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?

Dirty old man? He was sat in a waiting room! Have you never looked up as someone walked by and made eye contact unintentionally?

OP overreacted because as women we are told everything about our femininity is wrong and should only be mentioned in hushed tones so as not not offend the powerful men. It's a fucking smear test, have or don't but it's not sensitive or embarrassing. That old guy has probably had a finger up his arse for the same kind of screening.

It's all very well saying that it is nothing to be embarrassed about and in theory that is true. However, not everyone is comfortable with a complete stranger poking about up and peering at their nether regions with a spotlight focussed on it. I once sat in the waiting room to have the nurse come out and say in a loud voice Mrs Spenlow?, if you would like to come with me I will get you ready for your smear. At the time I was embarrassed about going and even more so knowing that the whole waiting room now knew what was about to happen.

I am sure a man would feel the same if the nurse came out and said Mr Spenlow?, the doctor will look at your penis now.

OP, yes it can feel embarrasing but once you have had it done a couple to times you realise that whoever doing it is professional and have done it numerous times. It does get better with practice.

There are all sorts of things that are not and should not be embarrassing – but that doesn't mean it's fine for a receptionist to loudly talk about them in front of other patients.

I am not embarrassed by my periods, my breasts, my need for a smear test – but I still don't want ANY detail of them discussed in public!

OP, you are absolutely not BU.

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I am sure a man would feel the same if the nurse came out and said Mr Spenlow?, the doctor will look at your penis now.

Yes, absolutely.

Sounds like most people’s GPS surgeries are the same so how else would the receptionist tell people they need to book a smear?

I would rather someone be embarrassed for 5seconds than miss a smear but my judgement is slightly clouded having lost a friend to cervical cancer in our twenties.

And yet the fact that OP's was overdue is her private, personal medical information. At least in the eyes of the Information Commissioner, who regulates in this area. But what do they know ay...

Mine too. clear Data breaches on a daily basis.
I had to speak to my GP about overhearing 2 receptionists gossiping about a medical procedure of mine (& they really were gossiping not discussing professionally) & she said: 'it's a small village, what do you expect?!'. I was absolutely gobsmacked & lost all faith in any professionalism at that point.

My god I think if this embarrasses you, then you need to toughen up a bit.

I highly doubt it was shouted out and simply they were doing their job and trying to ensure you being seen. Regardless whether you're a virgin or not, it's important to have a smear test.

Surely that depends on how the conversation goes.

If the receptionist tells a woman her smear is overdue and leaves it that then fine. If they then push her to make an appointment or justify why she hasn't been then it's not fine.

I had my last two smears done privately so while it may look as though I'm overdue I'm not. That's none of the receptionist's business and I'm not standing in the waiting room explaining it to her!

Vanishingly unlikely that OP will develop cervical cancer if she's both a virgin and has been vaccinated against HPV. It's completely her choice if she wants to have them or not. As it is everyone's for that matter.

Sounds like most people’s GPS surgeries are the same so how else would the receptionist tell people they need to book a smear?

Why do they need to when the surgery sends letters and texts?

You can be embarrassed about the GP announcing you need a smear test if you want to be, it's not some sooper big feminist fail if you'd rather keep your vagina business to yourself. Half of the population gets periods too but I'd rather nobody saw my bloody leftovers in the toilet, as normal as it is.

Our surgery the plastic screens they put up during covid have never been removed. You have to speak loudly to be heard. There's no privacy any more.

This wouldn’t bother me.

I would have no issue with this at all. They didn’t say anything specific to you or your medical history / ongoing issues. If they had said you are overdue a blood pressure test would you be embarrassed? Probably not. If they had said ‘so you’re experiencing an itchy vagina and anal bleeding’ loudly, it’s a different matter, that WOULD be mortifying, but what she said was quite matter of fact, not personal if you see what I mean.

Correct, but they bin the samples and don’t look at them if they test negative for HPV, don’t they? Which means you could have a non-HPV cancer, which is visible in the smear, but nobody looks at it, despite the fact it’s been taken, because HPV status is negative. In my area, anyway. They also bin them if you’re outside or the standard cycle. No discretion or patient-centred care afforded to the patient’s GP anymore either.

The receptionist is being proactive. We have QOF targets to meet and if we don't then it's quite simple maths.

Don't hit QOF target = no money = increasing lack of funds to pay staff including GPs

You can raise it with the practise manager

Phone numbers change, people ignore letters, face to face asking allows an immediate appointment to be made unlike the other two options therefore increasing uptake.

It wouldn't bother you but it did bother the OP. What's so difficult to understand? Not everyone wants their medical history (or non history) broadcast to the waiting room. It's called personal data for a reason.

There was enough fuss on here about people not wanting others to know whether they had had a covid jab (because personal data) or not, let alone intimate examinations.

It would bother me as much as it would bother me to hear them mention a prostate exam to a gentleman... as in, not at all. I would not bat an eyelid.

My DF had prostate cancer. Female cancers run in my family. I'd far rather a receptionist remind me if mine was overdue than to miss it and end up with a serious cancer down the line personally. I don't know how the receptionist is supposed to telepathically know you are a virgin either.

As a doctor, I prioritise confidentiality. Unfortunately most clinical spaces are not set up to allow this. However, I would keep my voice down and be aware that other people could be listening.

Like it or not, some people are embarrassed when talking about smear tests. Because it is a procedure that involves access via the vagina and some women are self-conscious about talking about this, especially around other men. Whilst it is an important procedure, I would not dismiss a woman’s embarrassment around this even if she ‘should’ not be embarrassed.

It sounds like the receptionist could have been sensitive and a bit more quiet. I treat every interaction with a patient as private, even if I am just asking them their postcode. It is basic data protection and good governance. Confidentiality is a key part of good clinical care.

If you're putting off your test because, I don't know, you're a rape or sexual abuse survivor and find the process traumatic, maybe you don't want that advertised to everyone in the waiting room. Maybe you're perfectly aware but aren't ready to go through the whole humiliating process. Everyone is desperate to be the most blasé but it is weird and invasive.

Regardless - be it a smear or am ingrowing toenail, that is personal to you. In this age of GDPR and a general obsession with privacy I'm surprised people are finding that so hard to grasp.

Is it not standard to get letters when your smear is due? I’ve always had a letter. I don’t think it was the receptionist’s place to say that and it really puts you on the spot because you feel obliged to respond and if you don’t want one (and you’re perfectly entitled to refuse), I can understand why you felt a bit ambushed.

Ask anyone who works in a professional role in the NHS.

The receptionist can be proactive and discrete.