The receptionist at my last doctor's surgery wouldn't let me book an appointment over the counter.
"But I was passing," I insisted.

She shuffled her papers and refused. No way. Appointments had to be booked by phone. So I pulled my mobile out, stood there making the call, and booked an appointment.

Is this normal?
(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:07, 11 replies)

Given that you're the third person to relate this fascinating tale
I'm going to guess 'yes'.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:08, closed)

Apologies, I was unaware of that

(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:10, closed)

Leave him alone, He's just told you he's not well.

( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:10, closed)

I'm a woman, and I'm fine right now :)

(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:11, closed)

Think that kind of thing is normally done at the hospital rather than the GP's place, unless he's got some fantastic facilities on site.

( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:14, closed)

Well, it was that same receptionist who answered the phone
Ah hell, I'm bored with this already...
(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:17, closed)

Not very professional, something like "Good morning Pier Street Medical Centre" would be more reassuring

( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:19, closed)

But that would have been weird, it was nowhere near Pier Street.

( Ghoti Fingers, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 20:23, closed)

I don't think it is normal.
I just think that the sort of people who post on this website, are the sort of people that receptionists like to take the piss out of.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 21:51, closed)

Dr's receptionists are trained not to laugh at mongs

(Galahad is out of his gourd on yellow bentines, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 22:59, closed)

I once tried to buy a packet of Marlboroughs from some shitty local pub as I was passing.
They had a machine, but it was kept behind the bar, so you had to request the barman to operate it for you. Now this was the kind of place where they all stopped and stared the moment anyone new entered; the barman wasn't going to allow me use of the machine for without buying a drink.

I didn't want a drink, and I was in a hurry, so instead offered up £10 for a £5 packet. This was not accepted. Eventually I simply bought "1 of whatever this gentleman is drinking, and the cigarettes" for £7 in total.

Baffling.
(eViLegion Chief Commissioner of the Scottish Lunacy Board, Thu 27 Mar 2014, 22:28, closed)