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Are your GP receptionists friendly?
PrincessEssex
Posts: 1,414 Forum Member
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Just called the Drs for an appt and it always amazes me how rude and uninterested they are. I know this is not an isolated surgery for it either. On the other side are there any GP receptionists here? Maybe you just have enough of patients on a daily basis but if that is the case surely you shouldn't be in a job with joe public.
What's everyones experiences?
What's everyones experiences?
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Having said that, the receptionists at the last two practices I've been a patient at have never been anything but friendly and helpful.
My favourite was, when ringing for an appointment, she said "Are you actually ill?" No, I was just ringing for a chat!!
I would say (especially in the winter) 30% arent sick they just have a cold or
various piddling ailments and waste the quacks time
when all they need to do is take a couple of paracetemal and wait a few days
about 60% of ailments are self limiting eg they get better all on there own
doctors dont tell you this of course as it gives a lie to the mythology of doctors project
They all are.
you've been to every GP's in the country then huh?
the receptionist at my GP's is lovely. they all are - they've always been really nice and friendly towards me whenever i've been - one of them probably pays more attention to me than the bloody GP herself does
If you've found every single one of them rude, here's a thought:
The problem is you.
She reckons she started off the job cheerful but due to the abuse she received after a month or two she had to develop tough skin in all the right places just to survive otherwise she would have had to leave. If an appointment isn't available for a few hours or days, or if the doctor hasn't signed off a repeat prescription yet it isn't the receptionist's fault however it seem like a lot of people treat them as if it is.
Not saying I think it's right or wrong but that's how it seems to be these days. Treat all 'customers' with suspicion regardless....
She is dangerous.
There was also one time that I checked-in for an appointment, but the receptionist didn't mark me as having arrived. My GP does usually run a bit late, but when he hadn't called me after 40 minutes I went up to the desk - I hadn't actually been checked-in, and if I'd waited a few minutes longer my GP would have been away home. But see trying to get the receptionist to accept it was her fault...I'd have been better off calling her kids ugly.
I've witnessed when I've been present in the reception, there are about 5 people working in there normally and they'll ignore the phone that has been constantly ringing for about 10 minutes.
- sometimes you can negotiate with a terrorist
The irony is that even one phone call was costing NHS Direct £7-9 apparently.
The problem with NHS Direct is that they're over-cautious and end up recommending too many people either call an ambulance or go to A&E causing A&E departments massive problems because they then have to deal with all these unnecessary referrals.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could talk to someone pitched at the right level in the first place. Someone like, I don't know, a GP