Why are GP receptionists always so rude?

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GP receptionists, I really can't stand them. They're all old, power-hungry female battle-axes that seem to delight in being over bureaucratic, inefficient power mongers. For example:

(1) Two years ago I developed hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland) a chronic condition requiring lifelong medication. The symptoms are forgetfulness, tiredness and profuse sweating that disappear once your TSH levels are in the normal range. When I went to pick up my first prescription I got treated appallingly. I felt tired, frustrated, soaked in sweat and, unfortunately, lost my temper with the receptionist when she hadn't processed my prescription. But did she understand? Did she heck. I just got banned from the surgery and forced to change doctors. Their excuse? A zero tolerance policy for 'abusing' staff. I wouldn't have minded if I had threatening or assaulted this receptionist but this incident wasn't even close!

It was unprofessional beyond belief...

(2) A blood test at a health centre. In reception the battle-axe that booked me in, after ignoring me on arrival whilst continuing to chat to her friend, treated me, and other patients to 10 minutes of lively 'entertainment' listening to her on the phone, shrieking and guffawing at the top of her voice with laughter. It was unprofessional beyond belief and all patients (one holding her head in pain) just gave each other disapproving glances.

(3) My new surgery booked me for a blood test by phone. Arrived on the due date and was told to wait in the blood test reception. I did - for an hour. When the nurse never called me in I returned to main reception and the same receptionist dismissively told me that they don't do blood tests on Tuesdays. I told them I had got my dates right, but she didn't believe me. No apology, no explanation about why she'd checked her computer, saw my name and told me to wait in the first place. Just a surly PC attitude that suggested that I'd put her out for daring to question her on her incompetence.

So, there you go - GP receptionists, I detest them.

By: Pat

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Lozza

I agree totally. They are not even needed now a days we can book online and get our results ourselves

22/02 Lozza

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Whycomplaining?

Hi, if I may I don t believe it to be a matter of age for receptionists. Maybe simply put the NHS is still unaware that stress causes inflammation and is the n.1 killer and next time they update their resources there will be an improvement in the way UK gp receptionists treat gp patients. Or worse they are aware of it but we are too many. Let's not forget that for the last 15 years according to the news the UK Government had to use taxpayers money to help everybody outside the UK (with war, mRNA jabs, weapons, space exploration you name it ) and the result is that if you are sick in London you can pray then wait to see if you survived it or accept to be given maybe the wrong medications because public health in the UK is still waiting for funding, pay rises and 6000 gps added. The rife tax avoidance has dramatically reduced the money available for public services and this has resulted in about 85000 deaths for poverty over the last year only. Then there was Brexit, a necessary move because the UK was submerged with immigrants to a point that nobody understood English and they had to pay for interpreters. Interpreters have been the highest cost in the UK over the last 20 years so they decided that the selfemployed in the UK do not have right to a minimum wage so public services interpreters (who are predominantly foreigners and have to be selfemployed by contract) can be paid £3 per hour as key workers because anyway AI will soon replace them in public health. When I read the newspapers my stress levels soar and I think that this 15-years-Government had to go the extra mile to keep the UK from falling apart in such unfortunate circumstances. It s all okay we have to be 'patient patients' and if we make it that s good.

11/11/23 Whycomplaining?

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Fuckthenhs

I can't agree more not just the repeated broken promises from NHS receptionist but also it is not normal to constantly have to wait a few weeks while told constantly they will phone back for results and they don't. Similarly with a blood test this nurse hasn't a clue why was there and another doctor couldn't understand english and didn't know english body parts. So unprofestional when they deliberable given wrong numbers and cause unncessary stress. A big joke full of maligant naracissts with poor people skills.

13/07/23 Fuckthenhs

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elsie m j

Seems were all in the same boat of being rudely spoken to darnt say a word out of turn. regardless of what age you are or how ill you are or what worry you have . They Wont batter an eyelid nor give you a millimetre of empathy. They dont eye contact you nor ever say please. thank you or goodbye or even a Hello may i help you. its yes what do you want. there impudent to unbelievable measures Ive been in tears myself at my senior age of 70+ I at my age still wouldnt dream of ever speaking to someone in the manner they do
. I darnt go alone because of and when i go my heart skips a beat in fact i end up stuttering or my Husband speaks for me and No I havent dementia I just feel that intimidated as I know theres nothing i can do to get 1 over them or ill be accused of Abuse lol yet what the hell are they giving us. plus just hid aside of her i know there is someone else sat there and they both wink and snigger at one another if a patient gets angry. I have great Grandchildren whom have never spoken to me in the manner these little bits of shits do ( beg your pardons ) Can someone tell me how do we all who are experiencing same do about it. I dont wear there overworked. Manners Compassion for elderly and sick people cost nothing In my last employment I worked solo amongst elderly folk days when I was tired. But never a day I didnt speak with care and respect for them . It needs stopping Now wo the hell do they think they are

