If doctors receptionists and health centre receptionists were in charge of us getting the Covid vaccination i doubt we would ever get it,many of them are so full of their own self importance that they reduce me to a blithering wreck.
IT Takes 15 years for someone to train to be a doctor, and 15 minutes for a receptionist to think they are one.?
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In my experience this is very true. Well said.
Hi I agree some get real stroppy and try and fob you off and hate it when have to go and look something up I needed a form and they said we can't post anything out I said email me it I couldn't do the typing on it was too small it never even came I had to ring again and another receptionist was nicer she sent me it I ended up getting it printed off and took it to the surgery I could tell other things as well ☹️😊xxx
Whilst I do agree in part with you it's not receptionists who are suddenly deciding to ask about medical issues with patients but the instructions they receive from the doctors and practise manager. I assume this is because doctors are short staffed and trying to keep the appointments as low as possible.
I used to work on the phones at a contact centre and the number of callers who thought I made the rules always astounded me!
I've been very lucky with mine. They are so helpful and always contact me if I need any health checks.
We got text messages saying don't ring up about the vaccine we will let you know xx
We had a GP for the last 20 years before he retired, he was very king to all of his patients, his reception staff and the surgery Nurse were all friendly and helpfulll.... but since the old GP retired, it took three weeks to get an appointment( even before covid) with the new doctor, he cant get you in and out of his surgery quick enough.
His reception staff are all little Hitlers, they want to know whats wrong with me if I phone, I ask if they are a doctor, they say no,I Say, mind your own business!
I give them a general idea just to help them with the booking.
Sometimes it helps to give the receptionist some indication what the problem is - one said:"It will be three weeks... is it serious?" I said:
"I think they normally take chest pain seriously."
...and I was seeing my doctor-of-choice within hours.
Unfortunately, she is off work - with cancer.
At the surgery I am at now the receptionists are really nice but at one I was with previously some of them there were very rude.
Just after I had had blood clots in my lungs out of the blue I had received a call off the doctors and was rudely told how the nurse wanted to see me!
It wasn't the check up in itself that upset me as the nurse herself was nice but the rude way I was spoken to and how it was managed.
The final straw with that place came when they had refused to issue my medication as I was due a check up.
If they had put a note on the prescription in good time asking me to sort out an appointment I would have done so without difficulty but thats not on leaving patients without medication.
The pharmacist had rung the surgery up and had demanded that they give me the medication and they did back down and give me that months worth but at that point I was fed up with the place so I changed surgeries and the one I am at now can't do enough for me.
Hear hear! x
Lol secrets22. I'm split two ways. Because I once was a GP receptionist. But I've also really suffered in their hands. I recently changed surgeries and while the GPs are 100% better, the receptionists are 100% worse. I recently complained to a friend about their collective attitude, which is a sort of malicious unspoken pleasure when they are able to deny you some little thing which, (what a joke), you thought, as a patient, might have been afforded you.I do understand, having done the job, that they are the coal face of the surgery and are the spokespersons for the GPs, but it's the way in which some of them choose to be that spokesperson.
I always took great pleasure in being able to help someone, and it paid dividends. Our patients showed their appreciation in many different ways. We got so many sweets and luxury biscuits at Christmas that we'd always still be eating them in March.
Then this is what happened one year. Mr X came in and said. "Hi girls, nearly Christmas now, and don't you worry, I'll see you right". (He was a market trader of the Del Boy variety).
Just before Christmas Mr X turned up with a van. "Ere girls 'av you got a trolley".
"What for?" asked my colleague.
"I've brought yer Christmas gifts" he replied.
She walked outside to investigate. He'd opened the back of the van and there were crates and crates of booze inside. She took fright at the quantity and dashed inside to ask the Practice Manager if we should accept such a generous gift"
"Get the stuff inside fast" she hissed and it was all hands to the pumps to bring it in.
Later we divided it up and staggered home with enough drinks to stock a pub, and had what was probably one of our merriest Christmases ever! 🤣
Have to say mine are lovely, but it is only a small local practice with 2.5 doctors.
Depends who answered the phone but I am sickly polite and act slightly dumb . I ask where the nearest drop in centre is or sound astounded - what 3 weeks - oh maybe I need to phone 111 and inform them you are struggling or suggest I just go to A and E . It is puzzling that they seem to have that little book tucked away with somebody else’s clinic appointments in it that they have forgotten about . Then they get so much praise from me for their efforts . A weird game .
Dear secrets22,
Yes, there ARE, some 'Like That'😬. We, myself and my Mother, managed to 'Befriend' one once.... Amazing, NOTHING was 'Too Much Trouble'! Not always easy, I know that!.... Well Worth A Try Though.
I managed a similar 'Trick', with one of the 'Snooty' Volunteers, at one of my 'Clubs' (Pre Covid, of course). A 'Sympathetic Ear', when she had hurt herself (quite a Nasty gash actually) and she was Completely Different. "Good Morning J...." I'd say "Oh yes, sorry erm, Good Morning Andrew. How are you?" (she always was a 'flutter' until she had had a Cuppa).
I'm NOT 'blaming' you, by Any means, but perhaps a Smile- even a forced (painted) one- CAN sometimes Help. She CAN'T 'read' your thoughts, you know.....
I'm aware, that Covid, Hasn't 'Helped' at all! But 'Hang In There' secrets22, my friend.
AndrewT
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At last I can get out.
Can I have some suggestions with what tests to ask for please 
even doctors working in the 'new' corona virus units