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Original poster

Is there such a thing as a reasonable, well-adjusted, non-dysfunction, normal f***king doctor's receptionist?

107 replies

Caligula · 23/05/2006 16:24

Or is that a myth like King Arthur will return when Britain is in great danger?

DS has been ill all day. Can I see my GP? No, I have to phone the out of hours emergency service and drive 8 miles. Even though the surgery is open, and I've said I don't mind waiting for a gap when someone turns up. The costs to the environment is irrelevant; the fact that if I didn't have a car and it would cost me £20 is irrelevant; the fact that I'm supposed to have a personal bloody relationship with my GP and the government keeps telling me that I need a GP because of a personal bloody relationship that doesn't exist, is irrelevant.

Why do I need a GP at all, if I can never see him? Why can't I just go to any old doctor? I just hate this gatekeeper system, and I hate the f*ing bitch who considers herself the gatekeeper to the doctor, even more. Angry Seriously, every single time I have asked to see a doctor when this woman is on duty, I have been refused. It must be some kind of record. I wouldn't mind if I could just go to the out of hours service every time, because I don't like my doctor anyway, particularly, and would much prefer to keep any doctor I ever see at arms length (personal relationship my arse) but no, they tell me I have to see my GP when he's open. They're really annoyed (with me, not with the receptionist) that I'm coming to see them when my GP's surgery is open.

Ah, feel better now I've got that off my chest. Grin

OP posts:
MissChief · 23/05/2006 17:39

how about school receptionists? How do they perfect that patronising tone, that air of self-importance and their tendency to point out the bleeding obvious as if others are too stupid to otherwise notice Angry
But to all this, I just nod sweetly because we're taking ds out of school
whisper

expatinscotland · 23/05/2006 17:49

good idea, piffle! i don't know if we have an NP - cuz i never bother ringing the surgery anymore! might have to give that a bash.

jampots · 23/05/2006 17:51

Yes ours now has one who was a cow when she was there properly, retired and now back helping out and is fine

Ask about her retirement next time you call Grin

rabbitrabbit · 23/05/2006 18:17

No.
Suitable candidates are screened from nursery onwards, taken to one side and repeatedly beaten round the back of the legs with the sporting life every time they smile or are anything less than patronising.

Original poster
Caligula · 23/05/2006 18:17

Oh I'm so glad it's not me just being a mad old bint expecting the earth, like a receptionist actually behaving normally... Grin

I so much prefer going to these out of hours places, you always meet someone new! Grin

OP posts:
fullmoonfiend · 23/05/2006 18:18

LOL at thread title - me shouting No!Course there isn't!! at computer much to dh's bewilderment

Californifrau · 23/05/2006 18:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Britney · 23/05/2006 18:23

Definitely not! The mardy one at my surgery is one of those hagard looking old ladies whose face would actually break if she had to smile at anyone. She has a permanently grim expression that could sour milk Grin

hoxtonchick · 23/05/2006 18:31

ours are lovely, they know my children by name, & we're not there that often....

fuzzywuzzy · 23/05/2006 18:31

Our GP receptionist is lovely... I once rang for something wrt dd1 she insisted I come in straight away as babies and toddlers are given priority. I was ushered in immediately upon arrival and dd1 was checked over... Our receptionist is lurrverly everyone likes her

Californifrau · 23/05/2006 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrayedKnot · 23/05/2006 19:21

A long time ago I used to work in a GP surgery and from time to time I had to cover reception.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have about why doctors' receptionists are unreasonable, badly-adjusted, dysfunctional or abnormal!

C'mon!

sottovoce · 23/05/2006 19:24

PMSL at MI's post! Grin

Ours are fab - no 3rd degree, no pompous crap, just try to get you to see the Dr of choice asap. Always make a space for babies on the same day too.

Original poster
Caligula · 23/05/2006 19:30

Go on then FN, enlighten us! The only other people I've ever come across who are as belligerent and unco-operative, is train-ticket sellers and people who work for Social Security offices. And before you tell us about obby patients who demand to see their doctor immediately because they have a sniffle, every profession has difficult clients, but only the three I've mentioned are quite so consistently bloody-minded wherever you go.

Maybe the police. They're usually pretty naff to deal with ("oh yes, sir, you say you've seen a crime, sir?") but they are getting better. Either that, or they're just nicer to middle-aged women than they are to young ones. Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
Caligula · 23/05/2006 19:31

And the police have a good excuse to be a bit dismissive, imo.

OP posts:
FrayedKnot · 23/05/2006 19:33

No, shan't.

Original poster
Caligula · 23/05/2006 19:36

Grin Ha! Reverting to form! All those receptionist vibes are coming back and taking you over!

OP posts:
Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 23/05/2006 19:38

I've been lucky with 2 doctors- always see them on the same day, caring, nice receptionists. Different cities- one thing in common- sole practitioners......

NotQuiteCockney · 23/05/2006 19:42

I worked as a doctor's receptionist for half a day. I totally sympathise with their crankiness.

People are horrible to doctor's receptionists. No wonder they're so horrid back. (And yeah, I know, it's really just 10% or less who are mean, but they're really really mean.)

FrayedKnot · 23/05/2006 19:49

Actually it is a horrible job. I used to come home and cry some days. I was only about 22 though at the time though.

  1. The Doctors could be really horrible and frequently were.

  2. You get given a diary with 12 appointments in it, 11 are booked, and 5 people ring up all with problems of probably equal merit and you have to try & fit them in to one slot, but you aren;t allowed to fit extra ones in, unless it's a real emergency - usually categorised, in this order: tiny babies, children with eye problem, adults with eye problems... then maybe people who are obviously having a heart attack or something.

  3. you had to use your judgement about who you thought deserved the one available slot even though you had no clinical expertise, which was awful.

  4. You would be in the middle of trying to sort out all these people and some halfwit would ring up and swear down the phone at you because they'd forgotten to re-order their indigestion tablets.

  5. A nurse would come out of clinic and ask you why you hadn;t done such and such.

  6. A known drug addict would come in and demand to be seen as he had been allocated to your surgery by the local health authority (as it was in those days) and you would be s**ing yourself what would happen if you didn;t give him a slot.

I was a quivering wreck by the end of the day.

TBH I can't see how anyone could stand to do teh job day in day out for years unless they are made of concrete.

Oh and the pay is sh*te.

GeorginaA · 23/05/2006 19:52

dh has just suggested that Tesco or Asda should go into the GP business... that'd shake up the market Grin

For a fiver, drop in at any time... go into whichever door with resident GP was open at the time then go again... no need for a receptionist - just have to queue until there was a doctor free... bet it'd be a roaring success!

WideWebWitch · 23/05/2006 19:54

It's fucking shite Caligula, I've only read your first post but I so agree. I hope your ds is better soon.

FrayedKnot · 23/05/2006 19:59

I would also add that if you are repeatedly having a problem getting appointments you should put a complaint in writing to the Practice Manager.

It is highly likely that the surgery are simply not offering enough appointments for the demand.

I know she sounds like an old dragon but if the receptionist had enough appointments available, she would give you one.

I never worked a shift where I didn;t have to turn at least 2-3 "urgent" cases away, simply because if teh Dr had finished their slots, that was that.

JoolsToo · 23/05/2006 20:03

our current surgery is great but I have met some harridans in the past.

My mum always told me - if you're being fobbed off, ask 'Are you qualified to make decisions about my/my child's health?' worked for me!

GDG · 23/05/2006 20:06

Jools - but GPs are 'qualified' but we've had some 'interesting' experiences with those haven't we?!