Anyone working in GP practice on reception/admin ?

[Bachatapachata]

How often do you actually take a break/lunch break away from your desk? I try and get out for some fresh air but not everyone does where I am, some people don't work enough hours for a statutory break so they only really get up to get a cup of tea or use the toilet.

I’m a receptionist at a GP surgery.
We are allowed a 15 minute break at around 10am, then we have an hour for lunch between 1pm and 2pm, which I either use for a nap or for a walk. My shortest day is 8:30am - 5pm and longest 8:30am - 6:30pm.
I don’t really care what anyone else does, theres no way I wouldn’t have my breaks. The job is stressful as fuck (especially at the moment!!) and I don’t owe them an extra hour a day for free.

I hear you @Ughmaybenot .

You do an amazing job! Keep taking those breaks wherever you can and try to encourage others too. It’s so important. I am newly qualified in the NHS and I burnt out fast in my new job. Now I’m taking time off and starting a new better job.

I did seven weeks as a GP receptionist, I can honestly say it was the worst job I’ve ever done ..and I’ve done a fair few. I left on the Friday after my shift and never went back.
Most of the staff didn’t work more than six hours a day so weren’t entitled to a break, I worked five hours.
It was frowned on with death stares if you went to the toilet for longer than a couple of minutes, making a hot drink was a no no.
You were expected to sit at your screen with a headset and mask and answer back to back calls for three to four hours in one go, with just a bottle of water. It was a killer.
Everyday I got home with a headache, dry mouth, feeling dizzy, complete brain fry and more stressed than I’ve felt in my life.
I knew I was heading for a breakdown, that’s why I just didn’t go back on the Monday morning, gave my notice with immediate effect.
It took a few months to recover from that ordeal, I’m now working in a completely different direction, and it’s like breath of fresh air.

That’s awful, I’m so glad you got out of there. They need really need to treat NHS staff better, we can’t run on empty, we need to look after ourselves to look after others and be compassionate, people need breaks and time to get fresh air outside it’s basic human need. It needs to improve.

We get a 15min break at about 10.30/11 then a hour around 12.20/2, then a tea break about 3.30. I do one early a week (8am-4.30) and a Saturday 8.30-12 once a month but it’s double time so am happy to do that. We do very little face to face yet so most the time answering stupid calls, but we let it ring if we are too busy. Breaks come first!