What do GP receptionists ask intrusive questions?

[jeaux90]

AIBU to not expect to tell the receptionist more details? She asked me the nature of the appointment. I said it’s a gynaecological issue, she asked if I could share more information I said no, I’m not comfortable doing that. It wasn’t an emergency appointment and I asked for a female GP. Surely she didn’t need to know anything more?

Hazard a guess…

My surgery was 200m from my house and I moved to one 700m away 😂🤷‍♀️

But its not though is it, its someone literally trying to be god and deciding if you are worthy of an appt. In all the appts ive had, not once has the GP said oh I can see you made an appt for "abscess/rash/arm falling off" let me have a look..... the Dr's have no idea what you are coming in for unless you have been put on a Dr call triage list and they decide if it warrants an appt or just a prescription.

But why should everyone else in the waiting room get to hear all my symptoms? There is zero privacy at our surgery the waiting room chairs are just feet from anyone talking to the receptionist. The receptionists talk loudly and I’ve heard then telling Mrs X on the phone that she had tested positive for chlamydia and needed to see the sexual health nurse!

Everyone that calls might know they need a GP and a prescription though, the receptionist can't tell you're special over the phone!

Think they're literally trying to be a medical receptionist rather than god...

Does everyone who objects to talking to a receptionist also object to calling 111?

I think they should have stopped at "gynae problem" my staff would never have asked anything further.
I think it's fine to get a rough idea. For example and eye problem would be directed to an optician, a dental one to a dentist. A UTI to the pharmacist within guidelines.
Once all appointments were filled up the staff would put all requests for urgent appointments into a list for us to call back and having a rough idea of the problem meant we could tackle the problems in order of urgency.

I’m in Ireland, mine don’t ask a thing.

@VikaOlson I told her it was a non emergency gynaecological issue and happy to wait for a female dr, that should have been enough.

Really? One tried to give me medical advice.

They have to. If everyone was given an appointment with whoever they wanted on their request, the wait to see a GP would be twice as long as it is now! Our female GP’s don’t even see all our gynae issues, we have an ANP with a special interest who does most of that. She refers to secondary care etc just the same. ( And is far more up to date tbh).
Feel free not to give further details, it’s no problem but you will often then wait longer to see a GP. Many are unknowing there may be someone else who could deal just as easily with the problem and see you much sooner. That’s your choice.

And phone calls are recorded and audited for training. So for those people not happy with the questioning take it up with the practice manager. No point getting cross with the monkey, you need to direct your issues to the organ grinder.

Useful. I will do that. I don’t expect to have to extrapolate on a gynaecological issue I have already told them is a non emergency. And we don’t have specialists in the practice that can provide prescriptions so I knew I needed a GP.

I must be one of the only people that this doesn’t bother. I go into as much detail as possible so I get the appointment I need. I do it over the phone privately and assuming I’m not on loudspeaker in surgery and the fact the staff are bound by confidentiality rules, I can’t find the energy to be bothered by it. I’ve always got the right sort of appointment within excellent time as well. Maybe I’m just lucky.

State exactly that in writing to the practice manager. Reception can give you the email.

What, people trying to help you? The whole point of triage is to get the people who need to be seen immediately in that day. Reception staff are trained by the GPs to carry out this task. If they are particularly concerned about a patient, it is also flagged up with the clinical staff.

Patients don't always realise their symptoms could be a sign of something concerning. Asking questions gets those patients seen sooner.

Funny how the triage form online formed the basis of the discussion I had this week though
I didn't ask for a face to face appt either, they said they thought I should come in for one

There have been times I have found it really useful to give info and they have been really good, However I did have an instance where I was refused a NON URGENT appointment and it turned out she was very wrong in doing so as I actually did need to be seen. I wish I could give more info to give more context but as this is a public all be it anonymous forum it would not be appropriate. Needless to say I have lost total faith in them now and dread being ill.

I agree to a certain extent but if you are asking for a non urgent appointment but feel it is too personal to discuss with admin staff then they should be respecting that. I get it if you want to be seen that day maybe you do have to suck it up and give more info

@Climbingrosexxexactly!! If I was asking to be prioritised as an emergency appointment I would give up all information needed.

This was a non emergency appointment and I was clear I was happy to wait for an appointment with a female GP as it was a gynaecological issue.

Them pushing for more information was completely unnecessary and unacceptable

I see you have ignored all the posts regarding patient safety, explaining why it is actually necessary and acceptable to ask further questions and that they are just doing their job.

Also those saying GP's don't look at notes and just ask you what's wrong. That's part of the training and consultation skills. The GP doesn't get half as much information about your problem if when you walk into the room they just ask, so you have been having headaches is that right? Patient led consultations gather far more information than the GP asking direct questions.

@DeathMetalMumits laughable that they would need to ask me further questions about my non emergency gynaecological issue due to my “safety”

Its intrusive and unnecessary.