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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:
purplecorkheart · 04/04/2022 18:15

I have been asked to change my mask a number of times in a health care setting. To be fair they do have a sign at the door saying you need to wear a mask to enter and then you switch masks inside. Tbh I would be wearing a mask entering any healthcare setting (please do not give out to me). The Receptionist should not have laid into you but remember (a) they are overworked (b)under appreciated (c) getting huge pressure from all sides and (d) you could have been the 50th person who landed in without a mask.

1000yellowdaisies · 04/04/2022 18:16

Given the amout the NHS has spent on PPE since March 2020 she's an absolute moron to think telling you off about 1 mask will make any difference.
But i am entirely not surprised, GP receptionists are their own special level of jobsworth.
I would email and complain, because they seemingly get away with rude behaviour like this because we are constantly told how difficult their job is 🙄

Chely · 04/04/2022 18:20

I'd complain in writing, not acceptable behaviour from her.

Our GP's allow any mask, only the hospital ask people to wear the ones they provide at the entry points.

ArcheryAnnie · 04/04/2022 18:24

Just keep a clean cloth mask in your bag, and then there's no waste, even on the occasions you are asked to change it to a different mask.

Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 18:24

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

It’s crazy that it differs though - surely there should be a blanket policy in the UK? Either it’s not necessary to change your mask, in Which case a lot of money has been wasted, or it is necessary in which case presumably people have been (according to the people making the rules) spreading germs or some such?! Makes no sense

OP posts:
Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 18:25

You've never come up against a dragon receptionist before, have you?

HA! Thank you, made me laugh

OP posts:
Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 18:26

Just keep a clean cloth mask in your bag, and then there's no waste, even on the occasions you are asked to change it to a different mask

I usually do but I was dropping papers 2 mins from my house so all I had were the papers and my keys. Hadn’t even considered a mask as I’m so used to being given one!

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 04/04/2022 18:26

She really had a go at me

Really?

Or did she just remind you that you should be carrying your own masks instead of expecting other people to provide them to you for free?

Newmumatlast · 04/04/2022 18:27

@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 to a hospital disposable one every time I have been to maternity unit at hospital during this pregnancy. And it isnt a disposable versus cloth thing as I wear a disposable of my own there.
Theunamedcat · 04/04/2022 18:28

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

She really had a go at me

Really?

Or did she just remind you that you should be carrying your own masks instead of expecting other people to provide them to you for free?

Except every time they insist she swaps to there masks so what's the point?
Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 18:28

This surgery also has a little porch between the door to the building and the reception. There’s sanitiser there and the temp reading machine and usually where I would expect the masks to be. So it’s not like strolling in through a waiting area, barefaced and ashamed 😃

OP posts:
Newmumatlast · 04/04/2022 18:28

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

She really had a go at me

Really?

Or did she just remind you that you should be carrying your own masks instead of expecting other people to provide them to you for free?

This is clearly not what OP is doing. She has masks. She is only not wearing one because she is repeatedly asked to change to one of theirs. Don't be rude if you aren't going to read the OP.
mycatsarecool · 04/04/2022 18:31

You should've just said that you were under the impression that you would have to replace your mask as you have been asked to do this previously..must've been a bad day at the office for her

Eightiesfan · 04/04/2022 18:42

Our dentist dies not allow anyone to bring their own masks and provide a box of them before we even get into reception. There does not seem to be any consistency at all.

However, the misery on reception had no right to talk to you like that, report her.

Sassifrass · 04/04/2022 18:48

I am clinically vulnerable so always wear an N95 well fitting mask on hospital appointments. They do ask me to change for one of their flimsy ones but are happy for me to wear it over the top. A waste of their mask but makes me feel safer.

ChloeHel · 04/04/2022 18:55

Atleast your GP receptionist looks at you, mine is behind perspex screening and doesn’t even look up when you walk in 😂

But YANBU, what a shitty thing to do, god some of these GP receptionists are so blooming entitled. We are all having a hard time, chill!

Innocenta · 04/04/2022 19:00

I always wear an N95, as I'm CEV, and there was a phase when the hospital would ask me to wear a blue disposable mask instead. We compromised on putting it on on top of mine! I obviously wasn't going to take off my more effective mask for their less effective one, but they don't want to look like they're making allowances when they are trying to persuade people to switch out of cloth masks (or indeed to wear one at all).

(I don't go to the GP practice, hence only hospital experiences.)

Neverreturntoathread · 04/04/2022 19:00

Email and complain. I’ve been asked to remove my mask at local hospitals too and use theirs so I know what you mean.

Even if you were bang out of order it is her literal job to be polite to you.

MySecretHistory · 04/04/2022 19:03

I had the same on Friday
Arrived mask free at gp and was basically accused of killing nhs staff

Gp didn’t have a mask on

Wouldntitbenicetobeinyourshoes · 04/04/2022 19:04

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!

They want to ensure you are wearing proper 2R masks. The ones Amazon and other places sell aren’t up to scratch so they are just trying to protect their clinicians.

Our surgery seem happy to let people wander in in useless single layer neck things that people pull up over their faces, or let people sit with masks under their nose in the waiting room…& they wonder why they have so many staff off with Covid!

Dou8hnuts · 04/04/2022 19:08

I had a receptionist in the hospital tell me my mask wasn’t acceptable, she soon shut up when I pointed out her colleague was wearing a matching one.

Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 19:09

@MySecretHistory

I see that I am not alone!

OP posts:
Original poster
Maskymoo · 04/04/2022 19:10

Can’t believe people having to wear a blue one over the top of a better mask - that’s actual madness

OP posts:
Spidey66 · 04/04/2022 19:13

@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 had several hospital appointments recently regarding cataracts. I've been asked to change my mask every time.
Mariposista · 04/04/2022 19:15

If she really was as rude and patronising as that, absolutely call the practice manager. I am sick of people's lousy attitudes. No excuse.