Ah Bless

[cecil39]

I rang the surgery to get an appointment and the receptionist asked me what my symptoms were, but as I told her she repeatedly said "ah bless" in what I call a soupy sort of voice, it made me feel like a two year old, and very annoyed to be made to feel so small, if I had been face to face with her I think I could have hit her, what do you think?

[lcg]

and i feel it is a form of triage, because the receptionists are trying to work out if you are worthy of an emergency appointment or not. that is the definition of the word triage......and they have no right whatsoever to attempt to do that, or 'police' who sees a gp.

[Cloverjo]

Doctors' receptionists are ridiculed in the media for being fierce harridans. This one was being sympathetic.
Your question was about the soupiness of her responses, not whether she should know about your symptoms, so I'd be grateful she wasn't a harridan.

[anneasquith]

i would never discuss my symptoms with a receptionist.

[Bathsheba]

At my GP's we have to phone between 8.30 + 9 am on the day we want to be seen. Obviously the phone is engaged, + if one is lucky enough to get through, the receptionist says the GP will phone back. Then I will ask at what time, and the frosty reply will be she can't say, all the doctors are very busy, but it will be any time before 1pm. I'm still wondering how the hell it's possible to have a morning appointment. *** shambles.

x x

[ummmm]

I don't see what the big secrecy is. Surely they could pull out your notes if they wanted.

It's like going for a smear, they've seen/heard it all before.

I've mainly had positive experiences with receptionists.

"ah bless" is just a figure of speech, something I probably wouldn't have noticed.

[Kimdottir]

I don't think there is any need to give your symptoms, but as mamya says, if you do it's surprising how often they can suddenly find an appointment for a child with asthma, that they hadn't offered a minute ago. It shouldn't work that way, perhaps, but worth a try, if it's important.

[waterboatman]

I would have said 'I will tell the doctor. You are not qualified.'

[ummmm]

I suppose it depends what's wrong.

[Eve]

It doesn't bother me telling them what the issue it, only a brief idea so that the GP ringing back has an idea of what they are ringing me about and has a chance to check my notes if they need to. I've also let them know it's a non-urgent call back for the day so others can be prioritised if I don't need to be.

On the recording when you ring though, it tells you they will ask for a brief idea of the problem but you don't have to tell them if you don't want to and can just let them know that.

[jennyjoan]

@ mamy - it is very embarrassing to tell the receptionist of your personal pproblems when there are are other patients sitting and hearing of this. no should be a triage room in the doctors now.

[cecil39]

Thanks for all your answers, yes I did get an appointment, in 8days time so not so bad, in future I think I will say "its personal" and not give symptoms, they do need to ask I suppose so they can decide how urgent it is.

[Mamyalynne]

Cecil glad you got your appointment though that's a long time (to me at least).

JJ, I believe this was over the phone, I doubt the have it on loudspeaker for the waiting room - at the desk/window I would as for privacy.

A Triage room in every surgery would be marvellous.


Scant details are easily given - eg, 'I have an abscess that hurts when I sit down'. Nothing embarrassing about that - to me anyway.