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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nasty receptionist re mask

85 replies

Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 17:36

I waddled (heavily pregnant) to my local GP to drop off some papers today. Due to health complications for both of my children and also the pregnancy, I have been to the doctor/hospital well in excess of 30/40 times during the pandemic. Every single time I have been asked to remove the mask I have and put on a fresh mask. So I’ve stopped taking a mask with me as they provide one at the door. Logical, and saves me a lot of washing/binning of masks etc as they are supposed to be one time wear.

Anyway in i waddle and no masks are out to take so I politely ask for one. Receptionist lays into me in a dramatic fashion about how can I not have one/they cost the nhs money etc etc. honestly I was pretty floored by this and didn’t even think about how it’s a learned behaviour of mine to not take one as they are never used/I’m told to replace them.

AIBU? What do other people’s GPs have them do? I’m trying to follow the rules and it felt pretty shitty to be reprimanded in this way/it’s never nice to be “told off” as a grown up and I’m interested in other people’s experience!

OP posts:
Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 17:37

She really had a go at me

OP posts:
WhyOfCourse · 04/04/2022 17:38

I'd email and complain

passport123 · 04/04/2022 17:38

We have a box for those who don't have one. Am surprised you've been asked to change mask at other places.

WhyOfCourse · 04/04/2022 17:38

(Nicely though, they are under looooads of pressure)

WhyOfCourse · 04/04/2022 17:39

@passport123

We have a box for those who don't have one. Am surprised you've been asked to change mask at other places.
I was asked to at all my hospital appointments. They didn't like my "face covering"
VyeBrator · 04/04/2022 17:40

What did 'laying into you in a dramatic fashion' entail?

TheSnowyOwl · 04/04/2022 17:40

Do they ask you to put on a fresh mask or do they ask you to wear a disposal one because you have on a cloth one like so many people wear that are fairly useless?

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 04/04/2022 17:40

She was wrong to lay into you, but I’d leave it at that. If you want to wear a mask, don’t leave the house without one. I always check - phone, keys, wallet, mask. It’s second nature now, even if I won’t be putting it on immediately.

WingingItEveryDay7 · 04/04/2022 17:41

I always carry a mask if I'm going somewhere that still requires them however, like you, I've always been asked to put on a disposable one provided. There was no need for her to have a go and I would have argued back with her saying how you usually bring one but have always been told to replace it etc. Maybe she was having a bad day, still no reason to lash out at you. Hope it didn't ruin your day!!

weebarra · 04/04/2022 17:43

Yes, DCs have a lot of hospital appointments and I'm always asked to change my mask - so much so that I didn't wear one to the last appointment and picked one up there. The inconsistency isn't great.

Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 17:46

I have been asked to remove the blue disposable ones at my local hospital (and 2 other hospitals) and put on one of theirs. Even though my disposable one was fresh out the packet!

I mean if she would rather I not wear one I’m happy to not wear one - I was trying to be considerate!

The laying into me was seriously having a go. It was very patronising snd unkind/raised voice and nasty tone. I get she’s stressed and they are overworked but I didn’t realise that the NHS would have such vastly differing policies re masks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 17:47

There was no need for her to have a go and I would have argued back with her saying how you usually bring one but have always been told to replace it etc. Maybe she was having a bad day, still no reason to lash out at you. Hope it didn't ruin your day!!

I’m mostly just annoyed because I Was so taken aback I didn’t really say anything at all and it didn’t ruin my day but I’m quite hormonal/having a rough time pregnancy wise so it did actually upset me more than it should!

Interesting to hear what others have experienced re mask

OP posts:
Memyselfandfood · 04/04/2022 17:48

I’ve never been asked to replace mine at gps and only at 1 hospital apt ( for a procedure) all the rest i’ve worn my own mask.

Clarinet1 · 04/04/2022 17:48

I’m sorry to hear were treated like this OP. It sounds like a totally unreasonable reaction from the receptionist. She should have said something like “Thank you for asking for a mask but I’m afraid we haven’t got any today”,

oatlattetogo · 04/04/2022 17:55

You’re not being unreasonable to be annoyed (and to think she was rude!) but I’d let it go. If you think she was so rude that a complaint is justified then absolutely email the practice manager though.

I’ve never been asked to switch masks in the GP surgery, but every time I’ve been into hospital during the pandemic I’ve been asked to change my mask for one of their ones. I assumed it was because I only wear cloth ones and they consider them to be not as good as the blue ones, but maybe they do it to everyone! There’s a whole set of dispensers attached to the wall as you go in, so maybe they do actually.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 04/04/2022 17:58

@passport123

Each time I’ve been to GP or hospital setting I’ve been asked to remove mine and put one of theirs on. I usually wear the proper ones so always thought it was weird had to take it off for a flimsy one

Hugasauras · 04/04/2022 18:01

Yes, every midwife and hospital appointment I've had, you're asked to swap masks at the door to one of the paper blue ones they provide!

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 04/04/2022 18:02

Nah, that's not acceptable to be spoken to like that. You should complain if you feel okay about doing that. She's not supposed to speak to people like that, I don't care that: NHS, stress, angelic staff, covid, the weather, petrol, whatever.

BulletTrain · 04/04/2022 18:02

They have been making me replace mine at hospital appointments as recently as February!

IAMGE · 04/04/2022 18:03

@WhyOfCourse

I'd email and complain
This
Arecklessmanor · 04/04/2022 18:08

I had a baby recently, I had about 30 appointments at the maternity hospital and some at GP surgery and some at the main hospital. The only time I was asked to change my mask was for theatre.

There was no need for her to be nasty, but due to my experience locally I always just bring one. I had an appointment today and two people came without a mask but everyone else was wearing some kind of face covering or managed to find one in the depths of their handbag.

Spaghag · 04/04/2022 18:10

I work at a GP surgery, I would happily supply a mask if asked for one. We do get an awful lot of abuse simply for asking people to use a mask - the practice don't own the building, it's used by a few NHS services & it's an NHS rule.

I'm also relieved when someone without a mask asks for one TBH. Much better than the usual mouth full of abuse.

The Receptionist is unlikely to be supplying the masks from her own wage. Sounds like she needs a holiday.

Spaghag · 04/04/2022 18:11

Oh & we don't ask people to change their mask. The one they're wearing is fine.

SickAndTiredAgain · 04/04/2022 18:12

@passport123

We have a box for those who don't have one. Am surprised you've been asked to change mask at other places.
I’ve been asked to change mine at hospital appointments. They made me take off a well fitting cloth mask and put on a surgical one that was massive and gaped hugely.
chisanunian · 04/04/2022 18:13

@VyeBrator

What did 'laying into you in a dramatic fashion' entail?
You've never come up against a dragon receptionist before, have you?