Well finally got to see my gp and had my rant and rave about the receptionist and turns out the doctor wasn’t even shown my results.
Gp is fairly sure it’s pmr and started me on Pred and have to see him in a weeks time. Because I am only 55 he is also referring me to rheumatologist just in case it isn’t pmr and some other rheum condition. Will see how we go for the next week. Thanks to everyone for the support so far.
Good for you! I hope the surgery raises this in their critical incident discussion in their practice meetings, because they are supposed to.
"... only 55" - the guidellines say over 50...
Um - WHERE did the receptionist get her medical degree? They aren't supposed to hand out results that haven't been seen and approved. That is appalling - she could kill someone like that. I agree with Snazzy - and I would ask for comment from the critical incident group.
My surgery will not let the receptionist say anything to the patient about results until a GP has checked them first. I am sure this is the norm. It does sound like your receptionist is flouting rules that are important and should be hauled up for it. Hope things go well for you from now on.
I talk to receptionists about appointments and billing. Period.
I only discuss medical matters with qualified medical staff.
I insist they pass me along to the dr, physician's assistant or RN.
I don't want my personal information discussed at the front desk with an audience of patients in the waiting room listening in.
No doubt you have heard the jokes about that?
diabetes.co.uk/forum/thread...
is fairly innocuous. But in the responses there is (the lady claims) a true example that served the receptionist right...
That's really funny.
My problem is that I am quite well known in my neighborhood, and more likely than not, I know quite a few of the patients in the waiting room...or they know who I am even if I don't know who they are.
It's bad enough that my phone starts ringing or I start getting texts from friends and family asking "What's wrong? Why are you at the doctor's?" before I even get out of the waiting room to see the doctor. I don't need texts flying all over telling the world what's wrong with me...
I learned the hard way when a receptionist called me, confirmed that she was talking to me by asking my name, and I was getting a text before I got off the phone "Why did you have all those tests done?"
i want to see the training manual for medical receptionists ,it must read like a comedy sketch .''Now then ladies first you must treat the patient as if they are intruding on your day '' Then show them who is boss ,bristle with your own importance ,embarrass them in front of the other waiting victims .Once you are satisfied that you have them firmly in your sights ,ask then loudly why they are here and advise them that ,no matter how ill they are ,no appointment can be made for at least three weeks if that . Make them realise if they show subservience they may get an appointment ,Just may 
with a patronising smile .No promises mind !!!Then you can engage yourself with the screen of your computer while the queue grows in so doing .Make the rest of the waiting shufflers realise that YOU ARE IN CONTROL . Then my dear you will be a successful medical receptionist.
I have been a dragon reception for the last 20 years and believe me it’s the hardest job in the world,
The receptionist was wrong to give out results to the patient before a doctor had seen them, but you try finding a doctor to ask to check them if they didn’t ask for them pass the buck,
I’ve hAd a mum with a new baby threatening suicide when I’ve tried to put them through to the duty doc he said it’s 5 to 12 I finish at 12 give it to someone else there I am try to care for the lady while two doc fight over who should take the call! Or speaking on the phone to an elderly man who just found his wife dead in her bed while the que grows in the open plan reception area ,people muttering how much longer :or the day an elderly man died in reception and we had to explain we had to shut the doors so people didn’t step over him to get to there app but still got so much abuse Its a hard job thegods we work for don’t support us the pay was crap but to see the results when something goes well is worth all the abuse we get
I agree it’s a hard job but in our practice our receptionists are useless and think they are god. I worked for the nhs for 20 years as a solicitor in Complaints and Litigation and I spent a lot of time dealing with non medical staff who had over stepped the remit of their job. To be fair I have also spent more times than I would have liked in a coroners court with medical staff who’s actions had killed patients!!
I too have had people threatening to kill themselves on the phone to me and I have had to try and talk to them whilst trying to get others to get to them to prevent this. Not easy and not my job but you do the best you can. No job in the nhs which deals with patients is easy but some doctors receptionist do their reputation no good at all. Which is shame for all the good ones
Those doctors need to be reported to the critical incident team - and no, I accept you can't deal with the ignorant sods who don't respect others. No doubt they are the ones who also put rude notes on ambulances or complain they are blocking the way. But there really are some unacceptable practices on the part of receptionists too.
I’ve worked with GP receptionists for many years. I’ve witnessed on-the-ball staff be instrumental in saving people’s lives because they’ve noticed something not right in somebody. They get so much flack as they are the first public interface and have to deal with constant changes as per the latest dictat from on high. At Christmas the expensive bottles of booze always went to the doctors (we nurses got crappy biscuits) and they always took them over the counter graciously on the GP’s behalf. However, in every walk of life certain characters cause havoc and upset and need to be weeded out from these unsung but responsible positions.
I totally agree the bad ones make it hard for the good ones and that applies to the doctors as well. Having worked in nhs for 20 years I know the bad ones make headlines but the good never do. Unfortunately 99% of the receptionists at our practice fall in the bad ones
All jobs are hard. BUT Drs receptionists should learn not to look at patients with contempt after all they come to the surgery because they are not well and that place is the last resort. Remember receptionists it is we patients that keep you in a job. I worked for social care and one ethos was it is a last resort for many with problems so try and be and look compassionate.
I don, t abuse the receptionists. I am always polite but what I see my doctor about is between me and him. Not to be discussed in earshot of others in a queue. This was a bit of fun if you want me to take it down I will. Nothing personal.
I know it’s a hard job but to be honest my practice receptionists do think they are god and are next to useless when you want to see someone urgently. I worked for the nhs for 20 years in a non medical department (complaints and litigation) and spent a lot of my time dealing with non medical staff who had overstepped the remit of their job. To be fair I also ended up in a coroners court more times than I would like because trained medical staff had caused the death of patients. No one is perfect but doctors receptionist jobs do seem to attract the wrong type of person in a lot of practices.
Personally I don't think you have to take it down, what you say is true and made me smile but there is always good and bad in all walks of life. I used to manage reception staff in clinics and health centres and properly trained staff do do a good job. First port of call should be the practice manager to inform him/her how her staff are behaving before any tragedies occur. Giving health care receptionists the benefit of the doubt - what applies one day will not necessarily apply the next where prioritisation is concerned - it can take on a different stance each day depending on the circumstances and it takes experience and common sense to get there. Being bull headed is not on the list!
I think very little goes on in the surgery that the medical staff don’t know about. Before so many G.P.s worked part time I think that they were very involved in setting the standards of how patients were treated in reception.
Now they seem more interested in only working their contracted hours to the second. They are only too happy to allow receptionists make decisions about who is seen by them , and then pass the buck when the patient complains.
New GP
Enlightened GP practice!
Finally got a 'definitive' PMR diagnosis
Finally got “it” !
