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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:
CherryAndAlmond · 14/12/2021 21:44

I once got asked in person at the receptionist's desk what was wrong with me. This was pre-pandemic and there was a huge queue behind me for the drop-in surgery...
Me: I'd rather not say, but a nurse will be able to help.
Receptionist: I need to know what the problem is so I can check that the nurse is the best person.
Me: Trust me, it will be.
Receptionist: you'll need to give me some idea what's wrong.
Me: um... I have something I need her to remove.
Receptionist: I'm sorry?
Me (losing my temper): I HAVE A CLOVE OF GARLIC STUCK IN MY VAGINA!

Last time I ever try a home remedy for thrush. I left with a red face and a prescription for Canesten!

rrhuth · 14/12/2021 22:14

@CherryAndAlmond

I once got asked in person at the receptionist's desk what was wrong with me. This was pre-pandemic and there was a huge queue behind me for the drop-in surgery... Me: I'd rather not say, but a nurse will be able to help. Receptionist: I need to know what the problem is so I can check that the nurse is the best person. Me: Trust me, it will be. Receptionist: you'll need to give me some idea what's wrong. Me: um... I have something I need her to remove. Receptionist: I'm sorry? Me (losing my temper): I HAVE A CLOVE OF GARLIC STUCK IN MY VAGINA!

Last time I ever try a home remedy for thrush. I left with a red face and a prescription for Canesten!

Blush Shock Grin
Offmyfence · 14/12/2021 22:22

@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

You think doctors receptionists don't understsnd big words? Bless you for not realising but they do!
Offmyfence · 14/12/2021 22:22

@glimpsing

Just make it sound as gory, dangerous and as worrying as you can. Then you get an appointmentWink.
Yeah and stuff anyone in greater need.
Offmyfence · 14/12/2021 22:25

@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
But honestly what difference does it make? Woman with gynae issue, so what?

You're not a crack addict awaiting a methadone prescription and even if you were, they would remain confidential.

I really don't understand the issue, they can presumably look at your records anyway?

PeachesPumpkin · 14/12/2021 22:25

They aren’t gossips off the street corner - they are trained professionals.

Offmyfence · 14/12/2021 22:27

@triceratopsatemyhat

I'm a HCA specifically training to become RN. I have to do a weekly slot on the phones answering reception calls and being on front desk.

When I'm in uniform, any advice I give (which I only do if I'm qualified to do so) is gratefully revived.

In civvi clothes the same advice would cause people to kick off at me and be patronising.

Now why am I not surprised? 🤔!

It's quite trendy to hate all doctors receptionists!

PeachesPumpkin · 14/12/2021 22:28

@Metropolismoon

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.
They aren’t doing the triage- they are getting the information so that a nurse or doctor can triage. It would be an utter waste of time for the nurse or doctor to ring everyone back to see what their problem was before they triage.
Offmyfence · 14/12/2021 22:29

@TisTheSeasonToBeVegan

We don’t use NHS GP anymore but when we did, they would sometimes offer medical advice. But if you rang for a blood test result, they couldn’t tell you anything because they’re ‘not medically trained’. I did once say, ‘that’s funny because you were last month when offering my partner medical advice’, but she didn’t seem to think it was very funny. We use private now and never get asked, you just book an appointment.
And pay the price....
Brownpigeon · 14/12/2021 22:42

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!

XenoBitch · 14/12/2021 22:45

YABU, they do basic triage. They are also trained. They are not idle gossips who bitch about all the patients on their lunch break like many will have you believe.

Sidge · 14/12/2021 22:48

Triage just means “to sort” - they’re not (and shouldn’t be) assessing or diagnosing.

Asking a very basic reason for the appointment means it can be booked appropriately.

If you’ve got GPs, ANPs, PNs, HCAs, pharmacists, physios and admin all working in a building together it can be quite useful to know if the patient is having chest pain, has collapsed, asthma issues, needs to book a smear, is chasing a referral, wanting a repeat prescription or wanting to book their baby’s immunisations.

Given we have a finite amount of appointments and a seemingly infinite number of people wanting appointments you have to triage (sort!) them somehow.

