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, 1 reply)

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)