To ask if I should take the job.. doctor receptionist

[EyUpThereLass]

I currently work in a busy cafe. It's all day Friday and all day Sunday. I have 2 young children so miss every Sunday with them.
I've posted lately about things I'm not happy about in the cafe too like them making loads of others team leader but not me, cutting my hours and not others with no explanation.

I got an interview for a doctors receptionist, didn't think I'd get it - but I did. The hours are 1 evening and 2 mornings a week. So it's slightly less hours and is £10.42 an hour.

Would you take it? Or do you think I'd be better where I am?

My friend took a job as a doctor receptionist earlier this year. She has just given her notice.

She said she is treated as a dogs body by the older, full time staff. She said she booked an appointment for a pensioner who was struggling, and a GP shouted at her and berated her as "he should've been triaged first" even though she explained she was very concerned by his symptoms.

The final straw was she had a day where she was screamed at by 10 people who missed the 8am scramble for appointments, then had a woman come to the surgery demanding an appointment, when she said no she threatened to hit her.

Then one of the nurse practitioners was rude to her about a prescription which they hadn't set over, it was their older colleague but she got blamed for.

She said she would rather work anywhere but the surgery and said she was left disgusted by the way patients are treated and spoken about to the point she is considering whistle blowing on the lot of them.

Thank you everyone! It's given me some food for thought.
The only thing is I would be worse off financially.. I come home with around £700 now where as it'll be about £550 at the doctors and I'd need to pay around £80 a month to childcare DH said he'd cover the rest. (She doesn't need it atm with me working a weekend) so I just don't know. X

Is it not a bit of a no brainer? And it's hardly full-time!
Best of luck if you decide to take the job.

It’ll be a gateway to other admin jobs if nothing else. And I bet they’ll need you for extra shifts every now and then.

You’re being treated poorly where you are, so a fresh start may be just what the doctor ordered (see what I did there?!)

I went from insurance to being a GP receptionist 3 months ago , I absolutely love it , there hasn't been one day where I haven't wanted to go to work . Yes it's challenging but the time goes so quick , is there likely to be extra hours ? Everyone at our place does extra hours every week .

How magnanimous of your DH to 'cover the rest'. It's an expense you both incur by going to work. If you're part-time then you're solving the issue some of the time by caring for your DD. If he doesn't want to suffer the pay drop and career setback by doing the same, then he can pay the whole expense.

As others have said, there's good potential for more hours and career progression in this role. There's none where you are currently. Take the reception job!

Definitely take it. Two friends started very similarly and now have almost full time hours (which is what they wanted for pay without having to be proper full time) and love the benefits.

Just be kind to all us NHS users - some GP receptionists are a bit too gruff!

Just saw your update. Regarding short term pay drop, try and view it as short term pain for long term gain! Also ask if there's extra hours.

I've been a doctors receptionist and have had harder jobs. Take it op!

Having done the role, just be aware that every day is different and will have challenges. I've taken calls from relatives who have found parents deceased, booked 999 calls for patients having heart attacks who were unable to call for themselves, registered new patients who didn't speak English and supported suicidal patients who walked in off the street without an appointment until a GP was free to see them.

You will deal with addicts, people struggling with parenthood and ill people at the end of their tether. You will need to remain non judgemental in many situations, you will support people who discover they are pregnant (and not always happy with it), patients who are dying and everything in between. When the phone rings, you have no idea of what you will be responding to. It is incredibly stressful but also very rewarding.

If you take the job, listen to your more experienced colleagues and ask questions, ask lots of questions and make notes. I don't think a week passed without me learning something new.

Good luck.

I would take it as it could lead to better opportunities in the future once your DC are older.

I worked evenings and weekends in bars around my exDPs "proper" job when DC were tiny then started as a GP receptionist in 2018 when my youngest started school. I was on not much more than min wage which is disgraceful for the stress levels. It was incredibly challenging and fast-paced but I adored it. Within a year I had been promoted to a more senior admin role and then a bit later I applied for a social prescribing role in my surgery and am now the SP team leader with a decent salary, great pension etc. And more importantly I love my job.

And I get 20% off new dresses with my blue light card. What's not to love!

Yes sorry I'm not drip feeding- as such we've just had discussions regarding childcare etc!

I currently do around 16 hours and come home with roughly £700. As it's zero hour we get 12.7% added to each monthly wage for holiday so it works out about £11 something an hour. Your paid on the clock and I often have to finish late meaning I get paid extra. Them cutting my hours took around £80 a month off my wage.

The doctors is a 13 hour contract at £10.42 an hour - so no holiday top up in my wage as I get paid holidays.
I've worked out that will mean I come home with around £550 a month? But with it being week day mornings it means childcare - which as I said I've been asked to pay £80 a month towards.

I'm lucky I don't pay any bills other than my £10 phone bill - but it's still less money.

One of the team leaders at work almost cried when I said I have a job offer, she said she's devastated to hear I've felt the way I have, what can she do to help. The overall manager.. well I don't think he'll say too much.

What do you all think? What would you do?

I also have a 6 year old so in school holidays childcare would have to be arranged for him too. My dad is a farmer so he said once harvest is over he will happily have them one or 2 mornings a week which will help!

@Fumbalina that's a brilliant story, and kind of what I'm hoping for myself. I'm actually a qualified dental nurse and I loved being in a healthcare setting and feeling like I helped people. I'd love to progress from it - weirdly enough I'd really like to work in an A&E reception - I don't know why!

@L1ttledrummergirl that's really insightful, thank you. I don't know why but those things don't seem to put me off - I almost find them exciting to try to deal with. I like the thought knowing I've come home possibly having helped someone suicidal or pregnant and scared than just served someone tea and scones.

Can I ask why you left the role? x

Take it! Much better job prospects if nothing else. Fwiw we have a lovely receptionist at our GPs she’s polite, is friendly when I go in - ‘Hi Mrs X how are you?’ , will squeeze in appointments etc. you don’t have to be a dragon!! The rest are fine but she’s exceptional!

Take it. Much more secure than a hospitality role with more opportunities for the future.
I have a family member who did this after a decade of being home with kids and she has ended up as the practise manager.

Don't sell yourself short here, by the way. A friendly, chatty staff member in a cafe can be an absolute lifeline. When DC1 was newborn and DH was working long shifts, I didn't know anyone where we lived and I was painfully lonely. The nice woman in the waffle house who cooed over my baby was an angel. There might be some elderly isolated people who only speak to you all week. All public facing jobs have the potential to help people (even if lots of the public are total knobs and it feels pointless and infuriating.)

Take it. Can you do one day at your current job per weekend to make up the difference in money?

Those of you who work in this role - do you get Ill a lot??

I'm considering applying but I'm concerned I'll pick up illnesses.

I'd go for it personally, plenty of jobs in catering and hospitality if you hate it and want to go back. It's a bit like marmite, some hate it and others love it- seems to fit in with your career goals better though

I’ve had one day off sick in 7 months, and I think that was thanks to my kids passing on a grotty virus. I wouldn’t say people I work with get sicker than my colleagues in former (non healthcare) offices did. I use a lot of anti bac hand gel though, much more than I’ve ever used previously 🙂

There's a really good idea up thread @EyUpThereLass do the 2 am's week fo the surgery and then keep Sundays at your current job. Do that until you can get more hours. Overall you will be better off too!

Take it! If you happen to hate all people you'll be a natural! Either way it sounds a better job and more time with your kids

oh well done,
good move op