And About Time Too, Doctors Receptionist

[trt]

My lot at my surgery need this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2946645/Stop-grumpy-patients-Training-doctors-receptionists.html

I am going to send this to the Practice Manager.

[tonyav]

I thought it ( grumpy ) was just a part of their job, trt.

[Prudie]

Like Equality and Diversity training it might tell them the right way to behave but will not change the way they think inside. Yes I know there are nice ones but an awful lot really do think patients are 'idiots' or low life.

[campbellking]

Equally, there are some very nice patients out there, but also ones who are happy to be extremely rude if they think it will get themselves preferential treatment.

[joeluke]

Doctors receptionists generally tend to be snotty impersonal ***, who think they are doing patients a favour rather than just doing the job they're paid to do

[DaisyNonna]

The receptionists at my GP's surgery are unfailingly polite and helpful

[trt]

What really annoys me is when they ask whats wrong with you, which is nothing to do with them, its the doctors question.

I just tell them its private, and get ready for the dirty look.

[mazie]

I think a lot of this is do to with the recruitment process...someone has to select them... I wonder what Criteria they use?

"You're a grumpy old sod and will keep the Patients away.. You're hire

I've been to the doctors 3 times in 7 years, so can't complain

[seadogg]

I thought they had to go on courses on "How to be a Dragon", unlike my private dentist's receptionists, who are lovely.

[bookbinder]

I can say the same as DaisyNonna; my GP's receptionists are always, always polite and helpful. I will hear nothing said against them. And the GP's are nice people, too.

[sherrardk]

Our GPs receptionists are very nice and efficient. Himself always gets an appointment really quickly (I think he's on some sort of 'see them quick' list), the kids always get same day appointments too. However, one of the doctors is absolutely horrible.

[237SJ]

You can`t turn an uncaring person into a caring person in 3 hours.

[Pete65]

The receptionists at my GP's surgery are excellent.
So are the doctors and nurses.
Very same at my dentist.
Too much mumping and moaning in the world!

[jno]

I have no trouble with receptionists - only with getting an appointment, but that's not their fault.

[Mamyalynne]

I am another who is very happy with all the staff at my practice, helpful, cheerful and very understanding-prompt appointments too and a good online service as well.

[ummmm]

I'm happy too and I'm also happy to tell them what's wrong. They don't want to know the minute details they want to know the urgency. The difference between getting an appointment that day or the next week.

Although I think that if you're in the surgery they should have a private window because some people don't want to be overheard. That's not the receptionists fault though.

The only time I've seen my doctor in the last 15 years is for contraception.

[jackthehat]

The Receptionists have to follow the instructions given to them by their employer, i.e. the GPs.

You may find them nosy, etc. but if they have been told to follow a particular method then they have to. It's as simple as that.

[trt]

## The Receptionists have to follow the instructions given to them by their employer, i.e. the GPs. ##

Wrong jack, its not the doctors its the Practice Manager.

[atalanta]

One woman at my doctor's surgery is a right cow, and enjoys annoying patients. She specialises in giving you appointments for weeks ahead. I found this out when the following exchange took place
Me: " I need an appointment with Dr A, if you wouldn't mind"
receptionist : "Thursday fortnight"
Me: "Dr A asked me to come back at the end of the treatment. Is there nothing before that ?"
Receptionist. "There's Wednesday week."
Me: "Dr A said to see her immediately I finished the treatment."
Receptionist: " Oh, alright, day after tomorrow, then."
Clearly there was a space, but she just didn't want to let me have it. It was not part of the emergency appointments arrangements - she just wanted to make me wait as long as possible.

[237SJ]

It doesn`t help that their systems are so ridiculous either. My mum has been given 14 days` worth of Letrozole (an anti estrogen drug for breast cancer) by the hospital with a copy to give to the GP for repeat prescriptions. Normally, the GP gives her a batch of presciptions which are held at the local chemist and we just get some more when we need them (for Ramipril and previous anti estrogen drugs). So the conversation was along the lines of
Me : I`ve been told to give you this for repeat prescriptions. We have 14 days worth but will need more after that. Will they just lodge them at the local chemist with her other ones?
Receptionist : No. The doctor needs to look at them and decide if she needs any more.
Me - She will need more which is why I`ve got to give you this
Receptionist : Yes but the doctor has to decide if she needs more and you will have to write a letter to the GP (give it 2 or 3 days) to get the next prescription.
Me - But the doctor doesn`t decide because it`s ongoing oncology treatment and it`s the hospital that decides which is why I`ve got to give you this
Receptionist - You can`t just ask for tablets. The doctor has to decide and he can`t just leave it with the chemist.
Me - But she`s been on anti estrogens before and they were on her repeat prescriptions with her blood pressure tablets.
Receptionist - She will have to write to the doctor and ask if she can have more tablets in t weeks.
Me - Well, she`s now got cancer in her liver and has months to live and I want to take her away on a last holiday and her tablets are going to run out while we are away so she will have to write a letter today to get more tablets.
Receptionist - Well, here`s a pen, write a note to the doctor and I will add it to the form.

I`m none the wiser. God knows how elderly people who have nobody to help them cope.

[jackthehat]

But you would agree that they get their instructions from a 'person in charge' then, trt?

As ever, the front-line staff get it in the neck when they are simply following the instructions given to them...