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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to not want to discuss my private health with doctor receptionists

232 replies

Jasmine00 · 14/12/2021 12:08

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

OP posts:
bestdhever · 14/12/2021 13:23

I don't see why they need to know...I'm in Ireland and never have they asked me here why I want to see the doc or nurse. They just give me a slot. Yesterday I rang at 3.30 and I got an appointment today for 3.30...no questions asked 🤷‍♀️

TurtleBeach · 14/12/2021 13:23

I completely understand the need to gather information about the reason for my appointment request and would be happy to give it in order to ensure I am seen by the most suitable person as quickly and efficiently as possible. But, this system does not work in conjunction with the "must phone at 8am" system. At this time of the day, I have no private space to have the conversation. I'll often be with people I know but whom I don;t want overhearing something as vague as "gynae problems" or "mental health" issues. This is still private medical information and the reason why the actual consultations with the GP take place behind closed doors. Allow me to call at any time of day and I'll find space to give the receptionist any and all of the information they need.

Cherrytart23 · 14/12/2021 13:23

If a receptionist can triage then why are they not call triage nurse? The only reason they ask is to put it on the notes for gp to see. No other reason whatsoever you do not have to explain to receptionist why you need to see gp either.
The clue is in the job title receptionist.

LampLighter414 · 14/12/2021 13:33

Does anyone actually like their GP receptionist?

I have not seen a good word said by a patient about them in many years.

TheOrigRights · 14/12/2021 13:34

@bestdhever

I don't see why they need to know...I'm in Ireland and never have they asked me here why I want to see the doc or nurse. They just give me a slot. Yesterday I rang at 3.30 and I got an appointment today for 3.30...no questions asked 🤷‍♀️
Maybe resources are not so stretched there, that they can allow for some people asking for a GP appt when a nurse appt would be preferable, or vice versa, or in fact speaking to a pharmacist would be preferable e.g. in case someone didn't know a medication can be bought OTC.

Or maybe people are better informed about all the above so they always ask for the service they need.

Peaseblossum22 · 14/12/2021 13:34

@LampLighter414 only three posts below yours I have said that the receptionists at my surgery are lovely

TheOrigRights · 14/12/2021 13:35

@LampLighter414

Does anyone actually like their GP receptionist?

I have not seen a good word said by a patient about them in many years.

Apart from the odd occasion I have never found fault with the receptionists I've dealt with over the years.
julieca · 14/12/2021 13:35

I phoned said what the issue was and was given an appointment in a few days time. Half an hour later a GP rang me back and said I needed to get to the surgery asap, I was then sent to the hospital for urgent tests. It turned out to be non-urgent. But if I had refused to say what the issue was, the GP would not have rung me back.

brokendark · 14/12/2021 13:36

Don't tell them. You only need to tell them if you need an emergency appt or not ( at least in any practice I have been in).

rrhuth · 14/12/2021 13:36

I would say something like 'it is related to endometriosis but I am not going over the gory details now, I need a doctor's appointment to discuss please'. So I would name the general issue but I would refuse to get into details with the receptionist.

2bunny · 14/12/2021 13:36

Are people actually getting to see their doctors, I tried to book this morning and was told only emergency appointment allowed at the moment as this is what the government have told them to do

julieca · 14/12/2021 13:38

Yes the government have told GPs to suspend all routine appointments so they can administer boosters.

brokendark · 14/12/2021 13:38

@bestdhever

I don't see why they need to know...I'm in Ireland and never have they asked me here why I want to see the doc or nurse. They just give me a slot. Yesterday I rang at 3.30 and I got an appointment today for 3.30...no questions asked 🤷‍♀️
You have a private healthcare system, don't you? And have to pay for GP appts?
Aprilx · 14/12/2021 13:38

[quote bratzybaby]@Auntieobem how is that patronising? GP receptionists are not doctors, this isn't a secret. In my surgery, when you say your issue they'll try to give advice they think is suitable. When I'd say I'm suffering from the effects of my spinal headache, they'd often say 'have you tried paracetamol/ibuprofen' just because they've heard the word 'headache.' Yet a spinal headache is caused by low pressure in the brain, paracetamol/ibuprofen does nothing to help that.

They're clearly trying to help which is appreciated but they don't understand the condition because they're simply not doctors. That's not patronising at all[/quote]
Nobody said receptionists were GPs. It was patronising for the poster to suggest using “big words” that apparently a receptionist in a doctors surgery could not possibly know the meaning of.

rrhuth · 14/12/2021 13:39

@LampLighter414

Does anyone actually like their GP receptionist?

I have not seen a good word said by a patient about them in many years.

I assume it is something about the role rather than their inherent natures but no, usually they have been pretty grim. I think they deal with a lot of shit.

