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.

I am not going to blame anyone, if the appointments are all taken for the day etc that is that, an appt cant be given that isn't there.
There are usually non urgent care centres one can go to if its felt that you really cant wait for the next appt, 111 is another option for advice.
The bottom line is the scarcity of GP's and an increasing population.

This might be perfect irony because the comment above the one I am qouting mentioned you could express you wish not to disclose why you want to see a doctor if it is a personal matter. I resonated with that, and also thought that I would not want to share my confidential reasons in a public setting where other people can hear me. Then this comment I am qouting subsequently appeared, seemingly about a user who must have overheard a patient verbalise their reason for a doctor as one would be able to overhear because it is a public space, before proceeding to insult and judge them for it online on the internet afterwards. Because if this is so, then this is exactly why I said what I said. Shameful behaviour eitherway. @feelingbleh

I am the 'jumped up receptionist' you are referring to. We are not medically trained but are expected to figure out who needs an urgent appt and what is ok to wait for a routine appt. We don't do online appts only in my surgery and we are rated in the top 3 in our area. We try really hard to make sure our patients get what they need. It is a really stressful job but we care about our patients and try our best on minimum wage.

At my GP surgery it has been impossible to speak to a receptionist for many many years. All calls to the surgery go to a call centre in Manchester. This call centre deals with umpteen different types of businesses and none of the staff have any medical training whatsoever. The surgery is on the East Sussex coast. For anyone who doesn't know the geography of England, that is approximately 300 miles away.
When I became a patient at this practice, the surgery was only about half a mile away from where I live. That closed and patients now have to attend a surgery about 2 miles away. Patients have the impression that every obstacle possible is put in the way to stop patients ever seeing a doctor or even having phone or online contact.