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Original poster

Dr receptionists

63 replies

MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 08:53

Does anyone else find Dr's receptionist unhelpful, inflexible, obstructive and act like I somehow am

  1. wasting the dr time
  2. trying to hurt the dr in some way
OP posts:
Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 11:27

Surfermum can you change jobs and come and work in my surgery PLEASE.

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mummytosteven · 20/03/2005 11:47

mine have always been very good. can't recall any prying questions about appointments.

Mirage · 20/03/2005 13:06

Ours are fab.They will always get you an appointment the same day if you need it,are happy to put you through to a Dr if you phone up with a query & will bend over backwards to help.

A lot of the patients live in rural villages with an erratic bus service & the receptionists go out of their way to make convinient appts available for them.

I've never been asked prying questions by the staff at our surgery & would hate to have to go elsewhere!

Whizzz · 20/03/2005 13:58

Ours are horrid too. I tried to get an appt when DS was small as he had temp & bad cough that had gone on & on (diagnosed as bronchilitis eventually) BUT without asking my name or DS name or age - the receptionist was advising me to give him paracetamol every 4 hours !!

pabla · 20/03/2005 14:25

Our surgery went over to a computerised system a while back and at the same time, decided that most appointments could only be made on the day. Of course, they don't answer the phones before I leave on the school run and by the time I get back and get through, all the appointments are gone. I've had situations where I've tried to make an appointment for the following day and although there are slots available, they "can't" book them in advance. So I ask for the gp to phone me, explain why I need to see her and she books me in for the next day. What a waste of the gp's time!

I think I got off to a bad start with out surgery. When I moved here I went to register and made an appointment as I needed to renew a prescription. When I turned up, I discovered a receptionist had changed my appointment to be with a nurse, assuming I just needed a new patient check-up and of course the nurse couldn't write the prescription. I had to wait ages to see a gp and my blood pressure was sky-high when they took it!

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 14:35

Has anyone ever complained to a practice manager and does it make any difference at all.

I know I'm not a one off with the problems with our Dr Receptionists. I work with a few people registered at the same place and they have had similiar and worse problems with them. I'm just wondered if its worth taking any further.

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TinyGang · 20/03/2005 16:03

I spoke to the practice manager once with a complaint.

I had made an appt. for dh; had to wait some time for the appt. and made it around the time that suited them rather than us - just grateful to get one at all really!

He duly arrived on time having taken time from work and they denied all knowledge of it with a 'tough luck' attitude and implied the appointment hadn't even been made in the first place. It wasn't the error that annoyed me so much as the attitude. The thing is they are not the only busy people in the world pushed for time and resources.

The practice manager was very apologetic etc and blamed the error on the new computer system (ho hum). He didn't have much of a leg to stand on with regard to the attitude problem though, and said he would 'have a word..' I haven't noticed anything much has changed there since though.

When I worked, we had to introduce a new computer record system for a very big university (larger by far than my local doctors surgery) and there were a few hiccups in the beginning. I too have dealt with difficult members of the public, (students in my case) but if anyone where I worked had come across with such a poor attitude, we would have been in for the high jump because of it!

It worries me though to make too much fuss with the receptionists, because with five of us in the family, I have to use their service quite regularly and don't want to be seen as troublesome or I'll get a worse service, I suspect. The nurses and doctors however are wonderful, once you can get to them.

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 16:06

if you get to them.....

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expatinscotland · 20/03/2005 16:10

We have great ones! I'd change surgeries if they were gits, however.

TinyGang · 20/03/2005 16:14

Funnily enough, my parents a few miles down the road (but under a different borough council) have a fantastic surgery, with lovely receptionists who can't do enough. We can't change though because officially we don't come under their area.

Tortington · 20/03/2005 18:52

all - without exception of the doctors receptionists i have ever had the misfortune to speak to - must have gone training with the TA. pitbulls of doctor world. which doesnt help ontop of a crap service which only opens during working hours, you have to race to phone them at 8am the morning you are sick becuase by 8.30 there are no appts. left you cannot book in advance. yu cannot ring up for a repeat prescription you have to actually physically drop of your requst in writing into a box in the surgery. thus having to get to work late just to order your fking prescription.

if i forget to order mu prescription enough time in advance - i will not speak to the receptionists who make me cry just by huffing at me and shouting i should know better - instead lovely jubbly dh will go in and face the twozzock faced pitbull bastards and tell them i need it or i will die - it that urgent enough? he comments. ready after 5pm but this is only becuase its an emergency. thank god i have dh - i would have rather suffered than face two overbearing pug faced prison guards for the medication i am fucking entitled to and have to bastard well pay for. amen the end

Whizzz · 20/03/2005 18:53

So you don't like them Custardo !!!!

