To not what the GP receptionist to loudly proclaim that I'm overdue for a smear test in the waiting room?

[nahhh88]

I went into the GP surgery for a completely unrelated manner, and when the GP receptionist pulled up my profile she said I'm overdue for my smear test, and did I want to book in for the smear test. I just said I'll book it another time and tried to get her to stop talking. I've never had a smear test as I'm a virgin and had the HPV vaccines as a teenager, and I have no intention of having one done any time soon.

I felt really embarrassed knowing everyone in the waiting room will have heard (the chairs are all very close to the reception desk, there's no privacy so you end up knowing everyone's private medical details said aloud for everyone to hear. As I walked out this old man made eye contact with me and I just felt really embarrassed by it.

AIBU to think GP receptions need to have more privacy and things handled more quietly and sensitively?

@Miguelitaa the whole mum business is reprehensible. When ds was a baby a young Dr said to DH, "are you dad?" DH just responded back "yes his not yours". The chap was most apologetic but I know if I'd said it there would have been an eye roll.

GP practices are financially incentivised to carry out smear tests and need to meet target percentages in order to receive the additional QOF payments.

There were many ways the practice could have contacted the OP to invite her to book an appointment: by letter; phone; text; email or during a GP appointment.

The receptionist did not need to raise this at the reception desk.

Ah yes - I did completely miss that! I understand your point. And agree with the second suggestion you made - the first surely reduces women to little more than their relationship status?!

Thanks for pointing out the obvious to me! :)

*I'd be asking the receptionist to let me know when I gave them consent to look at my medical records. *
Receptionists have to have access or they can't do their job. I'm one and we simply cannot work for or with clinicians if all we had were names addresses and appointment times. We are however, bound by confidentiality rules. We don't just do meet and greet and phone calls, there are at least 30 other tasks that I can think of off the top of my head and A LOT of training.

@MissBattleaxe I agree. Receptionists and every staff member has access to medical notes. Receptionists don’t just book in patients and re-book them, but have a myriad of tasks to do. I think people would be actually quite surprised how much receptionist do, and the responsibilities they have (far above the minimum wage pay grade most get!).

Agree.

And in this case and mine it's not so much the public reminder but the fact you are then forced to publicly decline and often feel you need to give a public explanation for the reason you are doing so.

I've been removed from the register (have no cervix) but I still get reminders. I don't care about the reminders. I care about having to tell anyone in ear shot about my private medical history that includes it's removal.

And, folks, do suggest the men around you get regular PSA tests.

A report for GPs summed it up as, "if you smoke and eat crap and don't wear a seat belt, it might not be worth it, but if you try to look after yourself and don't want to die of prostate cancer, get regular tests". Because there are false positives so it's not as straightforward as smear tests or even mammograms (yay boob sandwich!).

I know someone living with stage 4 prostate cancer who is very evangelical about this, because things would have been very different for him if they'd tested him through his 50s :/

I agree. Receptionists and every staff member has access to medical notes. Receptionists don’t just book in patients and re-book them, but have a myriad of tasks to do. I think people would be actually quite surprised how much receptionist do, and the responsibilities they have (far above the minimum wage pay grade most get!). I think I love you. I needed to hear that. I get £10.53 an hour and I have never ever been so tired in my life.

You think smears and mammograms don’t have false positives? 🤯

They do, but nowhere near as high as PSA test. Good for us, bad for the men.

@PansyP as I've already said, when I was a virgin over 25, around 12 different doctors and nurses all said that if you have never been sexually active then there is no need or benefit to having a smear test. The current ones only test for HPV which is sexually transmitted and which the OP has been vaccinated against. Why would she have an unnecessary medical procedure that she doesn't need?

A smear test is to test for HPV which is a sexually transmitted infection. Since OP has never been sexually active in any way there is not a need for her to get a smear done. It would be a waste of NHS time and resources.

A smear test is to test for HPV which is a sexually transmitted infection. Since OP has never been sexually active in any way there is not a need for her to get a smear done. It would be a waste of NHS time and resources.

Exactly. And the HPV vaccine has apparently been found to reduce cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90%. I always slightly worry when people on MN report abnormal vaginal bleeding but say they've recently had a negative smear test so cervical cancer can't be the cause. All it means is that cervical cancer caused by HPV has (probably) been ruled out.
Vaccines could mean only one smear test a lifetime - BBC News

I wouldn't be embarrassed about it as its a test that millions of women have every few years. Also breast screening.
It's just body parts, it's not shameful.

I had a smear test recently and was surprised that it no longer checks for pre-cancerous cells only for HPV. So given that, I don't really see the point in going for them anymore.

You are not wrong OP i would of been embarrassed too, she should not be shouting anything that others can hear its private between you and the practice.
I think id of asked for her name and mentioned it to the GP next time i went in.

Out of curiosity why don’t you see the point anymore? (not judging at all by the way it’s 100% a personal decision!) HPV is the cause in nearly all cervical cancer cases so getting checked for HPV helps to prevent it developing.

Please get your smear, HPV can be passed at birth. I know friends who’ve had cervical cancer and honestly for me completely painless having a smear (I know people have other experiences). I get it can be really embarrassing for some people and the receptionist could have done it more discreetly.

@EmmaEmerald
Please don’t discourage people from getting their smears! It’s a potentially life saving diagnostic.
Of course it comes down to choice, but would you refuse a mammogram? There is no “financial incentive” for GPs/ staff.

Years ago I had an appointment with the nurse, which is what I said to the receptionist when I arrived. I then went and sat down. She called across the room, 'Is it for a smear test?' Everyone heard. I walked up to her counter and said, very quietly, 'Why not drag the couch out here & let's do it in front of everyone?' Her response: 'There's no need to be like that' Me: 'I do not want the whole waiting room knowing about my private business' I complained to the practice manager.
Don't let other people bully you about not having a smear right now; as a vaccinated virgin, you are very low risk. See how you feel in a year or so.

What is the point of going through a full smear when it’ll be binned? I find them so painful that I won’t bother with an NHS smear now they aren’t tested properly

It's just a smear test, not a test for an sti.
Get it done. Virgins can get cervical cancer too.

This is not accurate. Please rtft.

I have to say I fully appreciate the discomfort/embarrassment of the mention of her needing her vagina probed by an inanimate object (because, let’s face it, that’s what a smear involves), and it is an invasive & uncomfortable & embarrassing procedure for many, including myself. So to have this ‘service’ loudly offered up unexpectedly in the presence of patients including the opposite sex I’d rather thoughtless & cringeworthy. It’s all very well telling the OP she shouldn’t be embarrassed/ashamed in relation to the smear, it’s how she feels that counts. I am not a virgin, but a middle aged mother of 1, and I still find smears cringeworthy, in fact I don’t bother with them now because I find whole process painful & unpleasant, and can’t help feeling men don’t go through any intimate medical procedures as painful/uncomfortable or as embarrassing as women, if they had to experience same they would invent an alternative procedure. Meanwhile all Gp Receptionists should learn better discretion, and surgeries should be designed so that the patients in waiting rooms are far enough away from reception so that discussions there can’t be overheard.