Doctor's receptionists
Been referred-to already as thin-lipped, lemon-sucking, gossiping witches (I may have embellished), but I am strongly inclined to agree.

What is it about doctor's receptionists that they think I want to discuss and divulge my medical history with them, rather than a doctor or nurse? As far as I'm concerned, they're there to book appointments, and fuck-all else.

Recent examples;

- I phoned the surgery to get the results of my 2 year-old daughter's blood test, to see if she has cancer. I had to take the news from the fucking receptionist, even though I asked to speak to my GP. Thankfully the results were negative, but she couldn't - obviously - explain what the results did mean, and I eventually received a call back from my GP to discuss. Bitch.

- When my wife was pregnant, she needed an appointment for a foo-foo related matter. The bitch on reception wanted my wife to discuss in great detail, precisely what the matter was. I explained that I'd rather discuss it with a triage nurse and would she kindly crack on with making the tea.

- I had to phone the surgery for my recent post-snip wankathon results, to be told my results by the fucking tea-lady.

When did answering the phones, filing and making the tea qualify overweight gossip-mongerers to make medical diagnoses?
(Tighthead, Fri 28 May 2010, 9:55, 15 replies)

*Click*
simply for the phrase 'foo-foo related matter'...
(ifonly, Fri 28 May 2010, 10:02, closed)

click
I clicked for 'kindly crack on with making the tea.'
(teebie jeebie, Fri 28 May 2010, 10:15, closed)

*Click*
For "post-snip wankathon".

I've had a few pre-pregnancy wankathons meself, on one occasion driving an HGV into the fertility clinic car park, rushing inside and knocking one out before the optimum implantation widow closed.

She's fourteen, btw.
(all my scars face forward possesses 2.5% of a hyperalloy combat chassis, Fri 28 May 2010, 10:17, closed)

A fourteen year old widow?

( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Fri 28 May 2010, 11:25, closed)

Pressure wank
You can't beat it. Can I knock one out before the lights go green/she wakes up/she shuts her mouth/the window cleaner sees etc?
(Tighthead, Sat 29 May 2010, 19:54, closed)

Interesting point
The receptionist (In England at least) does not need to know any of your details in order to make a regular appointment.

If you need an emergency appointment you can provide some details but since they are (normally) not medically trained, *do not need to be told*.

So in future if a receptionist should say that they "need" to know, inform them that they don't and if they keep on it's complaint time baby.
(Helo, Fri 28 May 2010, 11:38, closed)

agreeing with the sentiment here
When they've asked me in the past what the purpose of my visit was, I've just replied "thats what I intend to discuss with the doctor" and left it at that.

If it means I get seen sooner than 'next week' I probably would be blatantly upfront, particularly with the foofoo stuff.
I don't think there's triage here

I had blood results back from the receptionist when I phoned for them, It puts my mind at rest rather than waiting for the GP to ring, I have no problem with this, as everything seems to be on the same computer system anyway. I'm sure there's some confidentiality agreement they have to sign, surely. And I'm impatient mostly

But I hear you, with your daughters results, and other 'sensitive' information should probably have some restriction on who can report back on these.
(maggotriddendirtbox fast, feral and sharp as a tack since, Fri 28 May 2010, 11:52, closed)

It never bothered me if they asked why i was there.
Until I went to get my pregnancy test results.
My BF sat in the reception while I went in to see the GP.
Came out and told BF I wasnt pregnant and he told me he already knew.
Seems the minute the door closed behind me, receptionist beckoned him over and told him.
Formal complaint made and from then on they can mind their own bloody business.
(insomniac-surfer oh go on then, just this once, Fri 28 May 2010, 12:48, closed)

damn
what was the outcome of the formal complaint?
(jonny_power boom chika wah wow, Fri 28 May 2010, 13:26, closed)

A verbal reprimand
I changed surgery shortly after
(insomniac-surfer oh go on then, just this once, Fri 28 May 2010, 13:53, closed)

You mean your daughter may have had cancer and you phoned up to get results. What a cunt ;)
(snarf81, Fri 28 May 2010, 16:53, closed)

I know it's not as personal as being given the good news face-to-face, but I couldn't be fucked walking the 200 yards to the surgery. It was raining, and I'm fat.

Funnily enough "what a cunt" is also what the doctor said when my wife eventually got an appointment for her foo-foo to be examined. Well I never.
(Tighthead, Sat 29 May 2010, 19:45, closed)

Many years ago, when I was 8 months pregnant with my son I started to bleed. Rang the surgery, was told by the receptionist, who after being told what the problem was asked me if I thought it was an emergency. When I told her yes, she said that I should come down for an emergency appointment that afternoon at 5 (I'd rung them at 11 am). I told her I couldnt drive in that condition, so she suggested I walk down. I told her not to be so stupid and to put me through to the doctor. She said she'd put me on his list to be rung later that day and some unspecified time. I told her again to put me through to the doctor. She said she couldn't because he was with a patient. I told her again to put me through to the doctor. She snottily told me she'd speak to the doctor herself and ask him if he would be able to speak to me. After about 30 seconds the doctor was on the line to me, telling me not to panic, to sit down and rest and that he'd be with me in a few minutes. Sure enough about 10 mins later there he was. After an examination he called an ambulance and I was taken to hospital where I remained for about 10 days. Gave birth to my son a couple of weeks later.

The same receptionist expected me and my two chicken poxed children to sit around in a waiting room full of the Thursday afternoon anti-natalers waiting for an emergency appointment to deal with the chicken pox. Doctor wasn't best pleased with her when I told him. (In fact, when I saw the surgery was full of pregnant women we waited outside - the receptionist obviously thought I was a little touched by the looks she was giving me)

My current surgery has an answering machine message that tells every caller at any time of the day you call that "our receptionists are all busy at the moment" and yet when I actually attend there, they're all gossiping and drinking tea.
(Freakmandu, Sat 29 May 2010, 0:58, closed)

It doesn't help that one of the receptionists is also the mum of a guy I went to school with. I'm sure she shares the details of my numerous medical appointments with the kids over Sunday lunch (God help them).
(Tighthead, Sat 29 May 2010, 19:47, closed)

Glad your daughter's OK
but what was the receptionist doing with that info? Doesn't doctor/ patient confidentiality exist anymore?
My recent trip to the doc's involved the receptionist saying "you're looking a lot happier saddo, that venlafaxin works a treat doesn't it? I couldn't even think of a response.
(Sadarse works like Mist condensing mud flaps, Sat 29 May 2010, 23:50, closed)