Why tell the receptionist why I'm seeing the doctor

[Eldermileniummam]

Why do they ask this? Is it so they can give you an appointment with the appropriate person or some other reason?

I usually don't mind but sometimes I'm embarrassed to say and never sure how specific I need to be.

So they can tell you to bugger off and go to the pharmacy, honestly.

So they can prioritise requests. It might also be so they can allocate them to the best GP, they all seem to have a specialist area.

To see how urgent it is and whether you need a gp or nurse i think.

Yes I believe it's so they can identify whether it's urgent or whether you might be more comfortable with a practitioner of the same sex. Sometimes it's also to do with whether seeing a nurse would be suitable rather than a GP.
You could always just say it's a personal matter and you do not wish to disclose it over the phone or say you do not feel comfortable sharing this information when you speak to the receptionist but this might delay where they see you as needing help.

Because people are stupid and waste appointment you don't have to go into detail. I was at the drs the other day and someone was trying to book an appointment to get antibiotics for a tooth infection.

If eg you're in for a smear test, they know to allocate a double appointment and the nurse can have the equipment ready

If you'd rather not say, tell them. However, they've heard everything and need to know only to allocate the type of appointment or person to you.

Which is often the best - and quickest - way to be treated for certain conditions.

Presumably so they can find the most appropriate clinician for your problem. Our surgery has GPs, nurses, prescribing nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists and mental health practitioners. Most people calling saying "I need to see a GP" are actually far better off seeing an alternative clinician, which frees up the GP appointments for those who actually need them which in turn means they stand a chance of actually getting an appointment

Definitely I had great treatment from a pharmacist recently walked in and out within 10 minutes with antibiotics for a sinus infection

It helps them book into the most appropriate person whether a GP or other practitioner. Also which specific GP, as some may have a special interest/more experience in certain areas.

it also gives the GP a slight heads up as to what you are seeing them for before you walk in the door, rather than starting blind

If it was embarrassing I’d write it down for them.

I'm going back a few years to when I worked on reception. We had GP's who specialised in certain areas. We had one who had been an orthopaedic surgeon, another who was in mental health before becoming a GP plus others who had studied in certain specialisms. It was to direct you to the appropriate GP. We also had patient's who thought that a GP would do their routine smear test so we could explain that they need to see the nurse.

It's done by e consult at my GP now anyway but the reception staff see the forms first and pass them through.

I thought it was so they can signpost you to the right services and try and see you (and others) in an appropriate timeframe.
I am always be clear and honest with them, to briefly recap what symptoms I have and how long it’s going on in 1-2 sentences (not my entire medical history, as the people in my surgery seem to often want to). For embarrassing stuff I remind myself the receptionist has heard it all before.

My GP has signed up to an app where you can give some notes on what’s wrong and either get scheduled in, or GP advice / prescription / refer for tests is issued remotely. I know some people can’t use this service (and they still have the option to call) but this is infinitely easier and quicker for a number of minor problems. Weirdly this wasn’t advertised in the GP surgery but was v clear on their webpage, so worth checking.

This has been going on for years. Most of us are intelligent enough to know whether we need to see a doctor, nurse or whoever without being made to disclose our medical information to some unqualified jumped up receptionist. .

Do you honestly think this country is full of intelligent people. Have you ever worked with the general public

You've clearly never worked in Primary Care then.

And yet funnily enough, all the people with this attitude seem to the same ones who insist that only the GP will do. And then come out annoyed when the GP signposts them straight to the on site physio as they aren't able to help and complains that having to book a second appointment is a waste of their precious time.......

No 95% of my patients do not know our services better than my wonderful, well trained, compassionate receptionist team!

It’s also to give the GPs/ whoever you see a heads up about what the issue is. Gynae - might need a speculum ready for example. Or if it’s a flare of a chronic condition - have a read of notes relating to that if they have time. The appointments are very short and starting with “well doctor my knee issue dating back 5 years” puts them on the spot and makes the consultation less efficient.

Thanks, makes sense.

Getting ready to make the call at 8 am.

The simple is answer is to ensure the most efficient and appropriate use of resources.

I am mid 40’s and can’t remember a time in the last 10 years where this wasn’t the case that you wouldn’t be asked, it’s not new?

It would be great if people could accept time moves forward and systems evolve instead of feeling frustrated that time hasn’t stopped still and things aren’t the same as 10-20 years ago

As many have said it’s about the right clinician. It’s also about urgency, I’ve had reception catch:

85 year old man with new chest pain ask for a routine appt. Would likely have died….

22 year old with half a day of hayfever wanting urgent appt. Redirect to try at least one tablet of antihistamine via pharmacy.

Too embarrassed can’t be put in an urgent slot with no reason or everyone would try that.

I am a nurse and can confidently say that most people don’t know what appointment they need, which makes sense because if you don’t use the health service a lot how would you know?

A prime example is you see on here people say they have a UTI/ other infection and they can’t see a GP for 3 weeks and it isn’t an ‘emergency’ so they didn’t ask for a same appointment when they should ask for a same day appointment.