I posted a while ago about my fatigue and how i was struggling with my long shifts in my job (retail) and i spoke to my manager but it sort of felt like she wasnt understanding the difference between fatigue and just being tired, ive been calling my doctor all week to ask for a note just to breifly explain it to give my manager just to prove im not being lazy by asking for earlier short shifts over xmas, had an absolute nightmare trying to get in with them the receptionist just kept saying she will call you i told them what it was for and waited for the call had no call all week until i got a message today saying the doctor has wrote me a note and it will cost £10 i said ok and went ro collect it thinkig how on earth could she write me a note without speaking to me or seeing me to ask what it was for, i opened it and it basically just said emma has had RA since 2012, so the receptionist has told her i need a letter sayin i have RA for a new employee yet i never said anything about it being for a new job to tell them i had RA so as you can imagine i was a bit angry i had laid £10 for something that i didnt ask for i rung them again and explained and again they said the doctor would ring me, she finally calls back and end of day i explained that i had been given a note that was no use as it wasnt what i asked for and i said i told the receptionists all week i needed an appointment as it would have been easier to explain face to face she said she will do a new one and it will cost i said do i have to pay again even tho i payed this morning for the one that will basically go in the bin as its not what i asked for and if they had just given me an appointment all this wouldnt be happening, she wasnt happy at all that i said that and wasnt happy that i asked to not pay again she was like other doctors wouldnt do it but i will but she said it in a really arsy way and said im too busy now to do it it will have to wait till after the weekend. I felt really guilty and felt i had been a pain even tho i had been trying since monday to get it for wheb my manager is back should i feel guilty? Am i in the wrong?
Fatigue update: I posted a while ago about my fatigue... - NRAS
Fatigue update
The heck you are wrong. It, in my experience, is not unusual to come across a health professional that is not familiar with all aspects of RA. And, clearly receptionists are a law unto themselves as the old sweeping generalisations go!
I printed off several of the leaflets from the NRAS and gave them to my line manager and HR manager.
It has worked and they do try and put me on Jobs I can do with ease during a flare up. It may pay to be a little creative with how you inform managers.
Best of luck.
Yeah my manager aint too bad she helps when she can just sometimes it seems they think im milking it, i dont ever ask for help this is only time iv asked just for the xmas period when its gets very busy and hectic. Thank you
I think people do find it difficult to understand the condition because often they have no visual reference point. Even some members of extended family find it hard to relate and not think we are just making excuses. They even laugh at my home made super thick handles on a knife and fork so I can still eat when my hands muck about.
Nope! Grumpy receptionist. Someone once said that guilt is like 'splashing in a puddle', without the fun. It gets you nowhere and you have nothing to feel guilty about anyway. Fatigue is really hard to explain, but your GP should be able to back you up.
Yeah shes doing a note to back me up but it was her ( the doctor) who got mad because i said i had already paid for a letter that wasnt what i asked for so didnt agree with having to pay again, she got really arsy with me when i said it
Sorry, my eyes meet in the middle with the screen sometimes! Its the Dr who was grumpy then. Probably tired. try not to take it personally.
I feel your pain. I have stopped telling the receptionist what I want to see the doctor for . I say no it’s private and need to see the doctor. They seem so unhelpful at times. The leaflet tip is good,I will use that one. I you feel up again soon. Xx
Goof for you to stand up for yourself! I-hope you get the right one soon.
I don’t know what School of Management they send medical receptionists to but it’s certainly not Henley where I did my MBA! I think they distance learn with the Donald Trump school of etiquette. My practice is just the same - I still don’t know if this front of house firewall they put there is endorsed by the GPs or an over zealous Practice Manager who think they are medically trained. As for work, I did horrendous shifts in IT for 8 more years after being diagnosed - initially I printed off a load of detail about RA and handed it to my immediate line manager; he glanced at it, threw it into the bin and said ‘I haven’t got time to read this crap, if you can’t be here 100% of the time then I’ll find a Shift Manager that can’. Oh the caring/sharing face of the huge multinational Bank HSBC! He did actually get disciplined and put in charge of paper clips supply and demand but it took 8 years.
Haha karma came to bite him then. Ive been trying ages to get out of retail so i didnt have to though all this hassle but i just keep geting declined before an interview thats why i was trying to get a note for the xmas period as no ones ato feel like crap at that time just hope the note will work asi know printing off info will just be like what yours did she will give ot a quick look at then shove it to once side
Emma, when I can't get past the receptionists I often send an email to my GP. I think all surgery staff are under terrible pressure to just get through the day and get through as many patients as possible, so don't have time to really listen to a detailed request that's a bit 'outside the box'.
If I need the GP to write any kind of supporting letter, I set out exactly what I need it to say and why (almost drafting it for her) so that in five quiet minutes at the end of the day she or someone else can practically cut and paste it.
If receptionists won't let you email GP direct, then I suggest you email the Practice Manager to explain what happened before and why you don't want to pay twice for something that was wrong the first time, through no fault of your own.
Good luck X
Oh dear. So sorry to hear about your problems with the surgery. You are not in the wrong. But it sounds like the Dr and the receptionist are both struggling with their work load too. They could be kinder though. At least you’ve got the correct note now. Hopefully you get the shifts you need over Christmas. Try not to worry. Have a good weekend. Best wishes.
Hello Emma, no I don’t think you’re wrong to feel like that. Our doctors are exactly the same! Sometimes the worse part about dealing with my daughters jia is not the condition but the receptionists and sometimes doctors attitudes!
In the past I’ve had to say ‘ I’ll wait here to the end of the day if needed’ to get things sorted. And I sit and wait/hover/make a general nuisance of myself. They don’t like it but I don’t mind that.
The hospital on the other hand are amazing, efficient and guess what - we have a lovely relationship! Don’t feel guilty.
It’s not you 😘
Thank you, i always feel guilty at things i shouldnt im terrible for it, i deffo wasnt going to pay another ten pounds for a description on the note i never asked for. Im the same my doctors at the hospital and nurse who does my bloods are amazing and so lovely but my gp can be arsy at times when she speaks. Thanks for your reply 😊X
To me you don't sound wrong, it sounds like the receptionists fault ! How about printing out the employers guide for you manager/HR dept. from the NRAS website nras.org.uk/publications/wh...
This might help explain to your manager its free too......... along with your letter from the Doc when you get it.
If I need letters I ask to speak to my Drs Secretary who is very helpful.
NRAS have s very good book on fatigue that you can request from them.
Good luck with your manager x
No you are not in the wrong. It might be worth speaking with the practice manager really the proposed double charge and the difficulty in getting a letter that meets your needs.
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