Dismissed from work today - I don't know what to do

[Strawberriess]

I made such a huge error at work and it cost me my job.
I accept liability and made a massive mistake. I work at a drs and a patient had low iron levels and I said I wasn't clinically trained but maybe it might be worth going to the supermarket to buy something fortified with iron so they didn't drop any further - I didn't know I wasn't allowed to suggest something you could buy off the shelf. I would never advise something if I thought I was causing harm. I had the best intentions.
On top of this I've been having trouble with a colleague who is so rude, condescending and snappy. Yesterday I asked a question and she was rude and I said there was no need for it. She has accused me of bullying to the manager.
I went in today and was pulled in to the office and told because I was still on probation my contract was terminated and there was nothing I could do. I've been crying for about 7 hours.
I dont know how this will have an impact moving forward. Putting a patient at risk and bullying sounds awful but not who I am at all. I don't know what to do 😭
I'd been a SAHM for 7 years and this was the first job I applied for and was successful. I've only been there 3 months. I feel like my future is ruined. How can I apply for another job when my reference is going to paint me out to be a monster.

I’ve had a GP give me incorrect information before, nobody is perfect.

I’d go to some agencies and get a job through them. They’re often good with dealing with this kind of issue and if you get something temporary it then becomes your last place of employment.

This is true but they can refuse to give a reference and just provide the dates which suggests it’s bad. I would leave it off your cv

This is a good suggestion!

@DaSilvaP "They can say anything they like as long as it’s true.

... as long as it’s true and they can prove it!

And also don't mind the risk of being dragged into a lawsuit for "diffamation" of the ex-employee. UK libel laws being what they are, very few want a taste of that"

If the OP wanted to sue for 'diffamation' (sic) then they would need to prove the claims were false. Which they wouldn't be. Also they'd need some pretty deep pockets.

Can we stop with the incorrect armchair legal advice please

Most companies now just provide the dates.
there is a lot of misinformation on this thread.

Agree, some terrible advice on this thread!

I am a clinician working in a GP surgery and the people saying your advice could have been pOtenTIAlLy fAtAl!!!! are being very silly.

When I did my call handling training, the complete ban on giving anything approaching medical advice wasn't about whether it would be potentially fatal. It was about us not knowing one way or the other what might be good or bad advice. It was also, to be completely honest, an arse covering exercise. No-one wants a Daily Mail headline about call handlers giving medical advice, even if that advice is 'well Lemsip has paracetamol in it, so no, don't go and take a load more paracetamol straightaway'.

I am a clinician working in a GP surgery and the people saying your advice could have been pOtenTIAlLy fAtAl!!!! are being very silly.

I am a clinician? But you won't actually give your job title @anomies
A nurse I assume. Or if you were a dr or pharmacist you'd day that.

I don't think anyone said 'fatal'.

BUT it could have given false reassurance so that the patient didn't pursue correct treatment.

Also, if you are really a nurse you ought to know that taking too much iron can be dangerous as unlike some vitamins and minerals, it's not excreted in excess. You or the OP have no idea what else that patient may already be taking.

I can't even understand why the OP was discussing this patient's results or condition- that in itself is out of order, let alone directing her to a supermarket.

@DozyDelia 😂 assume what you like, my sweet. And yes, at least one person does, page 2. Also, if you had basic reading comprehension, you would have noted that I said the only problem would have been IF she had not also signposted the patient to book with a clinician. Which tbf she does not make clear, but either way if so it was a simple mistake, which most people make from time to time.

receptionists have to discuss patient results and conditions all the time, btw. In a limited context, but very often, and under pressure. In any of the places I’ve worked, OP’s mistake would have been managed with a gentle word and some remedial training.

If the patient's blood tests had come back below range why hadn't the GP phoned her to discuss her results and to discuss whether she would benefit from iron supplementation or required further investigations?

In my NHS GP practice, admin staff are only permitted to give patients the results of blood tests that are within range. If abnormal, a GP phones with the results.

I’m a bit bemused by those saying did they explicitly tell you not to give medical advice and it’s a gap in the training. It’s like McDonald’s having to say their apple pies are hot or anti freeze having to have a label saying don’t drink this.

im afraid I think if you want to be a receptionist but need to be told not to medically advise patients , then you probably aren’t suitable for the role.

@Daisiesandprimroses well, seeing as supplements, eg vitamins and minerals, are not medicinal products according to the Food Standards Agency, then I'm not surprised OP thought that suggesting something "fortified with iron" was safe. It wouldn't be an obvious piece of "medical advice".