Oh and now we are all being redeployed to vaccinate again and told to cut non urgent appointments demand is going to be even higher….

julieca · 14/12/2021 23:32

Of course, they have to do basic triage. They only have so many on the day appointments. Someone rings up and say their eczema is worse, someone else says they have bad abdominal pain and don't know what the cause is. There are only so many appointments, they have to allocate based on need.

milly74 · 14/12/2021 23:37

@Brownpigeon

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!
same difference!!!! even worse signposting as they call it patients away from getting a GP appointment
Zwellers · 15/12/2021 08:15

All those saying doctors receptionists are trained professionals. Trained in what exactly?. Do they have a professional medical qualification and training like a doctor or nurse?. If not then I'm not telling them my medical issues, in the same way I don't tell the dentists or opticians receptionists. As it happens am trying to make an appointment as we speak!

C8H10N4O2 · 15/12/2021 08:15

@triceratopsatemyhat

I'm a HCA specifically training to become RN. I have to do a weekly slot on the phones answering reception calls and being on front desk.

When I'm in uniform, any advice I give (which I only do if I'm qualified to do so) is gratefully revived.

In civvi clothes the same advice would cause people to kick off at me and be patronising.

Everyone has dealt with "that receptionist" who gives out unsolicited and sometimes dangerous advice and demands unnecessary details. . Some are just bloody nosy but more likely are being used as cheap minimum wage triage by practices and they shouldn't be expected to do this job.

Even outside of small villages the local receptionists will often have children in the local schools and know many of the local women and their children. Whether or not they care about personal details is irrelevant, its the patient's need for privacy, or their ability to hastily outline something very personal to an unqualified person which matters.

To say that basic privacy is not a reasonable expectation because the receptionist doesn't care is the exact same argument used by men to dismiss the need for women's spaces and female wards and medics.

ArabellaScott · 15/12/2021 08:27

Triage is fine! Advice, diagnosis and opinion is not. This happens frequently. I have been refused a GP appt when even I with no medical training knew fine well I had a post partum infection. It is dangerous!

vivainsomnia · 15/12/2021 08:40

at the person suggesting that receptionists are medically trained and can triage! It's a 6 week course to become a medical receptionist!
That still more experience than most individual callers who believe their condition requires urgent treatment.

How many people still expect to see a doctor to be prescribed antibiotics for chest or sinus infection when in the majority of cases, the infection is viral, not bacterial and antibiotics do more damage than good. That because too many patient want instant treatment and can't accept natural healing that can take days.

BigYellowHat · 15/12/2021 08:45

I really hate it too. I tried to explain that I needed penicillin for my ear infection ASAP because in the past, I’d had them and the associated high temperature had brought on seizures (I have epilepsy) No, no no, she said. Apparently I had to wait and see if it cleared up. Two days later I had a tonic clonic seizure, still with my ear in agonising pain.

ItsTheTreasure · 15/12/2021 08:55

I don't hate telling the receptionist my problems as much as the fact that to get an appointment you need to call at 8:30am, which is exactly the time I need to leave for the school run. So often I'll be walking down the road or in the school playground when they ask and I would rather discuss in private

triceratopsatemyhat · 15/12/2021 09:42

@Brownpigeon

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!
@Brownpigeon I think I love you. Nail on the head.
milly74 · 15/12/2021 10:00

lol triaging by another name!!!!

milly74 · 15/12/2021 10:01

@BigYellowHat

I really hate it too. I tried to explain that I needed penicillin for my ear infection ASAP because in the past, I’d had them and the associated high temperature had brought on seizures (I have epilepsy) No, no no, she said. Apparently I had to wait and see if it cleared up. Two days later I had a tonic clonic seizure, still with my ear in agonising pain.
ah but receptionists aren't triaging or denying access. Apparently
milly74 · 15/12/2021 10:02

@julieca

Of course, they have to do basic triage. They only have so many on the day appointments. Someone rings up and say their eczema is worse, someone else says they have bad abdominal pain and don't know what the cause is. There are only so many appointments, they have to allocate based on need.
not for an untrained receptionist to decide x
Helpstopthepain · 15/12/2021 10:17

@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 really like ours. They are always really helpful and signpost appropriately. They put up with so much rudeness. We go to a small village surgery.