[the truth]

Doctors receptionists putting off 40% 0f people going to the doctor.....with endless intrusive personal questions, aggressive attitude and trying to dissuade people from bothering to see the doctor...what is the complaints procedure here?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37605573

[Crimson Dynamo]

Sounds like delusions of grandeur at play here?

[Niamh.]

Must be a British thing, the receptionists at my Doctors never asked me why I wanted to see her, they just make the appointment

[RichardG]

At my GP we have to tell the receptionists our symptoms if we want to make an appointment which can be a bit awkward.

[Firewire]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Must be a British thing, the receptionists at my Doctors never asked me why I wanted to see her, they just make the appointment

Same here, have never had to disclose symptoms.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by the truth

Doctors receptionists putting off 40% 0f people going to the doctor.....with endless intrusive personal questions, aggressive attitude and trying to dissuade people from bothering to see the doctor...what is the complaints procedure here?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37605573

I listened to this debate and it was a Gp who said 40 per cent of the people he sees do not need a doctors appointment and could have been treated by a pharmacist or nurse practitioner also one man rang in and said the receptionist had saved his life as she encouraged him to go for a routine bowel scan he had missed. It also varies from practice to practice whether or not the receptionist asks questions so it is GP led

[LaLaLand]

Originally Posted by RichardG

At my GP we have to tell the receptionists our symptoms if we want to make an appointment which can be a bit awkward.

Same here! It's ridiculous. It has absolutely nothing to do with them what's wrong with the patients, if they ask I just say it's private and if they keep on I have to say like "it's literally none of your business, your job is to book me in not diagnose ta".

[Northern Monkey]

Whenever they've asked me i've just said 'Non of your business that's between me and the doc'.You don't have to tell the receptionist anything when they ask and they do have to give you an appointment.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

I agree with this. They make me feel like I'm conducting some sort of criminal behaviour for wanting to see the Gp.

[Cal.]

I'm not surprised.

Me and my mam both regularly get into arguments with the receptionists at our GP. They're the rudest bunch of women I've ever come across. They treat every patient like an inconvenience and lie about having no appointments when they do for whatever God knows reason.

[_Tom_]

This is why I hate having to call! Thank god for the online booking system

This blog post pretty much sums it up

https://middleclassfury.com/2014/04/...receptionists/

[waterhog]

I see I have been beaten to it about this thread ? great news that everyone or most are thinking alike. sorry if my poem is a bit heavy - its just to get the point across - they have no clue as they are not doctors.



receptionist nose is whats wrong GP 11.10.16

ring ring
you are through to your surgery
so tell me about your sting
i no every single allergy.
the cost of calling
we no its as strain
its so the sytem has stalling
and it gives you more stress and pain.
go into detail
we need info for correction
all others ringing will go like a snail
i diagonose and phone prescribe viagra for your errection.
i can not wuite hear
this reception is full and loud
mr poem cancer is nothing to fear
its 1 in 4 of this reception crowd.
ofcourse you can discuss
a medication review is vital
i will tell the doctor and room with no fuss
we no stigma of "aids" is spiteful.
mr poem is on hold
this time he is giving verbal
stall he and be rude and bold
our failure to treat him has left him terminal.





http://news.sky.com/story/gp-recepti...ively-10613206

[smudgie]

One of the reasons you are asked is to work out how important it is to see a doctor, urgent or routine.
If you are really ill and desperate to see a doc straight away then it helps if you can inform them of your symptoms. Your patient confidentiality applies to the receptionists as well as the doctor, after all, they type all your stuff up on the computer.
Unfortunately it is very rare that any conversation between you and the receptionist is very private if it is face to face as the whole waiting room can listen in.
I personally tend to have no problems, I give my name first then ask for an appointment, if anything, they want me there far more than I want to be there.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by smudgie

One of the reasons you are asked is to work out how important it is to see a doctor, urgent or routine.
If you are really ill and desperate to see a doc straight away then it helps if you can inform them of your symptoms. Your patient confidentiality applies to the receptionists as well as the doctor, after all, they type all your stuff up on the computer.
Unfortunately it is very rare that any conversation between you and the receptionist is very private if it is face to face as the whole waiting room can listen in.
I personally tend to have no problems, I give my name first then ask for an appointment, if anything, they want me there far more than I want to be there.

they often use it as a way to trick you into the wrong answer then dissuade you from seeing the doctor

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by the truth

they often use it as a way to trick you into the wrong answer then dissuade you from seeing the doctor

Really? if you are that ill you need to see a doctor how can you be tricked into deciding not to go? An example of a trick question would be good

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Really? if you are that ill you need to see a doctor how can you be tricked into deciding not to go? An example of a trick question would be good

when can i see the doctor.....why whats wrong with you.......ummm i dont feel well....in what way? i feel sick and a bit hot.......oh have you tried anything for it? ummm no not really....well let me put you through to the nurse and she can assess you.........ummm id rather see the doctor...why whats wrong with you ? etc etc

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by RichardG

At my GP we have to tell the receptionists our symptoms if we want to make an appointment which can be a bit awkward.