@Strawberriess there are positives to come from this. The NHS encourages reflective practice, so if you do decide to disclose the reason you left then you could turn it into a lovely piece of reflection in interview. They will also love how you told a GP what you had done. So although you're thinking it's a disaster now, it really isn't. Also, bear in mind that the culture in surgeries varies and just because it didn't work out in one doesn't mean another wouldn't be the perfect fit for you. Chin up, you'd be an asset to the NHS with the right training and support

The reality is that in the context of a reception position in health care there are limits to what you can do in that role to help people.

Boundaries are important for patient privacy and patient safety so good intention and being kind in the moment isn't always appropriate if it goes outside the bounds of the role and actually has potential harms.

For example, years ago, I worked as a health care manager in a past life and we had one receptionist who also saw herself as a very kind hearted, compassionate, caring person who wanted to help however it isn't her role to have patients unburden all their problems to her either over the phone or in person in front of other waiting patients. The longer she was on the phone with one person, the longer others waited to get served and would hang up. And when it was in person, then everyone in line is listening to all the patient's health problems. She also isn't trained to respond to the health issues they are venting / asking about - and her role isn't to be a best friend. People asking anyone who works in a health care setting questions takes what they are told as medical advice. We also had to take her out of the role of being a receptionist and similar to you she just didn't understand why caring and helping wasn't always the right thing to do in the context of her role. She was a lovely person but not right for a busy administrative type position that has direct patient contact. Boundaries and knowing the scope of your role are very very important in health care.

She gave her this advice specific to lab results she looked at and gave her and also told her this product would help keep a specific lab results from decreasing further. So in addition to making recommendations about a product, she was actually treating the condition the patient had. So she had gone outside her scope in many ways - taking on the treatment of a condition and giving medical advice. Medical advice is anyone in a professional role telling others what they should or shouldn't do related to health management.

OP only had access to the lab results for the purpose of communicating them to the client. It was not her role to interpret the results, determine what treatment she felt would improve the results, recommend a specific treatment to the patient, and tell the patient this treatment would improve her health or prevent further harm. She assessed private helath information for a reason that was far outside her scope of practice. That is also a fireable offense in many places. You can only access and look at health information for specific reasons as determined by your role.

What is your problem with nurses, in comparison with Dr / Pharmacist @DozyDelia ? What kind of clinician are you ?

She/he just wants to stick the boot into the OP for some reason.

I think you have been very unfairly treated indeed! They can't expect you to pass on results and expect the patient not to have any questions! I don't even believe there was anything wrong with your advice and, if there was, a quick follow up phone call clarifying things would have been all it would have taken.

At least you don't have to deal with that colleague any more. Hope you find a much better job soon, I think you deserve to x

I can assure you that my reading comprehension is spot on, (and I'm not 'your sweet' by the way.) And there is no need to be rude or patronising.

At least one person does what on Page 2?

OP didn't signpost the patient to see a doctor. (maybe use the precise word, instead of 'clinician' which means not a lot!)

If you are a nurse, then I'm sorry but this wasn't a 'simple mistake'. It was potentially dangerous not simply because a supplement could be contraindicated but because she is /was not there to 'prescribe' even if it was meant well.

Personally, I don't think it was a sackable offence in itself, but I expect there had been other reasons why she didn't fit the role and this was the final straw.

What is the issue asking someone what their role is when they say they are a 'clinician'?

A clinician is not a job title as such. People use that word to cover various roles.

Not a thing against nurses, so can't quite get my head round where that's come from!

Sorry but I have no issue with nurses.

Why do you think that?

Might be easy to get if you aren't fussy about who employs you. And teaching English isn't as easy as you imply - just because you can speak it doesn't mean you can teach it.

That sounds very petty in my opinion. Not like you caused anyone any harm. A warning maybe but getting the sack seems excessive. Maybe a sign it's not the workplace for you.

They can't give a bad reference you can only give a good reference or no reference.

Keep your head up and find something better 😃

This happened to me too, I just left it off my cv and got a better job anyway. So sorry you've gone though this, you don't deserve it

um What? The person wasn’t saying they had low iron cause she’s their bestie, and neither for her advice, she’s not allowed to treat patients and actually understanding why low iron is critical because buying iron tablets for certain conditions, can be very dangerous.

They should have told you as part of your training that your not to recommend anything off the shelf . I think the colleague saw you as a threat from day one . Don't put it on your CV . If you have to just say it was a temporary job . They can't give you a bad character reference. If that was the case half the country would not be working. Half the time I don't think they even bother with references for some jobs as they can fire you within two years anyway .