So Who Are These Receptionists Interrogating The Patients?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37605573
My doctors receptionist just books the appointment so are there some over reaching their brief?

[Sqad]

^^^,,A-H......good post.

[hereIam]

Don't agree, some are just naturally surly and unhelpful and I speak from experience.

[Bathsheba]

@ Andy, I just handed my notice in after 2 years ;)

Baths
x x x

[Baldric]

///The medical fraternity just love smart***..........it could have been a nurse/practice nurse who asked you///

Don't they normally wear a Uniform when at work?

[ummmm]

I think my doctors surgery have a good system. If you're booking a non urgent appointment you're just booked in, no questions asked. If you say it's urgent then they'll take details, if the patient gives them, and the doctor will phone you back in the afternoon. Then it's down to the doctor to decide how urgent it is.

The surgery is also open until 6.30 three days a week and 8 o/c two days and until midday on Saturdays. That's loads of extra appointments compared to my old surgery.

[ummmm]

Baldric - in my experience they always do.

[ToraToraTora]

I once accidentally volunteered information and what a *** storm that caused!

[Sqad]

Baldric and ummmm

\\\\so I responded "No, I always give a bottle of *** to someone when I first meet them". \\\

Perhaps a better reply might have answered your question, e.g "No it was a nurse."

[ummmm]

Oh...the way you worded it it sounded as if BM could have been talking to a nurse instead of a receptionist.

[Baldric]

Don't see how that ^^ addressed my question (should I take some Ibuprofen?)

[Baldric]

That was @ sqad ^^^

[dave50]

If hypochondriacs didnt clog up the surgery every day with a runny nose or a bit of a sore throat there might be enough time for the doctor to see people who are genuinely ill. Maybe it's time people were charged a fee to see their GP, it might get rid of the time wasters.

[Tashi]

It might also penalise the genuinely ill but poor, but then you had considered that, hadn't you?

[youngmafbog]

The DNA's are a big problem clogging up appointments. No receptionist interrogation will stop that a fee would though.

The problem with a fee is I would bet the majority of those causing the problem would be except anyway.

I dont have a problem with interrogation, my doctor has an online system and can usually get in same day so long as not fussy about who you see.

[dave50]

If something is free, it will always, always be abused.

[naomi24]

Tashi, My local surgery displays the number of missed appointments each month – quite substantial. I can’t help wondering just how sick those people really are. Charging them for making their next appointment wouldn’t reflect negatively on those who genuinely need to see a doctor and who do turn up for the appointments.

Back to the subject. Most receptionists I've come across are helpful - but some are rude, officious, and dismissive. I think the power goes to their heads.

[Tashi]

Naomi, we have the same system in place. Charging those who miss booked appointments makes sense.