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?

I'm no good at office politics. A new manager and three new colleagues following retirements changed the atmosphere. I was being pushed out of the loop, information not being shared with me and the quality of patient care dropped. Eg a life threatening condition was flagged as routine and the receptionist who took the call didn't ask for advice. I picked it up a couple of hours later when the patients relatives called to see why the GP hadn't been in touch. For the sake of my mental health I couldn't stay and watch that happen.

This. It's not easy. It's a demanding job with lots of rules to remember which change daily. If you are expecting to sit down answering phones all day you will be mistaken. Think long and hard. You need to be mentally very quick and on the ball. Be prepared to cover shifts during sickness and holidays. Are you prepared to be shouted at every day?

I work in a surgery but not on reception but I have done.

Thank you, someone further up scoffed at my claim! I was a PA to 2 managers in finance for 5 years and it still wasn't as tough as the GP Receptionist! We didn't even have time to have a drink all shift as it was so full on.
Having said that, it was a very rewarding job and I felt like I made a difference. Also I appreciate other surgeries may operate differently and OP may not have the same experiences as us x

Take it.. but be prepared for verbal abuse.. I do bank shifts on a&e reception and the entitlement is breathtaking.

Last job in earth I would want to do, very stressful, rude patients, for minimum wage, no way. NHS pension isn’t what it used to be, there are multiple schemes and have got worse as they have gone on.

I was in a very similar situation to you I worked at Gregg's loved it, I was there 15 years. I loved the people I worked with all the benefits but hated that I never really had a weekend off. A job for a receptionist at my local surgery came up and this hours fitted in with school and no weekends! The pay was less but I decided it was worth it for a better work/life balance and the pension. So I applied and got it! I've been there 10 months now and I'm really enjoying it and settled in well and I'm really loving getting that Friday feeling of having the whole weekend off!

@Cotswoldmama I've been doing it for 3 months , absolutely love it , do you find you learn something new every day ? Can I ask how much training you have had ? I just seem to be learning as I go !

Although you lose the holiday pay you will get annual leave to take instead which you may be able to time to not need childcare in some of the school holidays.

@mymycatsanutter I started off on the front desk mainly until I got used to using system one. Then I did new things every couple of weeks. I then did phones, which I was a bit scared of but it was fine, whenever I wasn't sure I just said I was new and put them on hold whilst I checked what to do/say etc. Then I was taught how to do CDAs, then scanning. After about 3 months I was taught how to process scripts, which we get via email and system one and then lastly I learned how to process correspondence including MARACs. I found everyone really lovely and I still ask a lot of questions but I find we all ask each other things were not sure of. Now I do a mixture of everything. I usually do a day on the front desk, then a mixture of everything else on the other days . Usually everyone answers the phones apart from whoever is on the front desk and whilst we answer the phones we process letters, emails, scripts and try to complete any tasks that need doing.

@Cotswoldmama there is so much to learn isn't there ! I think there should be a weeks course that new staff should go on just if it's to pick up general stuff , I didn't know what an INR was or an ECG or what someone's blood pressure should be ,from an insurance background to a medical one there has been /is such a lot to learn . My training consisted of listening in to phone calls for 3 weeks. I work with such a good team though , everyone is so helpful. I love that every day is totally different.

@mycatsanmycatsanutter there is so much to take in, I have a note book where I write everything I'm not sure of in! And things I might forget! There is so much to learn but I'm really enjoying it and glad I took the leap to a completely different role.

I think I'm going to start applying, sounds like something I'd be really suited to. I like jobs where there are set processes but every day is different too. I love helping people and being organised.

The only things I was concerned about was being exposed to illnesses and dealing with difficult situations re angry patients.

I've been a SAHM for many years but just finished 2 years Medical Administrator course at college so hopefully I'll have a chance at interview, and hopefully GP receptionists won't be taken over by A.I any time soon..

Good luck OP

I love my job, been doing it for nearly 14 years. Every day is different and there are frustrations, not Patients I hasten to add. I've built up a rapport with many patients and I wish I could spend my day just chatting. Time goes really quick. You have an NHS pension and can get extra money covering holidays and sickness.

If you're that way inclined you'll pick up a lot of information and knowledge. I enjoy learning new things including systems and can quite confidentially spell diarrhoea and fybromyalgia when my colleagues can't spell tonsils (tonsels), penis (pinus), prostate (prostrate) and one even used the phrase "front passage".

Good luck.

@TroysMammy
i actually read about a Baloney plaster some years ago!

Hi everyone. I had my taster day yesterday.. I LOVED it. The practise is huge and many people there have branched from being receptionists to other roles - HCA, care coordinators, phlebotomists. They have on site physiotherapists, a mental health team.

I've worked out after I pay towards childcare I'll be left with about £450 a month. At my current job I clear £700 easy and don't need the childcare.

What do you all think? x

but you Loved it
can they offer any more hours?

I think in the future they would be able to. More hours = more childcare. When she turns 2 in September I just need to work 2 more hours to get the 15 hours free childcare (I think)
The hours are quite nice, it's 1 evening and 2 mornings. It's quite intense with the learning so I'm not sure I would want a longer shift x

It's slightly less also as my current job is a zero hour contract so even though this job is £10.47 and my current is £10.42, with my current job I get the 12.7% holiday pay top up in every wage - where as this job is paid holidays so I don't get that. It says they automatically enrol me in the NHS pension too.

If you loved it and it leads to opportunities you're interested in, just go for it.
A childcare cost hit is tough but they'll be in school in a few years, and your hours and role can change and you'll be much better off financially enjoying your job.

@TheHighQueenOfTheFarRealm yeah she will be at nursery in a couple of years and then school.
I don't pay for any mortgage or bills so I'm lucky in that sense but my money covers say days out, kids clothes etc and then treats for myself if I have anything left. Xx

no, its a terrible stressful job, I have done it and would not do it again for any amount of money and that was before Covid

I'm still undecided and it's going to a point where I need to decide soon argh someone help me come to a final decision!

I would take it - you can always ask to increase your hours or work holiday cover for others. You are more likely to get that once you are there and they know you. And you can get it on your CV and move to a full time role there or somewhere else.

Take it! Way more future job opportunities than working in a cafe!