159 comments Add a comment
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
Leave a comment
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.
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.
Plus they think they'll get away with it. Then they wonder why the antipathy: total mystery to them :) This page isn't big enough to contain the crap I put up with just taking my son to one single appointment, let alone my own encounters with them..
Some other patients though are not prepared to wait, Drs run over cos when a patient is in a consultation they may need along chat and they cant be rushed. You are dealing with human beings so it's very hard to get itr
Right.
After having my own experience with rude medical reception, I was indeed also noticing a good number of them (because of other similar experiences at other medical clinics) are very rude and condescending and often not very helpful or sympathetic, I started searching online for this matter, and it seems that many people are experiencing the same stuff.
I don't know why those people are the way they are. I assume it's because they're pathetic angry assholes, but also that they have a stressful life and job. Unlike decent people who have difficult lives, but still act respectfully, these receptionist are the kind of lowlifes that take out their misery on others.
However what you mentioned here: "I just got banned from the surgery and forced to change doctors. Their excuse? A zero tolerance policy for 'abusing' staff."
Gave me a possible clue as to why they act the way they do.
You see.. apart from being miserable and pathetic sack of shits, many of these receptionists have worked in their field long enough to know what kind of crap they can get away with.
They're schemers. They treat you like shit, and when you get mad and lose your temper, they act like victims and ban you using their "no abuse policy" as a means to protect themselves even though they were the ones who instigated the problem. Nothing but scheming scumbags who hide behind their policy to excuse their rude behaviour and blame the patients if you overreact in anger.
Cross 75 Yr old