To tell doctors receptionist I was correct in what I said.

[ponyexpress22]

A while ago we had a letter through the post informing us that our GP was resigning. We were given a list of 3 gps who we could apply to. However none of them were taking on new patients so we got assigned one.

When I phoned up to make contact with new one I mentioned that our old doctor had resigned. She answered me very harshly and said "he's retired not resigned." It was like she thought I was implying something distasteful? I apologized and said "sorry I meant retired". So when I got home I reread the letter and I was right. It did say "resigned". Why was she insistent that he'd retired, and should I just forget it? Sorry if it seems trivial. Aibu?

Just forget it.

Drs receptionists are a notoriously prickly bunch, but I don’t know what you’d achieve. Shes unlikely to admit she was wrong.

I'd find it odd to get a letter saying the GP was resigning, usually it would be that they're moving practice, embarking on a new adventure or some other fancier way of saying they're leaving. Could it be that he retired and the original letter was wrong?

OK this is not something to get het up about. When faced with rudeness like this I just think the person must be having a hard day and forget about it - if you rang back to correct her she'd probably not recall the conversation in the first place!

Was the GP of an age where retirement would be likely? My guess is the letter was wrong.

I've yet to meet a nice Doctors receptionist. I wouldn't give it any thought

What a bizzare thing to even give a second thought too let alone consider going back and correcting her!

I just didn't want to get off on the wrong foot. It's a very small town and all the doctors are probably known to each other. I just don't understand why she corrected me. But yeah, she was likely having a bad day. I was too if truth be known.

I'm autistic and this would bother me hugely but I am aware most people would shrug it off. I hate to be misunderstood (after being so for many years) so the idea that someone was insinuating I said something incorrect me would really irritate.

I wouldn’t give this head space.
Doctor’s receptionists appear to have a specific spikiness to their role. I guess retired equals sweet old gp going to play golf, resigned gives the connotation of them finding something better.

@ShoppingBasket

I've yet to meet a nice Doctors receptionist. I wouldn't give it any thought

The ones at my GP surgery are always friendly and helpful.

For all they know he's quit and got a new job down the pub. It doesn't really matter though does it? Are you going to ring them back and tell them what the letter said?

Doctor only mid fifties I'd say. I was so upset, he was so lovely.

Would you phone up specially or send a letter?

@ponyexpress22

Doctor only mid fifties I'd say. I was so upset, he was so lovely.

Doctors earn enough to retire early.

@SquirryTheSquirrel

Was the GP of an age where retirement would be likely? My guess is the letter was wrong.

I agree. It would be incredibly odd to get a letter saying he was resigning, it's not something you would need to know and it seems very unprofessional to tell everyone if he was actually resigning.

I would imagine it was more likely that the person tying the letter misspelled the word retiring and it corrected it to resigning than the practice sent all their patients a letter saying the GP was resigning.

@ponyexpress22

Doctor only mid fifties I'd say. I was so upset, he was so lovely.

Early retirement would be quite feasible at that age. I bet the letter was wrong. I'm not sure they'd be as specific as 'resigned' in a general letter to patients - as a pp said, 'moved to another practice' or simply 'left this practice' would be more usual ways to put it.

Maybe try and be happy for the GP if they were so lovely. That might help you with your upset?

I'd let it go. I honestly find most doctors' receptionists are on a power trip so minimise contact. Private GP clinics, whilst expensive, are much nicer and more reasonable I find - so it is possible to do the job and be nice!

If I had to make a wild guess for her strange behaviour I would say a receptionist wrote resigned instead of retired in the letter and got a bollocking for it and is fed up of people mentioning it.

@Janaih

If I had to make a wild guess for her strange behaviour I would say a receptionist wrote resigned instead of retired in the letter and got a bollocking for it and is fed up of people mentioning it.

Ha! Yes, I bet it was her own typo. I think you've nailed it.

I've had one who resigned before he was struck off

Why was the Reception so defensive... what difference does it make to her whether a GP resigned or retired 🤣

I've had one who resigned before he was struck off

If it was a typo or even if he did resign but it shouldn't have been put in the letter, that's why they will be prickly about it - because 'resigned' will cause people to speculate that he left under some kind of cloud.

But the letter didn't come off the receptionist. It was off the community healthcare.

Technically it’s the same thing now that there is no default retirement age. He/she has chosen to leave. I agree that it would be more common for a letter to say ‘retired’ or even ‘is leaving’ rather than ‘resigned’, but ultimately all much of a muchness and I agree, not worth giving any headspace to!