To complain about receptionist

[TEH82]

So yesterday I ate something while out in my car (piece of fruit) and my eyes instantly swelled up. I was 2 mins from local minor injuries so went there and the bell to be let in. By this time my breathing was rapid and I was dizzy so I rang the bell again as was scared. The receptionist come out and shouted at me for ringing twice between gasps I said I have previous history of severe reactions (never with this fruit) and my chest was tight and it’s hard to breathe.
The receptionist tutted and let me in and told me to sit down and went back to her desk and started discussing her coffee break with another receptionist. The panic and sense of doom had set in so I got up and walked through to where I knew the nurses were and the receptionist shouted me to sit down and wait my turn. Thankfully the nurses were amazing and one look at me they put me in resus, gave oxygen, 1 min observations and needed 2 doses of adrenaline as airways were closing and my arms locked and were burning where I didn’t have enough oxygen in my body.
I am just upset the way the receptionist was if I hadn’t walked through it’s could of been a very different outcome

Omg this is awful. I hope you do complain because that kind of attitude is dangerous in her position

You could approach it by saying that you're not complaining but that it would appear the receptionist needs further training in recognising the symptoms you were displaying.

@spintailondonkey

You could approach it by saying that you're not complaining but that it would appear the receptionist needs further training in recognising the symptoms you were displaying.

But why would the OP say she's not complaining when she absolutely is complaining, and quite rightly so?

Fortunately, the OP appears to be well, but (and I say this as somebody who carries an epipen due to previous anaphylactic reactions), she could have been left seriously ill or could even have died - anaphylaxis is a time-critical emergency.

Damn straight she should be complaining.

Yes complain but also why don't you carry an epi pen if you have a history of severe reactions?

As another patient I'd have thought the OP could have anaphylaxis - the receptionist let her annoyance at the bell being rung twice get in the way of professionalism.

I'd want her fired actually. A 10 year old child would know that somebody not being able to breathe is a medical emergency. She doesn't need further training. She needs an ability to think which she seems to lack. You can't train to make people smarter.

In all honesty my other allergy tends to be seasonal as is wasps and as I was just popping out when it happened so didn’t grab my bag only purse and keys which is mistake and lesson learnt by me.

Sure,y the other receptionist could also see if you were tgat bad Complain definitely

I went to this unit as was literally 2 mins from where I was and I knew it had nurses and medical equipment and would carry medication for anaphylactic shock and would be faster than calling an ambulance in that second

Absolutely complain. This could have been catastrophic. I actually think those actions should result in her being suspended pending investigation.

That's crazy I would definitely complain. My husband went to A&E with a serious allergic reaction to penicillin and they told him off for standing in a queue for the receptionist. It had never happened before so he didn't quite realise how serious it was at the time but he was rushed straight through as soon as the receptionist saw him.

God yes 100% complain.

Her negligence could have caused your death

That's disgusting. Hope you are now fully recovered.

She should have a duty of care as a receptionist and should also be first aid trained? She surely should have done an immediate primary survey.

Absolutely complain. Utterly incompetent.

Thanks everyone will write an email to PALS tomorrow

I'm not normally a person who complains, but I sure would do so in this instance. I'm a receptionist (not in a medical setting) and if someone arrived in your state I would have immediately found someone to help. Those saying the receptionist needs "training" - it would help, but if she is so stupid (or self absorbed) she is prepared to ignore someone struggling to breathe and telling her they have severe allergic reactions she shouldn't even be working there!!

@Rangoon

I'd want her fired actually. A 10 year old child would know that somebody not being able to breathe is a medical emergency. She doesn't need further training. She needs an ability to think which she seems to lack. You can't train to make people smarter.

This! It’s something that should be filtered out at application not trained

2 letters. 1 complaint for the receptionist and 1 thank you for the nurses!

As an aside you really need to get a prescription for an epi pen.