Hi has anyone else felt that some doctors receptionists are shielding doctors, firstly it’s a nightmare getting through to the surgery on the phone, secondly when you get through you get some rude receptionist saying you have to call at certain times to speak to doctor and you have to call back only to be put in a queue, and by the time you get through all appts have gone and you have to go through same process again it’s a nightmare. My surgery is 5 doors away from my house and it’s getting to the stage now that I don’t even want to call them .
To get to speak to a doctor now I’ve found it best to go through the e consult service online, at least you don’t have to speak to anyone and the doctor normally calls within 24 hr
It’s a joke at my surgery you have to deal with receptionist through a side window in all weathers no matter what age you are I’ve seen old ladies struggling to hand stuff through the window it’s a joke
It may sound like I’m a bit of a misery but in these times it’s frustrating when you need something or to talk to someone and people try to make it awkward for you
Not saying all surgeries are the same .
Mike
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Mickeyboy2020
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You don’t go to my surgery do you? My username gives away were I am but my surgery is run by a team of people who don’t reply to messages (at least not mine), only communicate through intercom or a window on a main road when you visit and have a pharmacy team who seem to think it’s their own personal drugs they’re handing out. Their website is also the most awful website I think I’ve ever seen.
And don’t get me started on the rumours about what they do with spare vaccines at the end of the day.
HiGot to agree mine aren’t any better.... 😐😬and the real problem is that this is going to be the norm now going forwards! Don’t think there will ever be face to face appts again..😱
Have to agree with all you say, my surgery gets 1.5 stars out of five and all reviews point to rude receptionists. I’ve had a problem with 1 receptionist and had to report her only to be told by the review panel that she will basically be a good girl in the future, ( it hasn’t made any difference) they protect their own, I know at least five people who are patients that have a problem with the same woman I’ve pointed this out on a few occasions now but only to fall on deaf ears
I had a call from pharmacist in surgery the other day about my prescription and it felt like I was being interrogated .
It must be really frustrating to have the hoops to jump through - hoops which probably change every time!
I suspect they aren't shielding doctors, just receptionists who think they run the place. Unfortunately some receptionists do seem to be like that - whereas many others are wonderful.
If I were you I'd use the e-consult thing if it works best for you. If it's more urgent just keep saying it's an urgent asthma issue in the hopes that works, then discuss with a doctor. But it must be really off-putting to have run the gauntlet each time.
Fortunately I have a brilliant surgery and the receptionists are great too - but I do know of others where it's very difficult. A lot of people blame covid but honestly I think a good, efficient surgery will make it work whatever the restrictions. A surgery that isn't very efficient will struggle covid or no covid.
It’s s not just covid connected. There have been similar posts to this on the forum before covid came along including one or two that were horrifying.
The receptionists at my local practice have been brilliant throughout this, but then they were always very good before. To be fair, I have been with that medical centre for over twenty five years now, so they know me quite well:-).
Oh yes that was my point - a lot of people blame covid and "phone appointments" but some places weren't the most helpful or well-organised before that. Glad you've got a good one too though!
No I can't say my doctors are shielding the GP's they got me an asthma review 2 days after I called up
I phoned up one day and said I've got a chest infection less than an hour later I got a gp on the phone who asked me to take my temp etc and sent prescription for steroids and antibiotics straight to the pharmacy
I never really wanted to be in the GP's office before covid but they didn't do econsult and phone consultations where in and then they where out (at least at my gp) ... so phoning up and getting an appointment was the only option
I think this way is better telephone is the primary option with face to face if they think its required as opposed to sitting in a GP's office and coming into contact with god knows what from other people who are there and also have something.... I teach my daughter to share but keep her germs to herself, however not everyone gets taught that and ive been in the doctors and people are coughing and sneezing all kinds of god knows what everywhere
Share your views. Recently I needed to replace my emergency steroids. So rather than take up a GP appt orbphonecall, asked could they ask the GP to reissue.
Was rudely told I can't choose my own medication.
Politely told them I was CEV and shielding due to my asthma, Nd was on the surgery at risk list.
