Doctors Reception

[carless]

Is the new trend, which is being introduced into Doctors surgeries when asking for a appointment, acceptable or even legal? Patients are asked "what is the purpose of your visit"? by the receptionist, who will then decide if you need to see a doctor or a nurse. I would appreciate any comments or views on this matter.

[welshlibranr]

atlanta, good for you!.......they are not doctors!......sadly they seem to think that they are!..........

[EvianBaby]

To those of you who would be rude enough to speak to a receptionist like that, have you considered that they are obligated to ask you?

Just because you think you need to see a doctor it doesn't mean you do. In fact I've often found doctors asking for the opinions of nurses, or just handing you over to them straight away. The receptionist may not be medically trained but she will no doubt have a better idea of which person is best suited to treat certain ailments than you or me. And if she gets it wrong, so what, they'll just pop you over to the right office.

[bednobs]

lol you obviously forgot to read my subtext jeza "the vast majority of people are stupid" .... except for all abers of course :)
as i said before it's great that abers know who they need to see when, however, most people do not, and have a complete lack of common sense when it comes to medical things. They see the GP on a friday at 9 am, because they always see the GP on friday at 9 am. You only have to look on the medical questions on here and see things like "you've had a temperature for 2 days? OMG, you must go to A an d E immediately" "baby hasn't pooed for 3 days? OMG, call an ambulance, take them to a and e never mind it's 10 o clock at night on a sunday in the middle of winter and they are asleep" to realise people don't have a scooby about what might constitute an "emergency" just like they have no clue what a practice nurse can do, what a gp can do and the difference between the 2. We went to the on call GP at the weekend because my baby wasn't very well (needed antibiotics) and the doctor we saw said that he'd seen 9 children already that day with colds that he just told the parents to take them home, give them calpol and fluids. 9 people!
don't get me started on the newspaper reports you read about people that have called am ambulance because they sprained their ankle or whatever. Even that 24 hours in a and e programme the other day, someone went into "one of the busiest emergency departments in the world" because they'd hurt their toe 2 weeks previously. Even the doctor said "why didn't you go to the GP"

[bednobs]

and i get that receptionists are not medically trained, but the things that people go to the GP for aren't that varied really (infections, skin problems, hurty legs/knees/arms, pain, depression, sick notes) They see the same things every day, whereas with luck, individuals don't go to the GP every day

[whiskeryron]

I would agree with a lot of ABers that the receptionist can direct patients in the right direction if you tell them your particular details, the only problem is when you present yourself to reception you are usually in a queue with the next patient directly behind you so there is no privacy at all. I doubt that any surgery or health practice would spend the money in order to provide a booth for patients to speak confidentially to a receptionist. So on principal I would not discuss my reason for being there to a receptionist. They are there to arrange for me to see a doctor or nurse of my choice. I well recall some years ago when I reported sick from work I was asked by a receptionist what my problem was & I replied ' That is between my doctor & me'. I was congratulated by another patient who said 'good for you, it's time someone said what you just have, & we had a bit of privacy'. The next patient said to the receptionist I want to see the doctor about my 13 year old daughter, 'what's wrong with her' asked the receptionist, the woman replied ' she's having trouble with her periods'. The guy next to me & I looked at each other & he said 'what's the point of sticking to your principles ?.

WR.

[boxtops]

I'm going to be a bit of a pedant just because it's annoying me

Medically trained - means "trained to be a doctor" i.e. a "medic"
Clinically trained - means (in this context) "trained as a nurse or HCA"

Receptionists aren't doctors or nurses so have neither medical nor clinical training - but as I've said before, they will have a surgery protocol to work to, they are not being nosey or obstructive, they are trying to offer the patient the most appropriate member of surgery staff to help them at that appointment.

There's a notice in most surgeries that reception staff don't have to put up with rude patients, and some of your answers are rude. They can't help what their job descriptions require them to do.

[carless]

Thank you all for your varied responses, which i have read with interest. I is quiet clear there is a very wide level of service between surgeries. I am pleased to hear some of you are quite happy with the treatment by doctors, nurses and receptionists. I am don't wish to complain about all the service I receive, but I am not happy that it can (and mostly does) take at least an hour to make a phone appointment on the day. you can only phone at 8am on the day to make a appointment,if you miss you repeat the same the following day.The receptionist on this day almost argued with me when I would not see a nurse as this was a follow up appointment for which I needed to see the doctor, which i eventually did. I arrived at the surgery on time and was kept waiting one hour, followed by another fifteen minutes waiting for my prescription at the chemist. I am not stupid, and when I need to see a doctor I do not need a receptionist to decide otherwise. I am quite happy to see a nurse if that is what suitable for my medical prob some of the

[Barmaid]

I once had to produce a sample for my doctor and was told to give it to his receptionist. On presenting the sample to his receptionist she said (with horror) "did the doctor ask you to do that?". "No" I responded, "I always give a pot of piss to people I've just met".

[happyone2]

I have read all these posts .......... and i am absolutely appalled at the rudeness of some of you !!! the receptionist is only trying to help everyone get the best service possible and there is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION for being rude to him/her.

You may disagree at being asked, that is your perogative......but really do you have to be so condescending, rude and arrogant to that person who is after all only doing their job as best they can.

some of you should be ashamed at your attitude and would ask you to consider if you would want to be talked to in that manner yourself