20/05/23 elsie m j

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Trevvy

My wife has been sent to go outside our area because after years of our GP receptionists thinking they are doctors, speaking down to her and asking her to send pictures of a private place for which later the doctor apologised she finally snapped and swore at a receptionist that just wasn't listening then she caught her slagging her off to another patient.and they remove my wife and report her to the police absolute joke

02/03/23 Trevvy

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Jethro

@ Truth teller, They more than likely think the same of you.

18/10/22 Jethro

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Truth teller

NHS receptionists are c**ts

16/10/22 Truth teller

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Cross 75 Yr old

Not on your own. The treatment I had on Saturday past. Waited in queue outside for 3rd vivid. Told her I had no paper invite that I had been texted. Her scorn was awful. Then she proceeded to tell me that I would have something to worry about if I had the problem of the man she was booking in just in front of me. He was using a wheelie aid. I informed her that I to had one but it was to heavy for a bus and to heavy for a taxi boot. I also told her I was walking on a fracture. Again I was scorned this time also by patient who she compared my luck to and a battle axe of someone behind me. I have written to the line manager and the gp. How dare she. I was in pain but still had taxied to the surgery. I will not let this matter go. I consider her a worthless addition to the surgery. They need retrained or fired.

07/11/21 Cross 75 Yr old

1

Roy B

Hi, You are so right,I have left my Doctor because of the reception staff, we the staff and I always manage to have a shouting match, result she put the phone down on me.

31/08/21 Roy B

0

Another one

If you want to give the receptionists some grief, request a copy of your records, they often don't know your legal entitlementvto a copy, check out the privacy legislation in your country/state. If they refuse you can complain to the statutory body that deals with privacy complaints. If you feel the records are inaccurate you can request a correction or to have your comments alongside their notes. Always write concisely and professionally. Never give them anything they can use against you. Always be polite and calm to make it hard for them.
You can write a letter written to the owner/Principal of the practice informing him of his staffs behaviour. You have to write a letter to bypass the receptionists who act as gatekeepers between emails and phone calls to practice managers or owners.
Also leave a bad review that is your true opinion and experience. Other people probably have the same experience and your review will assure them that they aren't the problem it is in fact the staff at the clinic.
If any doctor is horrible to you, complain to the statutory body, nothing might happen, but the next time that dr gets a complaint it might be taken more seriously when a pattern of the doctors behaviour is established.
I think in the future all these nasty, arrogant doctors, nurses, receptionists will be replaced with robots. A robot can scan the data more thoroughly based on pathology results. Maybe a nurse could do the physical checks.

23/07/21 Another one

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Romy

It's worldwide like this. And receptionists of all ages. It's a power trip. They have a tiny bit of power so they use it to deal with their crappy job. I hate waiting in the waiting room for my appointment around sick people, imagine being there all day.

23/07/21 Romy

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Steve

Also it isn't only receptionists these days , too many NHS staff talk down to people and treat patients as idiots it seems that a few wonderful nurses are holding the whole NHS together

14/06/21 Steve

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Steve

I agree wholeheartedly with these comments it's just as I have experienced

14/06/21 Steve

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Steve

I've just changed my doctor's as the previous receptionists were extremely rude and aggressive and extremely unhelpful. I found that I didn't want to ask for repeat prescription or appointments.

14/06/21 Steve

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Pete

My GP practice has just amalgamated and become part of a larger "more efficient" group.
The receptionists in the old practice were very nice. Never superior, usually patient. However, the new lot must have passed NHS degree in nastiness. I finish the telephone call after trying to get contact with one of these moder mythical doctors, filled with anger. I am a retired professional person and object to being spoken down to. I really shouldn't have to discuss my problems with an unqualified telephone answered. The NHS IS REALLY SLIDING DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO PRIVATISATION!
Do we really want to ape the USA? If you don't have money then just move on and die, you are blocking the way for those who can pay.

27/01/21 Pete

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