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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you rather work as a GP receptionist or a teaching assistant?

125 replies

Whitefeather13 · 10/10/2023 17:35

I have had two job offers and I cannot decide which one to accept.

A receptionist at a doctors surgery or a Teaching Assistant at a small village primary school.

Do you have experience in either? Which would you rather?

AIBU - GP surgery
YANBU - Teaching assistant

Thank you!

OP posts:
Azaeleasinbloom · 10/10/2023 17:38

Children terrify me, so GP receptionist for me 😁

Disappeared · 10/10/2023 17:39

Neither

RagzRebooted · 10/10/2023 17:39

Is term time hours a bonus for you, in terms of children yourself? Or no DC to worry about, but will mean holidays in expensive times only?

Watsername · 10/10/2023 17:39

Is the pay comparable? Do you like routine? Every day is different as a TA. You need to be a flexible thinker.

Finteq · 10/10/2023 17:40

Definitely with kids.

confusedmum2023 · 10/10/2023 17:40

I’m a teacher, I would never encourage anyone to take a job in a school unless they were desperate. However you have said small village school which makes me think it may be a contender, depending on what you know about the school.

Original poster
Whitefeather13 · 10/10/2023 17:41

TA is better pay. Hours are pretty much the same. I have primary aged children. Thank you for the replies so far!

OP posts:
purplecorkheart · 10/10/2023 17:41

Teaching Assistant, I don't mind kids.

GP receptionist get an awful time which people who do not realise that they have to follow the rules the GP/Practice Manager set. Have guide about what to ask to triage when/if to give an appointment etc. People blame everything on them.

Original poster
Whitefeather13 · 10/10/2023 17:41

@confusedmum2023

That’s a strong statement! Could I ask why please?

OP posts:
Fulshaw · 10/10/2023 17:42

I thought this was a riddle type question of which one is worse! Sorry OP.

Clariee45 · 10/10/2023 17:43

I’m not sure which I would go for personally but everyone I know who is a TA seems very happy and TA jobs seems like gold dust

brandonflowersmushtash · 10/10/2023 17:44

TA

Softnatural · 10/10/2023 17:44

Are you sure the TA is better pay? Have you seen the pro rata calculation?

CesareBorgia · 10/10/2023 17:45

No experience but I wouldn't want to work with children so by default it would have to be the GP receptionist.

FrenchFancie · 10/10/2023 17:45

I’m only surprised that. TAs pay is described as better than anything! I’m only on minimum wage as a TA…. Still if the tee time hours suit you then great. If it’s not in your own kids school be aware you will
now probably miss every assembly and thing that they do during the day as getting time off as a TA is impossible. I had to argue the case for a funeral…. They nearly said no. (It was my grandmother!)

Ionapussy · 10/10/2023 17:46

TA is presumably term time only so helpful given your kids age?

Also as a TA would you be entitled to Lgps pension? Would GP be NHS pension?

MrsRetriever · 10/10/2023 17:47

No experience in either, but I don’t like children very much & I have to deal with rude angry people quite often in my job so GP receptionist sounds better to me.

What’s the most flexible?

Original poster
Whitefeather13 · 10/10/2023 17:48

GP would be NHS pension. Unsure about TA.

It is my children’s school.

OP posts:
namechanged221 · 10/10/2023 17:48

GP receptionist will be stressful, patient shouting at you oh because they can't get an appointment or hear their test results and they're very ill/angry/worried.

I'd not work in NHS front line at the moment. The service is crumbling and people are very angry. (Rightfully though)

GoodVibesHere · 10/10/2023 17:50

On balance, I think I'd say TA. I'd imagine it would bring job satisfaction.

MistressIggi · 10/10/2023 17:52

Rock and a hard place

Sidge · 10/10/2023 17:55

Even if the hourly rate is the same the TA job will pay pro rata so you’ll earn less annually. But then you wouldn’t need school holiday childcare. But then could only take time off in holidays and no term time time off.

Also the NHS pension scheme is pretty good.

I work in a GP surgery. Very rarely hear patients shouting at receptionists. You do get some aggro but nothing major. I think kids can be worse!

2weekstowait · 10/10/2023 17:58

Definitely TA, especially as you have kids. You'll get all the school holidays off and finish at a good time of day. I work as a TA, but do supply and I'm enjoying it, I find it mostly a positive experience whereas I think I'd find a GP reception job much more stressful and negative. I'm concerned that the salary quoted is for the whole year though, which you wouldn't get.

gillywee · 10/10/2023 17:59

Neither, both are infectious disease hotspots. Some kids are awful and I know I personally go to work for adult company anyway. Most adults are awful - especially when worried/in pain which goes hand in hand with the drs, you will get spoken to in an atrocious manner.
If you're thinking about working at your own doctors practice, or the practice for your area you will likely either a couple lose friends/acquaintances or they will move practices cos people don't like to see people they know at the doctors, let alone someone who can read their notes.

roundofapplause · 10/10/2023 18:00

Never worked as a GP receptionist but I loved my time as a TA.