Page 10 | Aibu to not want to discuss my private health with doctor receptionists

Jasmine00 · 2021-12-14T12:08:10+00:00

I'm so sick of calling my doc surgery and having to explain to the receptionist my ailments especially as they are mostly endometriosis related. Sometimes they even try and give advice back. Arggggg I hate it. Doesn't help that I live in a small village and these are the people I see on a daily basis either

CasperGutman · 15/12/2021 10:32

@Jasmine00

It's harder because these receptionists I see at school, local shops and local places. Do I really want these people to have to know about my gynae issues, not really! In a city you are more anonymous so I don't think this would be such an issue

Spare a thought for people who see the doctors socially. Did you ever think maybe they'd rather discuss their problems with the receptionists?

MRSAHILL · 15/12/2021 11:00

I once worked with a woman who had been sacked as doctors receptionist for disclosing to someone that a 14 year old local girl was pregnant and having an abortion. I know this is rare but when a neighbour of mine, who is known to be a gossip, was taken on as a receptionist at our little village doctors, I just did not feel comfortable with this woman knowing intimate details about me. When I eventually moved house and rang the docs to ask them to take me off their records and give details of my new GP, she started asking me questions about myself and our house move that had absolutely nothing to do with her job. I've also been given wrong information by a receptionist. I rang querying the dosage of some medication and she assured me it was correct and wouldn't put me through to the nurse practitioner. At a later appointment the dosage turned out to be incorrect. I'm just lucky it was medication for a mild condition and not something more serious.

ArabellaScott · 15/12/2021 11:04

How hard is it for people to understand that receptionists are not doing the triaging themselves?

They're making notes for the doctor to do it!

That's not the case. Call up, explain to receptionist what the issue is, she then refuses appointment or dishes out advice. No doctor has been involved in the production of this advice.

I doubt most people would mind if the receptionist were doing as you describe. I have an issue with appointments being refused or diagnosis given or treatment denied on the basis of the opinion of someone who has no medical training.

This happens often. As many people on this thread are describing.

It's dangerous, it doesn't work and it's clearly causing issues.

milly74 · 15/12/2021 11:15

@ArabellaScott

How hard is it for people to understand that receptionists are not doing the triaging themselves?

They're making notes for the doctor to do it!

That's not the case. Call up, explain to receptionist what the issue is, she then refuses appointment or dishes out advice. No doctor has been involved in the production of this advice.

I doubt most people would mind if the receptionist were doing as you describe. I have an issue with appointments being refused or diagnosis given or treatment denied on the basis of the opinion of someone who has no medical training.

This happens often. As many people on this thread are describing.

It's dangerous, it doesn't work and it's clearly causing issues.

yes it is. Even worse a doctor allegedly on here who says if not receptionist triaged to the bottom of the pile you go

SmellyOldPartridgeinaPearTree · 15/12/2021 11:18

@bratzybaby

Recently I've been making my issue sound as complicated as possible (it is complicated but when I throw the big words in it sounds even more complicated). This has stopped unwanted advice from the receptionists. I know they have good intentions bless them but the advice they give doesn't apply to my condition. Maybe try doing that so they get a doctor to call you back asap or however it works in your surgery?

In my surgery there's also something on the reception desk that says you don't need to say your issue if you really really don't want too so that takes the pressure off people if they don't want to discuss it with someone random

Silly little receptionists don't understand big words, bless them.

milly74 · 15/12/2021 17:34

Another thread running on here where op turned away by the receptionist!!

pigsDOfly · 15/12/2021 17:53

@ArabellaScott

How hard is it for people to understand that receptionists are not doing the triaging themselves?

They're making notes for the doctor to do it!

That's not the case. Call up, explain to receptionist what the issue is, she then refuses appointment or dishes out advice. No doctor has been involved in the production of this advice.

I doubt most people would mind if the receptionist were doing as you describe. I have an issue with appointments being refused or diagnosis given or treatment denied on the basis of the opinion of someone who has no medical training.

This happens often. As many people on this thread are describing.

It's dangerous, it doesn't work and it's clearly causing issues.

I had a receptionist 'prescribe' Canesten for me once when I rang up to make an appointment - long before Covid and I hadn't had anything like thrush before so didn't know what I was dealing with.

She refuse to give me an appointment and told me to 'go and buy some Canesten and if it doesn't work call us again and we'll make you an appointment to see the doctor'.

I was rather taken aback but as I couldn't get an appointment I tried the Canesten; it didn't work.

Obviously, I got an appointment with the doctor in the end but no, receptionist aren't qualified to give advice.