Why aren’t doctor’s receptionists more discrete?

[BakedPotatoBeansCheeseColeslaw]

I’m waiting in the doctor's surgery this morning for something routine.

I woman has turned up wailing that she doesn’t feel very well and asking to see a doctor. The receptionist is doing the “triage” with her but it is extremely public. The woman herself is extremely loud but she’s clearly not mentally very well as she has announced to the room that she thinks she is having a nervous breakdown. However the woman on reception is practically shouting the questions.

I know this woman’s name, date of birth, first line of address and what medication she is currently taking. It’s all very embarrassing.

AIBU to think if doctor’s receptionists are going to ask questions about your medical problem, they should do so privately and not to a room full of patients?

I think this is a difficult one depending on the layout of the surgery. In our waiting area there is a screen between reception area so it makes it more private. Also when queuing for reception patients are asked to wait further back so there is more privacy but you can still hear what's being said.

While I agree that the receptionist could be more discreet, the patient is not being, and if it was something she was concerned about, she would moderate her own behaviour, or request a private room.

YANBU. People should be given privacy in GP surgeries.

Our used to have a screen where you checked in, which displayed your details to everyone in the queue behind you, and a bigger screen in the waiting area which displayed your DOB to everyone!

Discreet. And yes, I do belong in pedant’s corner.

Blame the system, not the receptionist. I suppose the priority is triage and not privacy.

Once I had to book an appointment for a UTI and there was a queue behind me. The receptionist asked why I wanted to see the doctor. I was too embarrassed to say I had an infection so I said, "Waterworks!". She got the message and didn't ask further.

I now phone the doctors to book an appointment because I don't want to tell the whole waiting room what the problem is. Not everyone will be bothered by lack of privacy but I definitely am.

I know 😩 I realised this after I posted and you still can’t edit titles!

I love the idea that there are several receptionists behind a desk, all joined together to make one continuous receptionist...

I agree - phone calls are similar at my surgery as the receptionists take and make calls in the main waiting area. Whilst sitting there recently, I could not help overhearing confidential patient information. The receptionist making the call referred several times to Mrs [unusual second name], who I happen to know vaguely. I now know that she is waiting to see a gynaecologist.

A unireceptionist, if you will.

I’m not sure how you avoid it. If you’re having to man a reception desk and take calls (or in this instance request information face to face) then inevitably other people are going to hear. Only way around it is to have separate rooms/staff for these conversations which isn’t practical.

Me too. 😀
But OP I do hate having to give private confidential information out loud to receptionists or in shops etc. I often will say may I write it (the info) down for you please (rather than shout it out across a perspex or glass divider). Usually they think I’m nuts.

Yes, it's bizarre. I'd also add building societies (though these days I'm exclusively online for that) - once I had to take out £4k cash, and everyone behind me in the queue would have known about it.

But you'd know the answers even if the receptionist spoke quietly. I'm always hearing the receptionist and patients in our doctors. Yes they have a screen but you can still hear.
Our doctors will only triage on the phone though so you don't hear any details

How would it be possible to do this when there's just one receptionist on?
Does she just abandon the desk?
Who deals with queries whilst she's away dealing with one person?
I love it when people decide there's a problem and say confidently what needs to be done without looking at the bigger picture/practicalities/staffing .

It's similar on hospital wards if you are not in your own room. You know everything about the other patients. Not sure how ot can be avoided. And similarly, drawing the curtain does not block out sounds or voices.

I think it is appalling that anyone has to be overheard discussing any medical condition, triage system in place or not. I recently got sent back to the reception post seeing the GP to make a follow up appointment for a suspicious mole. I didn't want to discuss it with her whatsoever as I'd already seen the GP. She grilled me about what the FU was for. "Vaginal lesion" may have shut her up.

It sounds absolute chaos but surely this woman was shouting out her details, the receptionist was just trying to input information calmly, maybe there should be an emergency button to have a HCP come at times like this, but it doesn't sound like the receptionist did anything wrong.

Would she know to do this...doubt it

Think that’s bad, try our local pharmacist. Booms across the shop what medication you’re collecting and confirm details etc. Awful.

Not if she’s having an episode, I have a friend who goes through manic phases and will be really loud. All the more reason for the receptionist to be discreet.

You are aware she HAS to ask? Its her job- she will get reprimanded otherwise.
She really doesn't give a fuck personally.
It really not about you.

After having an experience of a biarch of a medical nurse talking loud at me about my current meds and i stood saying im not telling everyone...feeling like no matter how quiet i spoke it felt so loud...
She then said i seemed to take offense of her....i was truely thrown back..nah love your yelling at me in a room.
She was put on a break after i complained to a few once thru to a doctor and nurse.
Apprently its to be requested for privacy.
By the following time i needed to see them again..my record was removed a different nurse and she asked me to write down what my health issue was.
What a change.
I would be asking someone once i was in if i was you.
Mine was stigmia related
Robably the same for the lady as well if not prue ignorance.

😆

It’s really inappropriate. At work we have to be so careful with personal info (which is fair enough) but this sort of situation is seen as no big deal. It really doesn’t seem right.

This lady should have been shown into a private area. That way of dealing with her is completely unacceptable.