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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:
Original poster
Jasmine00 · 14/12/2021 17:44

@VitalsStable

So your feelings about them hearing about your gynae problems come from where? If not how they feel about them?
As I've said before I'm in a small village and separated from my husband a few years back so having one of my mums church friends ask if I'd had any new sexual partners after me reporting pelvic pain wasn't the best if you see what I mean?? Because the answer was yes I had and I'm then assuming she's judging which she 100% would have been- can you see where I'm coming from now?
OP posts:
Slipperoo · 14/12/2021 17:47

The receptionist doesn't give s shit.

Original poster
Jasmine00 · 14/12/2021 17:48

In a city yes you are right the receptionists don't care what you have, but in smaller settings I can assure you that they most definitely do and I've seen unprofessional behaviour mamy times with local midwives and other health professionals sharing info they really shouldnt have been, it is how it seems to be here and I'm just venting as it's annoying!!

OP posts:
Natty13 · 14/12/2021 17:53

@Jasmine00

In a city yes you are right the receptionists don't care what you have, but in smaller settings I can assure you that they most definitely do and I've seen unprofessional behaviour mamy times with local midwives and other health professionals sharing info they really shouldnt have been, it is how it seems to be here and I'm just venting as it's annoying!!
You need to report this each and every time it happens. To you or others. It's normalised because people are letting the staff get away with behaviour that is not only unprofessional and disrespectful but likely illegal depending on the circumstances.
Peaseblossum22 · 14/12/2021 17:58

Actually this thread has reminded me that the receptionist actually told my MIL that I was pregnant with ds3 . She was mortified and apologised to me afterwards but apparently it ‘just slipped out’ it was fine, one of those things but it might not have been.

bratzybaby · 14/12/2021 17:59

@Letsallscreamatthesistene purposely misunderstanding the point😴 as a pp put it into better words than I did, I'll repeat what they said. '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.' Is that not true??

I don't mean big words as in 'oh let me say I have an excruciating headache' instead of a standard headache so they get the point. No I mean let me use the correct medical terms so I get can passed on to a GP quicker instead of receiving advice that doesn't apply to me. Nowhere did I say the receptionists were 'silly' either and that's not what was applied. I know MN loves to purposely misunderstand things but give it a rest

bratzybaby · 14/12/2021 17:59

*implied nof applied

PhilCornwall1 · 14/12/2021 18:03

@madisonbridges

I completely understand where you're coming from but it's the way of all surgeries now so we have to suck it up. What else can we do? 🤷
All you have to do is tell them that you will only discuss it with the GP.
Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 14/12/2021 18:09

I don’t mind telling them, but I do mind when they loudly repeat things back to me in front of others “oh, and how long have you had your HAEMORRHOIDS?” 😆🤦🏻‍♀️

notanothertakeaway · 14/12/2021 18:12

@pianolessons1

I'm a GP. About 5% of my patients refuse to say and just say 'personal', which is fine. But I prioritise based on what the receptionists say and 'personal' goes in with non urgent.
That's terrifying
ChardonnaysPetDragon · 14/12/2021 18:18

I'm a GP. About 5% of my patients refuse to say and just say 'personal', which is fine. But I prioritise based on what the receptionists say and 'personal' goes in with non urgent.

Why is that? Are you trying to punish them for not wanting to say?

milly74 · 14/12/2021 18:20

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I'm a GP. About 5% of my patients refuse to say and just say 'personal', which is fine. But I prioritise based on what the receptionists say and 'personal' goes in with non urgent.

Why is that? Are you trying to punish them for not wanting to say?

sounds like it!
PhilCornwall1 · 14/12/2021 18:24

Why is that? Are you trying to punish them for not wanting to say?

No, just reducing workload by culling patients.

Nomorepies · 14/12/2021 18:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

AnneElliott · 14/12/2021 18:35

I agree with you op - and I used to be. Drs receptionist. We had no training at all - no way are they qualified to triage or anything like it.

And some of the stories you hear about them giving advice or putting people off seeing the Dr are awful. And no way is it the specialist argument either - the ones I worked for has their specialisms but if you needed to be seen then you got the one that was available.

Some of my receptionist colleagues were awful to patients - and yes to shouting out details. I wrote the whole lot down once while sitting in the waiting room (as a patient)I had name, address, details of the condition etc. practice manager couldn't have been less bothered. And they aren't bound by the same rules as the Dr. As PP have pointed out if a Dr loses their registration it's catastrophic - the receptionist can move onto another practice.

godmum56 · 14/12/2021 18:43

@TractorAndHeadphones

Sorry if I've missed something but why are receptionists triaging? What could they possibly know about medicine? I can understand them needing details to pass on to the doctor, or write in the appointment details but that's it. They should not be gatekeeping!
they are triaging because they have been told to and trained to. They aren't medically trained but they can be quickly and reliably trained to screen by asking certain questions.
wallysally · 14/12/2021 18:48

🤣🤣🤣 at the person suggesting that receptionists are medically trained and can triage! It's a 6 week course to become a medical receptionist! The may learn a bit about medical terminology but they are by no means able to triage!!! If that was the case why would nurses spend 3-4 years training and doctors spend all the years training that they do!!? Ffs...

Justheretoaskaquestion91 · 14/12/2021 19:09

@AnneElliott

They shout it out on purpose right? 😆

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 14/12/2021 19:16

[quote bratzybaby]@Letsallscreamatthesistene purposely misunderstanding the point😴 as a pp put it into better words than I did, I'll repeat what they said. '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.' Is that not true??

I don't mean big words as in 'oh let me say I have an excruciating headache' instead of a standard headache so they get the point. No I mean let me use the correct medical terms so I get can passed on to a GP quicker instead of receiving advice that doesn't apply to me. Nowhere did I say the receptionists were 'silly' either and that's not what was applied. I know MN loves to purposely misunderstand things but give it a rest[/quote]
I didnt purposely misunderstand you. I did type out a reply explaining why, but tbh ive not got the energy to get into an internet debate with you. Have a good night.

Musicaltheatremum · 14/12/2021 19:18

It's really useful to know why you are calling as I can review your notes properly before the call or appointment.

Reception are not at all interested nor do they remember what you say.

Giving advice unless it's telling someone with an eye problem to contact their optician is not ok.

bratzybaby · 14/12/2021 19:27

@Letsallscreamatthesistene cya hun👋

milly74 · 14/12/2021 21:20

@wallysally

🤣🤣🤣 at the person suggesting that receptionists are medically trained and can triage! It's a 6 week course to become a medical receptionist! The may learn a bit about medical terminology but they are by no means able to triage!!! If that was the case why would nurses spend 3-4 years training and doctors spend all the years training that they do!!? Ffs...
no way they should be tsking any info, sign posting and triaging and its disgusting that GP openly admitted if you aren't receptionist triaged you go down as none urgent.
IceandIndigo · 14/12/2021 21:28

I think YANBU. I used to work asa medical receptionist (not in the UK) and we were trained that if someone started trying to talk to us about a clinical issue, or if they were claiming something was urgent but there were no appointments available that day, we should offer them a conversation with the practice nurse who was qualified to offer advice/triage. I think the only reason receptionists in the UK are asking these questions is that there aren’t enough GP appointments available to meet demand.

cansu · 14/12/2021 21:32

I think there is huge danger in them taking details. Firstly, it is surely only by taking a detailed history that you can tell whether some symptoms are serious or not.

Metropolismoon · 14/12/2021 21:40

It is worrying that receptionists are triaging patients. Surely triaging should be done by people who are making decisions based on experienced clinical rationale that they can be held to account for?
I dread to think how my elderly relative would access the services available without my support.