Discussion with Doctor's receptionists

[Fluffyone]

I object to having the receptionist ask, every time I book an appointment, "Can I ask what you need to see the Doctor about?". When I say "No, I'd rather not discuss it." she says "OK, I'll put it down as personal." Well, all of my visits to the doctor are personal, and none of them need to be discussed with the receptionist.
What do you think?

Are receptionists bound by the same legal duty of confidentiality as docs and nurses?

Genuinely interested, although I confess that when I first moved in with DP one of our mutual friends was (is) a GP receptionist and I actively avoided registering with that practice. She had not been particularly discreet (see also shameless gossip ) over a couple of other issues that she had no business having her snout in, which put me right off having her know anything about my medical shiz, esp in respect of our contraceptive arrangements.

I know most receptionists are not going to be 'straight on the phone to Marjorie', but wondered if they had to sign anything from a confidentiality perspective...

'it is, by far, the lowest paid and most stressful job i have ever done. and yes i hate it.'

I can't think of a reception job that wasn't pure shite, and I, too, have done loads.

I'd rather clean toilets (and have) than do reception work again.

Vicar - my sympathies.

My hospital receptionist job was the most enjoyable I have had at first, but by the end I couldn't wait to go.

You had to understand that you are dealing with people when they are stressed/in-pain/anxious/being told they have a long wait to be seen - all that I could cope with (just).

The people who got me down the most were those who came in with a superiority complex.

I have also worked in a Clinical capacity in the NHS, and the difference in how some - notably middle-class (as I am myself) people speak to clerical staff is notable.

CU - yes - receptionists are bound by confidentiality

i will get flamed but I fucking hate some of them! I pay my taxes and I want to see a DOCTOR , not argue with you

noiI dont want to tell you what it it
no I dont want to wait 2 weeks, or call back before 9am tomorrow
yes I suppose it is an "emergency then"

anyway its not their fault I suppose BUT I HATE CALLING MY DOCTORS

I called mine half an hour ago, and asked to leave a message for Doctor X. On hearing my name, the receptionist said 'Oh, Miss Mugggle, was it for a home visit, Dr X can be there within the hour'. I said no, and explained I just need my sick note extended!

It'll be waiting for me tomorrow but nice of her to know who I am, and to have arranged a home visit should I have needed one.

Lol Expat. I worked in a hotel reception years ago and now I clean toilets.

Cleaning toilets is far better!

Some people are unbelievably rude and it seemed most stayed in that hotel.

I used to be a reception manager in a very posh hotel in Edinburgh. I have never met such a bunch of c*nts in my whole life.

The stress is not worth the pay packet.

I am a doctors receptionist and firstly I would just like to say thank you to all who have posted supporting us!

At our surgery, we don't ask for a routine doctors appointment but do have to ask if someone requests an emergency appointment, a nurses appointment, a home visit or a call back from a GP.

The reason we ask for an emergency appointment is firstly to establish if it actually is an emergency, and also because we have a triage system that brings up a list of questions relating to the problem that we have to ask the patient. This enables them to be prioritised according to their problem. No one has to divulge any information to us if they really don't want to (although I haven't come across many who don't!), but they then have to be made aware that we cannot prioritise their problem so they will be at the bottom of the list for a clinician to call back. Funny how many will change their minds and go into full detail when you tell them that

We have to ask for nurses appointments as we have 3 nurses and depending on the problem, depends which nurse you see (only 2 deal with asthma so have to make sure we book you in with the correct one), and to enable us to allocate the correct amount of time you will need.

As for call backs and home visits, the GP's insist we ask for a reason, and will ask us to call back for more info if they feel we haven't got enough, so as not to waste their time.

Give us a break! We really don't care what you want to see a doctor about and believe me, we have far better things to talk about than what's wrong with you!!

(Apologies for any mistakes, tapped out quickly on iPad and can't recheck what I've typed)

'I used to be a reception manager in a very posh hotel in Edinburgh. I have never met such a bunch of c*nts in my whole life.

The stress is not worth the pay packet. '

100% true.

I've done: hotel receptionist, office reception (various), medical reception, legal reception.

I have also cleaned: toilets/houses, holiday lodges, hotel rooms, etc.

I'd pick cleaning any day. In all my cleaning jobs, at least, I could feign not being able to speak English when presented with a cunt.

Or just about anything else. And I've even picked crops for a living.

Receptionists Unite

I actually think everyone should have some experience of being in a public service job - to see what it's like

I'm intolerant of rude officious receptionists, and shop assistants who are more interested in talking to each other that serving the customer - but I do greet them with a big smile, as an equal.

Jamie - I think we've united before on another thread like this one about a year ago!

i don't mind saying what's wrong if i need an emergency appointment (afterall i'm usually at home in bed ill if i need an emergency appt).

however, for a routine appointment that could be any time in the next few weeks i need to be in work in my office to consult the rotas and see if it's going to be possible for me to attend so i really really don't want to be telling all my [male] colleagues that i want a different contraception and why.

people who use practices that require information to make a non-emergency appointment should write a letter to explain why this is embarassing and breaches confidentiality.

If you are asked, it's because the GPs have insisted you are asked, not because we are being nosey, we couldn't give a toss!

At the same time, even if you hate the job and it's the worst you've ever done - that's still no excuse to be blatantly rude to customers and talk to them as if they're something you've stood in that belonged in a poop-scoop instead... which IS what my old doctor's surgery receptionists used to behave like.

There's never any excuse for that - and I've done some pretty rubbish jobs in my time.

I agree, empty. I've never been rude to customers. I need a good reference for my next job .

Call entres also suck nearly as much as reception, particularly targets.