They are as a group of employees a grade less enraging than school receptionists, who are equally unfriendly but often much less aware of confidentiality.

Aprilx · 14/12/2021 13:43

@2bunny

Are people actually getting to see their doctors, I tried to book this morning and was told only emergency appointment allowed at the moment as this is what the government have told them to do
No. I had some blood tests and need to speak to a doctor about the results, I cannot get a time to discuss with doctor on the phone until 10 January.
KeepApart · 14/12/2021 13:45

A receptionist is just as much a professional working as the GP. Yes they are not medically qualified, and as such shouldn't give out medical advise, but the receptionist cares no more or less about your gynae problems than the GP. And is no more or less likely to judge than any medical professional. They will take 100s of calls a day and actually probably here more people's problems than the actual GP (as there will be more GPs/nurses than receptionists). They will hear hundreds of people with gynae problems and I doubt they even remember to be perfectly honest. You could just as easily have this problem if your GPS children went to the same school as yours.

The receptionist gathers the info so that an appropriate appointment can be made and so the GP who has limited time knows roughly what the problem is.

With the prostate cancer story, whilst very sad, the man didn't give his symptoms, its not the receptionists fault. Had he actually been having back problems it would have been much more appropriate for him to see a physio. He could have said something like he was worried about cancer, or a personal issue he'd prefer to discuss with the doctor. Something along those lines. You cannot hold the receptionist responsible in that scenario

CatsArePeople · 14/12/2021 13:47

I have not seen a good word said by a patient about them in many years.

Because its always a battle with them. You have to lie and exagerrate, or it will be - come in next month or go to A&E. And then wonder why A&Es are clogged up.

KeepApart · 14/12/2021 13:50

Also I like my GPs receptionists. They are lovely. Dealt with a blood test appointment mess up really well recently

Please don't be a dick and use 'big words' or make it seem like your health issue is worse than it is. Just explain a basic summary of why you need to see the GP will suffice, so all patients can be prioritised accordingly. Honestly the big words thing is probably just a flag "this patient is an arsehole better get them booked in quickly in case they complain"

Feetupteashot · 14/12/2021 13:51

It's to help the doctors they ask reception to find out a bit. Helps triage and also directs them to which letters to check out before they call you especially if multiple conditions

You don't have to go into details, just ongoing gynae problem, severe left sided chest pain, button stuck in ear etc helps them get you to the right person

VitalsStable · 14/12/2021 13:52

Our doctors receptionists are lovely and really really helpful but they can only help if you explain details which they need to know to allow you to see the correct medical professional. Being vague doesn't help and may mean your symptoms aren't flagged as maybe being the result of a serious condition or it may mean you see someone who isn't specialised in that area and then either aren't referred to the right specialist or have to see another doctor before you are.

As for gynae problems, they hear them 100 times a day and don't really give a hoot as to what is wrong with you just want to get you seen by the right person, I can imagine you expecting judgement if you e got the hoover stick up your hoo ha but otherwise its perfectly normal run if the mill stuff to them. As soon as they put the phone down you're ailments will be forgotten.

Peas252 · 14/12/2021 13:54

@glimpsing

Just make it sound as gory, dangerous and as worrying as you can. Then you get an appointmentWink.
What a stupid comment.

They're probably more qualified than the call handlers on 111

lliitttlepiinkhouse · 14/12/2021 13:55

I don't see why receptionists need to know all the intimate details of your medical needs.

They can ask, so they can perhaps direct it to a nurse if it's clear they can deal with it, or put a note on the system so the doctor can be better prepared for the appointment, but as they are neither a doctor or a nurse I fail to see how they can effectively triage patients based on a patients symptoms or needs.

ClaudiaWankleman · 14/12/2021 13:56

It was patronising for the poster to suggest using “big words” that apparently a receptionist in a doctors surgery could not possibly know the meaning of.

It feels like common sense that non-specialists (which GP receptionists are) won't know the range of applicable medical terminology to describe all conditions. I think many people who are more highly educated than the average GP receptionist would struggle to understand medical terminology. It doesn't feel patronising to me - what sense of superiority is gained?

ReeseWitherfork · 14/12/2021 14:01

No they should not be seeing your records anyway. They can only access records when needed, not just Willy nilly.

Tricky... IME (of working as a GP receptionist) there was no barrier to seeing any records, only the IG principles to see what was necessary. So having a snoop obviously not OK. But you never know whose records are going to show up on your desk. The receptionists could probably justify pulling up your medical records when you make an appointment even if they haven't asked for the reason (to check theres nothing outstanding that the GP needs to look over beforehand, for example).

Think my point is that although a receptionist shouldn't be nosey for the sake of it, there's a myriad of reasons they may end up seeing your medical records anyway.