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 18:54

You like them then?

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Whizzz · 20/03/2005 18:56

AND why is it that if you are actually ill & need to see a doc, at ours you have to ring up at 08.30 (not 08.29 as they won't answer) to try & get an appt that day.
BUT if you aren't ill (smear test etc) it's "Certainly, what time appt would you like" !?

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 19:01

My friend had a cracked pelvis that has just had a plate fitted (8 weeks ago) she can't really sit, cant travel in a car and certainly can't walk any distance. When she asked for a home visit she was given the third degree by the HV and the practice nurse until they finially agree for a DR to come and visit her. The dr came and asked the district nurse to see and the following monday who then processed to question why she couldn't make it to the surgery.

The world has gone mad.

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Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 19:03

Forgot to add twice given the threatening questioning by the dr receptionist.

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ks · 20/03/2005 19:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 19:06

Poor you

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Smurfgirl · 20/03/2005 19:14

My Drs receptionists are fabulous! Very efficient but as long as you ring between 8am and 9am that day you pretty much get an appointment for that day when you want it, but thats the only way you can get one. I much prefer that than ringing up and being told that their next available appointment for your leg that is falling off is next month!

tillykins · 20/03/2005 19:27

Doctors rejectionists more like!
Our are half and half really, couple of nice ones (who I cultivate) and a couple of evil-b***s-from-hell-who-train-with-the-gestapo.

I rang for a repeat prescription recently, to be told they now had a specific number for that. Ok, I said, trying to be helpful, took the number down and rang it. The same bloody receptionist answered and said "hold please" then finished an obviously personal conversation, in my hearing, before attending to me!

But our dental receptionists are the worst, I hate them! I broke a tooth when I was pregnant and she told me the earliest appointment was a week off! I said I was pregnant, very, and the tooth hurt and she asked if it was "painful, very painful, or agony" When I said very painful, she said I could come in the next day at 9am and wait, but it could be all day..... My husband rang them then (I hung up in tears!) and insisted on speaking to his dentist who said come straight down... GRRRRR

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 19:29

'The same bloody receptionist answered and said "hold please" then finished an obviously personal conversation, in my hearing, before attending to me!'

I have to say what an evil bitch but you have to hand it to for doing it with style.

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tillykins · 20/03/2005 20:07

LOL! Wish I could have handed it to her on a shovel

Original poster
MaryP0p1 · 20/03/2005 20:53

I'm feeling that way about the receptionist at my surgery. Think of me tomorrow morning arguing again with them

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Polina · 20/03/2005 21:01

Current surgery are fantastic but before we moved had a right collection. Favourite exchange:

Me: Can I have my blood test results please
R: No. Our results service is only from 2 to 2:30.
Me: But I have been trying to call you since 1:55, yo have been engaged all the time.
R: I know. That is because too many people were ringing for their results.
Me: Why don't you make it longer than half an hour?
R: Becuase it isn't convenient.
Me: But I want my results!
R: Then make an appointment to see the doctor.
Me: OK then, when can I have one.
R: There aren't any for three weeks on your priority rating.
Me: I'll have had another blood test in 3 weeks! Can't I class this as an emergency?
R: No. Your a low priority as we have a results service you can call for your results. It is open from 2 to 2:30.......

AAAARGH!

BadgerBadger · 20/03/2005 21:23

Whenever I speak with them I visualise them as wearing tin helmets, leaning over sandbags and pointing their trusty rifles at the doors/phone, ready to snipe any poor patient who dares to request an appointment.

On a more serious note, I'm sure they react to each patient differently - show any sign of weakness and you've had it!

They also happen to have memories like elephants so if they mark you as an easy target, you can be sure to be juggled about/shoved to the end of the queue/refused appointments, for years and years to come!

My sister always fails to secure appointments, has tried countless times, but failed to breach the barricade, so usually rings me immediately to ask me to book one for her! They obviously see her as a pushover whereas they see me as such a PITA, they'll make the appointment just to get rid of me .