Well pardon me I'm sure!

[dotster]

My GP has made a referral for an urgent ultrasound on my neck for a swelling, I was given a telephone number go call to sort an appointment. When I rang the appointments lady said that I didn't need to ring that they would be in touch, she also said there is a 12 week wait, I asked if that was for an urgent referral to which she replied 'we haven't decided it is urgent yet' I said I'm sorry but I thought that was a decision for my doctor to make!

[melville999]

it is now very scary that some,but not all folk in these positions have become little doctors in their own right.even more frightening that GPs are 'training up' receptionists to do more 'medical' things.I had argument with a receptionist 14 years ago as needed removal of the 31 staples down my tummy and she could only give appointment 28 days later......had to ask for staple remover and did it myself.i now see these 'little doctors' as a wee challenge.they are usually buracrats who are insecure so I try charm if I have the energy.but worth getting quite legal if you don't get anywhere.put it in writing with copy to Mr x Mr y and Dr z.they hate paper trails.but urgent is urgent and e mail head of their department etc.hope its sorted fast

[dotster in reply to melville999]

She was very snotty telling me its the technicians that decide lol don't worry ill make sure its done as should be little dictator, I bet the techs have told her they decide

[shaws Administrator]

Yes, your doctor has seen you and has decided it is Urgent not someone at the end of a phone.

[dotster in reply to shaws]

Absolutely don't worry I won't let it rest there

[Hidden]

my bitching about the receptionists is...and wait for that one!!

a fried of mine in her seventies broke her ankle very badly and needed plates to keep it staple. after a few days in hospital she was send home.

never felt well, 2 days at home she was in agony (she has a high tolerance of pain!) and feverish.

she rang the hospital, got the reception, explaint her pain and fever. she then was told by said receptionist to take some panadol and don't be so weak. two days after that the husband had to ring the ambulace to take her back to emergency. her doctor was angy with them because now she was in danger of dying from a very bad and wide spread staff infection.

she was in hospital for more than a half a year. the receptionist still works there and oriel got the blame for the bad infection. she was already a slim 70 year old and came out looking like death spat out!

always insist on talking to the doctor....not the receptionist! that is my lesson learned.

in australia we now have health nurses to take over a lot of the doctors job! i do not agree with that! not at all. it is harder and harder to get the help of a doctor..........no woder they feel like gods.. xx

[bluebug in reply to Hidden]

While you may not like health nurses some of whom are called nurse practitioners, I've suffered from a bad GP and without the intervention of one I would have been hospitalised.

Unfortunately some people working in the health industry regardless of what they do e.g. doctor, receptionist, nurse shouldn't be working in it.

[Hidden in reply to bluebug]

bluebug, I know they are not all bad. but you know the saying: " one bad apple" and some just cant see further than the written word and the regulations, who are never: one fits all!

i walked out on a health nurse and she warned me, that i can not ask for medical help if my back isn't getting better.... tuff. i told her my back is very bad since i am 13 years old ( now 66), i didnt get any help then, since then and i don't exept any help now. just needed pain meds! i can buy them over the counter....if the doctor is to royal to see me .

but yes i have also meet with the compassionate ones. and that makes all the difference. x

[SimonA87]

I have nothing but problems with the NHS, always putting their budget ahead of my welfare.

I am currently considering paying about £150 for an ultrasound privately.

[Hidden in reply to SimonA87]

i hought , that is a very good idea, as i had one 9 years ago and my gp is not fond of letting me have another one. just have to find out what it cost in australia, prob $200.

[Treepie]

A friend went for an X ray but the machine was broken, he had to go with his wife to another building where he noticed an X ray dept.and a technician looking for anyone to Xray. When told machine was broken on the main sight she was puzzled as to why folk were not being sent her way.

A typical NHS example of lousy management.

[serenfach]

My daughter rang her surgery to make an appointment for a blood test for her thyroid. The receptionist told her she could not as she had had a test only a few weeks previously. My daughter was a bit confused as it had been over a year and she had had a baby in that time! Turned out the receptionist could not tell 2016 from 2017, but it took quite a heated exchange to get that information. Then the receptionist would not give way. My daughter had been put on a higher level of thyroxine while pregnant and no one had bothered to test her months after giving birth. Receptionist then gave her an appointment in two months when my daughter knew they could do it earlier.

[silverfox7]

Just a comical ad lib! You remember recently a virus interfered with hospital computers? Well someone asked why surgery computers were not affected-well the virus couldn't get past the receptionist!!!!

Back to the initial query re urgent referal. I would, after pointing out it was urgent and getting nowhere entire a note to the Endo explaining you can't get an appointment sooner than that and hoped that was ok with him. Ok no. Urgent may be having to wait 6 months but is the Endo being told these things-I suspect not!

[dotster]

Its my gp that referred me and I'm ringing her Wednesday for my blood results if I haven't heard by then ill mention it. Its laughable

[shond2015]

In relation to all the above comments ...I would like to remind everyone....receptionists are the managers of GP/nurse appointments and not medical experts. If they ask why you want to see the doctor, my static reply is (in the most charming way of course) "are you medically trained? No...? Oh then I would prefer to discuss my issues with my GP." that soon shuts them up. They have no right to even ask what is wrong with you....but it always amuses me when I am in the surgery and I overhear patients at the desk, explaining in great detail, their ailments and pain issues with the receptionist...who..remember is not medically trained and in fact, next week could be serving you at a Morrisons counter!!