I've never been asked that when trying to book an appointment.

If I was, I'd just embarrass her by making it as crass as possible.

[Maru]

That happens in the US. It's usually only the PCP that asks, but I have noticed some specialists will ask too. I always thought it was weird. I have been tempted to tell them it wasn't their business but if it's relatively minor (like the flu), I don't care about giving that information... but if it was for something that was relatively private though, I'd just wait until I see the nurse.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I've never been asked that when trying to book an appointment.

If I was, I'd just embarrass her by making it as crass as possible.

Maybe they know what you're thinking and that's why they don't ask

Our medical staff/doctors here carry an air of superiority. You'd think they could diagnose you from across the room. Pretty scary stuff, that ObamaCare.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

I've never been asked that when trying to book an appointment.

If I was, I'd just embarrass her by making it as crass as possible.

Spoiler:

.....that's funny because it's so true...

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by smudgie

One of the reasons you are asked is to work out how important it is to see a doctor, urgent or routine.
If you are really ill and desperate to see a doc straight away then it helps if you can inform them of your symptoms. Your patient confidentiality applies to the receptionists as well as the doctor, after all, they type all your stuff up on the computer.
Unfortunately it is very rare that any conversation between you and the receptionist is very private if it is face to face as the whole waiting room can listen in.
I personally tend to have no problems, I give my name first then ask for an appointment, if anything, they want me there far more than I want to be there.

...yeah I think it's more to try to make the system as efficient as possible, Smudge...not just to filter the urgent and more routine appointments but also those who could be dealt with, with a practice nurse so that there are more GP appointments available where they're needed most...so much is done at surgery level now, even small surgical procedures..and sometimes appointments can be made to see a GP when it was the practise nurse that they really needed to see...it's all meant for a more efficient system for everyone...I think maybe the problem is though, that the reception staff don't get training in how to put these things and how to filter properly in a way that patients don't feel intruded on with things that are personal and sometimes quite delicate.../more training I would say could prevent that...

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Really? if you are that ill you need to see a doctor how can you be tricked into deciding not to go? An example of a trick question would be good

^ This.

Anyone who is genuinely ill and in need of seeing a doctor, yet is so easily dissuaded from doing so by a receptionist, DESERVES not to see one - especially after they have risen, dressed and travelled to get to the Surgery in the first place.

I personally, have NEVER been questioned by any receptionist as to the reason for my wanting to see the doctor, but if I ever was, I would tell them very firmly 'where to go'.

[Vicky.]

This is not surprising to me. I actually had a receptionist tell me I didn't need an appointment because I wouldn't give her specifics of a personal problem..I gave her a vague view but tbh I am not going into gynecological stuff with an untrained snooper. Another time one of the recptionists refused to put me on the 'urgent' appointments list and said I would have to make do with the next day when I knew I needed to go, and I ended up in A+E that night.

Receptionists are not ****ing trained for triaging and stuff. Most do not understand medical problems and should be there solely to take appointments and such, they should have NO say in if you can see a doctor or not.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

This is not surprising to me. I actually had a receptionist tell me I didn't need an appointment because I wouldn't give her specifics of a personal problem..I gave her a vague view but tbh I am not going into gynecological stuff with an untrained snooper. Another time one of the recptionists refused to put me on the 'urgent' appointments list and said I would have to make do with the next day when I knew I needed to go, and I ended up in A+E that night.

Receptionists are not ****ing trained for triaging and stuff. Most do not understand medical problems and should be there solely to take appointments and such, they should have NO say in if you can see a doctor or not.

There is no way I would share any medical details over the phone full stop, particularly if I had no way of knowing the identity of the person answering and their position and level of competence.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by the truth

when can i see the doctor.....why whats wrong with you.......ummm i dont feel well....in what way? i feel sick and a bit hot.......oh have you tried anything for it? ummm no not really....well let me put you through to the nurse and she can assess you.........ummm id rather see the doctor...why whats wrong with you ? etc etc

I'd diagnose man flu in this instance I have a lump on my penis should be enough to see you sail through to the next round