint.

I have had a rant today on another issue about How having additional needs means you give up all right to privacy and dignity in order to access basic levels of support

Sounds like an utterly typical doctor's receptionist.

No idea, and no sensitivity.

I seem to be in the minority but I didn't think the first question was rude.
The rest, spectacularly shit.

There should be a carer’s lead at the GP practice too -see if you can find their email cos they need to be the one who deals with it as she sounds both uninterested and uninformed - and thick and nasty to boot

All she was asking was for his medical condition.

so she should have said 'what condition does your child have and are they in receipt of any benefits?'

that's exactly why training is needed imo, because there are ways of getting information from people, and if time is of the essence, as it is for overworked reception staff, then it benefits them to keep communication clear concise and non controversial, as well as being the decent human being type thing to do.

@HikeForward

Well that was a bad choice of words on her part.

But why didn’t you just say you’re a carer for your son, who has autism? Or in response to the first question ‘he has autism and I’m his carer, we receive DLA and carer’s allowance’ (to imply the severity of his condition and suppress further questions!)

All she was asking was for his medical condition. Albeit clumsily and insensitively but I’m sure she didn’t expect him to be listening in or know you had it on speakerphone!

As I said - the speakerphone was my mistake.

I'd registered the carer bit online. So I just asked 'I'm checking that my records have been updated that I'm a carer as per the online form?' She said it wasn't and then launched into the rest. She could of just said 'oh no, your records haven't updated - can you give me more information' 🤷‍♀️

As the op is getting carers allowance then no more information than that should have been needed. Who she is a carer for is irrelevant and the reason they are entitled to a carer even more so. if needed the carers letter could be provided as evidence

My go to response is define normal

And @HikeForward I would never respond to 'he has problems' with 'yes, he's autistic' because it's not a 'problem'

I agree it was a very bad choice of words and training is required. She was trying to ascertain eligibility for the vaccine and you were being a bit obstructive. Why didn't you say I don't care for your choice of language.