Do you agree that a baby of 5 months who has had at least 6 chest infections since birth and is now chesty again should be seen by the GP as a priority?

emkana · 2006-11-27T09:33:46+00:00

The receptionist at the surgerey doesn't think so! "Best I can do for you is put a note in the doctor's book to ring you."

misdee · 27/11/2006 09:34

tell her you want an appointment today

fireflyxmasfairylights2 · 27/11/2006 09:39

The Bitch!! When this happened with my ds I called my SIL who is a nursing consultant, she told me to subtly mention that if I did not receive an appointment asap I would drive to the nearest A&E and say my doctor refused to see me. I did this, just saying to the receptionist "Look, I know you only work there, and I know you really would give me an appointment if there was one free, but seeing as there isn't any free, and my son really needs to see a doctor I'll just scoot to A&E and tell them I need a doctor" Funnily enough I did get to see a doctor, 2o minutes later And my son was sent to hospital with bronchiolitis!

Loshad · 27/11/2006 09:51

Yes, if only because any baby of that age should be seen the same day imo if the parents are worried. ring back and insist on an appointment, and mention the problems getting one to whoever you finally see. The receptionist has no right to vet/monitor seriousness of cases - she/he isn't qualified to do so.

RubyRioja · 27/11/2006 09:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 27/11/2006 09:54

i think you should write a letter of complaint to the practice manager. AND to the GP - mark the letter private and confidential.

LIZS · 27/11/2006 10:02

Definitely - stupid woman, who made her God ? . Think I'd head down towards the end of surgery regardless .

colditz · 27/11/2006 10:05

I just turn up at the surgery, stand at the desk, not and smile while she moans about how I should have phoned first (to be told my baby will be seen 2 weeks next Tuesday?) and they have no appointments, blah blah blah.

And I stand there, and just keep saying, meekly and nicely "Well, he's really ill and I feel he needs to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible"

Until it twigs in their mind that I am actually going nowhere until my baby is seen. If you say that they can get a bit sniffy, so don't say it, just don't go anywhere. Stand right in front of the desk until you aare told when your baby will be seen.

Bugsy2 · 27/11/2006 10:05

Any baby should be seen as a priority. That is always the case at my GP surgery.

expatinscotland · 27/11/2006 10:07

i honestly think you should complain in writing.

Original poster

emkana · 27/11/2006 10:14

I'm going in at 11.35

OP posts:

MerlinsBeard · 27/11/2006 10:19

good. @ the receptionist, since when was she allowed to ask patients why they need appointments?

singersgirl · 27/11/2006 10:59

Absolutely. Our surgery always sees babies and toddlers on the same day - they just tell you to come in immediately if it's breathing related and they will see the child between booked patients if it looks urgent/needs a nebuliser.

Original poster

emkana · 27/11/2006 13:10

Ds now back on the AB's.

Only 48 hours till we see the lung specialist...

singersgirl, if you see this, could you come back to my other thread (about ds being wheezy again)?

OP posts:

kslatts · 27/11/2006 13:57

When my dd was a toddler I phoned the surgery, the receptionist put me through to a nurse who said based on the symptoms I described it sounded like a virus and to give her calpol, etc. I rang back a few days later and insisted I saw a doctor, then when I saw him he said that she had a chest infection and asked why I hadn't bought her before. Now if the receptionist asks what is wrong when I phone for an appointment I tell her that I only want to discuss it face to face with a doctor and not over the phone with her.

kslatts · 27/11/2006 13:57

When my dd was a toddler I phoned the surgery, the receptionist put me through to a nurse who said based on the symptoms I described it sounded like a virus and to give her calpol, etc. I rang back a few days later and insisted I saw a doctor, then when I saw him he said that she had a chest infection and asked why I hadn't bought her before. Now if the receptionist asks what is wrong when I phone for an appointment I tell her that I only want to discuss it face to face with a doctor and not over the phone with her.

McDreamy · 27/11/2006 14:08

The receptionist shouldn't be asking questions like that - it has nothing to do with them whats wrong with you or any member of your family and as they are not medically qualified they are not in a position to triage patients. I would refuse to tell them, we are in the military so it's all a little different for us but that's terrible practise.