Then was told well if I could find the letter from my respiratory team at the hospital and take a copy to the surgery they would see what they could do!
By this point I was frustrated, and Sked what qas the point of them having all my hospital letters on the system, and as I was shielding how would I get to leave it in.
They decided best I spoke to a GP, who then simply added it to my electronic reorder. When the GP started defending the receptionist, I pointed out that if they had simply checked the system they would have known more about me.
To be fair there is one excellent receptionist, but my heart sinks when it isn't her who answers the phone!
To be fair, if it wasn't on your repeats list, the receptionist probably wouldn't have been able to action it. However, clearly what she should have done was say she'd pass it on to a GP (the request) or just booked you a phone appointment with one straight away - rather than what she did do, which sounds less than helpful and a load of hassle you didn't need!
Hi , they have my meds on repeat, but if you use them up before Nxt due date they won’t have it Salbutamol as you know is as and when you need it
Pred on the advice of my consultant is upped and downed when it’s needed
So you tend to use more of these meds
As someone said earlier it’s almost like their giving you the stuff out of their own pockets. Been about a year now this has been happening and before never a problem
Unless government gave give instructions to keep prescriptions issued down
They’ve got to get some of these billions being spent somewhere
I get that. It was only one exam of the battle to be gone through.Its the system that has been in place for a number of years, and agredd by the GP rather than taki g up an appt in person or by phone.
Glad you got it sorted, we really know our own conditions sometimes better than the local gps and certainly not the receptionists Like you our surgery has a couple of good ones but it’s a lottery who you get, I’m getting anxious as soon as phone starts ringing, you’ve got to bite your tongue when you speak, the gps always defend them . The doctors are just as bad sometimes it’s a lottery who you get to see or talk to, some are brilliant ( mostly the young ones) the older ones are sometimes the worst . One at my surgery mis diagnosed something with me a long time ago and if it weren’t for me insisting I wouldn’t have been here today, hence I refuse to see him and he’s one of the senior partners there
Anyway keep plodding on and Stay safe, looks like we’re not the only ones who are having probs writhe the surgeries
My surgery is not much better. They have what I call 'cattle call.' Bascially at 8 AM you have to call in for an appointment. If you call in at 8:01 you are lucky to get a call back at 4 PM. Online it is booking for appoint for antenatal and blood tests. As for the receptionists, I keep it to the minimum and ask to speak to the GP.
Ok I’m going to wave a white flag here ....in my practice (and in many more) there are over 10,000 patients and maybe only 5/6 receptionists....we only have 6 full time doctors and 3 part time .....I myself have been in the same position as you but we are just 1 of let’s say maybe 200 people trying to get through that day xx
Fair comments but I’m a builder and have about 50 clients on and off, when I go to work in the morning doesn’t matter what mood I’m in I treat my customers with the utmost respect if I didn’t I wouldn’t get any more work from them It doesn’t take much to smile or be polite, as I’ve said before there’s enough misery in this world. End of the day it’s their job they chose to do it so they should do it to the best of their ability
I agree with you there.....I lot of people are using the COVID-19 virus as a excuse for there behaviour...I try to look at things from both sides ....I tried to talk to my doc before Christmas they open at 9 was on hold for 20 minutes then told no appointments left .....on the other side I know someone who was a doctors receptionist who took loads of abuse off people who couldn’t get a appointment.....even to the point of being threatened with a knife ...yes they did choose there job but they didn’t sign up for a pandemic....xx
My surgery to a T! Except the e consult, don't think they have that. Although if they did, they wouldn't want us to know about it! I have no faith in my surgery at all. My son has a terminal brain tumour that went undiagnosed due to no one would see him face to face.
It makes me so mad when they keep advising on tele that you must see your doctor if you have any concerns! Chance would be a fine thing. Obviously don't live in many people's world.
I am pleased for those that have good doctors, they are very lucky.
Don’t think you will get face to face, spoke to a doctor the other day about something and sent photos of which she looked at and within two hrs she called me and said she’d referred me to a specialist So can’t complain about that really
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Shielding
Surgery receptionists/doctors complaint
Shielding advice please 
