GRRR..... AT HORRIBLE DOCTOR'S RECEPTIONIST

[BROWNY]

I've been on the phone to my g.p. asking for my ds2 (2 years and 2 months old) to see the doctor - he has a very, very bad case of chickenpox. I know this as he is my fourth child and know what normal chickenpox looks like.

Guess what the receptionist said?

"Oh, he doesn't need to see a doctor if he's just got chickenpox"...... WTF does she know, she hasn't seen my poor ds2. I told her he was my fourth child, I'd never taken the others to the doctor when they had it, but I know that my ds2 has come down very badly with it and I'd like special creams to help sooth his red raw bottom that is covered in weeping spots - he screams when he has a wee. Again she said, "everything sounds normal to me, I don't think it is necessary, you can't bring him here, I'll get a doctor to RING you"....

I just wanted to rant about receptionists, I've had many a run-in with this one and I intend to tell the g.p. when he/she rings me.

ice cream??!

Hopefully dr will phone soon and take it more seriously.

Get back on the phone and demand an appointment, if she still persists ask to speak to the practice manager.

Or just even turn up amd demand an appointment in forint of everyone.

Make a complaint anyway they are not medically trained and she has overstepped the mark. she should not be turning a child away.

Good luck

Thanks for replying guys, I'm still mad as hell! He needs medication NOW, not when the g.p. gets around to RINGING me, whatever time that might be today. I'm ringing back NOW!

I'll post again in a minute!

we have a very snotty receptionist that thinks she is a doctor , winds me up no end

I've worked in the medical environment before I had dds. And just recently worked as a doctor's receptionist (if ony for a week as they messed my hours around - but that's another story!). They're not all awful . Well I though I was very pleasant anyway.
IMO doctor's receptionists are not medically trained to give any advice to patients with regards to their symptoms or medication, unless authorised by the GP.
It is difficult to offer urgent appointments on occasions because they do fill up very quickly. Although not nice for us as the patient, the GP is primary care and if the symptoms are urgent then that's what we have casualty and 999 for. GP can help with some of the more minor problems.
The surgery I have just worked at has the "triage" system where the receptionist takes the patient's details and the GP phones them back. The GP then decides on the course of action to be taken - whether a prescription is necessary, if an appointment at the surgery is needed (sometimes the GP will ask for patient to come to surgery straight after phone call if necessary), home visit required etc etc). I think it's a very good idea - saves the patient waiting for an appointment for a week or so.
I am very (shock) at some of these goings on.

My god, I understand that receptionists have a tough enough job, I can even understand why some of them might be a little shirty sometimes, but its definitely not their decision who gets to see the doctor.

Browny, I hope you insisted.

Malory, did you make a complaint?

I can see that receptionist have a hard time , howvere they should never turn a child away for an apointment.

The whole system has been set by Government to meet targets but when a child is turned away thats another issue..

Right, after having my finger pressed on re-dial, I've spoken to another receptionist, I insisted he see a doctor as I was very worried about him, she put me on hold,then came back and told me to BRING HIM IN at 11 a.m. I complained about the cow of a receptionist, I told her that I am not in the habbit of asking for appointments just for somewhere to go, and told her I've got four children and know when something is not right. I told her that I intend to complain about the other receptionists manner and that she had made me see red - she told me that it was my perogative to complain - and I AM!

Browny, just adding my support. Your DS needs to see a doctor - she is not a doctor and cannot say "everything sounds normal to me" - that's not her job - she is not a doctor or nurse. You need an appointment today - don't let them fob you off.

I put them on par with school office staff ( well at our school anyway) they can't break a smile even if they had wind. A power thing definitly.

Well done Browny , hope little one is on the mend soon.

well done brown
hope your ds is ok very soon

Have to say at our doctor's surgery the receptionists are all really, really lovely. In fact they have just won an award. And it is the surgery's policy to always see a young child that day if its parents are sufficiently worried. Sadly they seem to be the exception that proves the rule.

MaloryTowers, I totally agree with you! We have two Hitler types in my surgery - arn't I the lucky one .

When I had my first and didn't know I was suffering with Postnatal Depression, I had no phone and just turned up at the surgery at 8.30 a.m. and asked to see a doctor. The same receptionist that I spoke to today, came from behind her little window and into the waiting room, and wiped the floor with me, telling me off like a little child, "who do you think you are coming to the surgery asking to see a doctor, we have a procedure here you know?", I was so upset and embarrassed that I ran out of the surgery . So needless to say, I'm pretty wound up this morning.

Thanks everyone for letting me rant

IKWYM, i think all receptionists can be a bit tough to get passed. But as Sparkler said, they're only doing their job - part of which is as a gatekeeper for the GP so that their time is protected for patient appointments!

Surprised though, that they didn't promise to get GP to call back - at my surgery if you say you need to speak to GP urgently, normally get a call back within the hr.

Remember they're only human

lol MaloryTowers - he's having one sugar-free ice-pop after another, he saying, "sore mouth", poor little man. I've given him Piriton and Ibuprofen for his temperature and put Eurax lotion on him, so hopefully he'll calm down a little soon. In case you're all wondering why I'm on here and not with him, my dh is on holiday for 2 weeks and he's sitting on my dh's knee

MissChief, I know receptionists have quite a hard job dealing with the public, but surely they need a helpful manner with patients and not to dismiss their concerns because she's been answering the phone for 5 minutes and has got out of bed the wrong side! What she should have said was, "if you are concerned that his chickenpox are severe I will give you an appointment to see a g.p." - I didn't ring her to ask her medical opinion. I know receptionists are only human, but this was isn't!

My eldset was sent home form school the other week, when I got him in the car he was screaming and very distressed saying his ears were hurting him. Very unlike him.

So stright down to GP, this is 2pm, sorry can't see a GP until 6.20pm. Say no good he is XXXdistressed and screaming, went bakc to car to be with him, far enough receptionsist came out saw what he was like took details and then came back to say GP i n 20 mins.

Took DS into waiting room , wher he was subsequently sick , in with Gp in 5 mins !!

So take your child to Gp and get them to be sick in Gp surgery and you'll get in very very quick

Luckily for DS it was a severve throat infection.

I make a point of never discussing why I want an appointment - I just ask for one quite firmly.