Really upset by GP's receptionist attitude

Sawsage2
Yes, I agree, an overreaction, .

JackyB

Do you really have to make separate appointments for the 2 vaccinations?

Here in Germany we are all now getting ours and you are allocated the 2 dates from the start. If you can't make the first one, the 2nd one is also cancelled and you have to register again and are given 2 new dates.

Not sure what happens if you can't make the 2nd date for some reason, though.

In England it depended. We had parallel systems - one centred on mass hubs ( like race courses, cathedrals, other large venues ) where appointments were booked online and generally both vaccines booked at same time. The other main system were GP hubs - groups of GP practices came together and one was the location. Generally appts were booked separately in this system. To complicate matters, some GP hubs used the mass hubs so at my local mass hub( a racecourse) one part was mass online hub and other part was GP hub.There were also other variations eg in Notts there was an alternative online booking system and they didn’t use the main NHS hub. Overall it worked absolutely brilliantly with very few problems especially given the huge numbers. Can’t speak for S, W, NI

Do you really have to make separate appointments for the 2 vaccinations?

Here in Germany we are all now getting ours and you are allocated the 2 dates from the start. If you can't make the first one, the 2nd one is also cancelled and you have to register again and are given 2 new dates.

Not sure what happens if you can't make the 2nd date for some reason, though.

the receptionists at my medical centre are behaving like little Hitlers, not even bothering to come to the window, just sitting on their stool and we have to shout to them about the problem we have with the rest of the patients in the car park listening, it is disgusting and totally out of order

Since March 2020 I have hardly left my home except for medical appointments. Right from the first lockdown our GP practice made it very clear that we should not arrive early for appointments because of social distancing within the building. We were asked to arrive on time and press the buzzer to be admitted to the building. It works well.
If the OP had waited outside until the actual time of her physio appointment then buzzed, instead of buzzing 5 minutes early, her experience may have been better. Just saying.

Maybee, Mamo, LibbyR, Folkstone78, SassieAnnie, and any other GP staff on here. Well done, I know you’ve had a hard time during the last year, and thank you for speaking out. We all know there are a few difficult receptionists, but the majority are not difficult, and all have been working under tremendous pressure this last year. The poster who said that GP surgeries are empty is both rude and totally uninformed. That poster clearly knows nothing whatsoever about what’s been happening in GP surgeries over the last year and a half. Just a little information then, GPs appointments in March 2021 were up by 15% on March 2020 and up by 8% on appointments in March 2019. This information is available online. It is published by the BMA. Who organises all those extra appointments and the massive vaccination programme? It’s the GP receptionists. We should be thanking them for all their hard work which has contributed towards the successful roll out of the vaccines.

OP. I think you may have over-reacted to the receptionist. Just forget it.

I honestly don’t know what the hell you’re talking about....

Like I said MayBee70 I wouldn’t take offence at anything that didn’t apply, which included my saying about “bad/good existing” If you re- read my post you will find there is nothing between the lines, but it appears the lines at your end, are blurred. Have a cuppa, there’s a lot worse happening in the world I hear, I’m milk no sugar.... another wee saying “ I’m sweet enough”

Not only did I stand up to unpleasant receptionists but I also stood up to a horrible doctor who made my job very difficult because I stood up for the patients. It almost broke me but I took it as far as I could but got nowhere. It almost broke me. How dare you imply that I did nothing. I put my heart and soul into that job and, as I’ve pointed out, only two patients in that time contacted the practice manager to praise me.

I have to add MayBee70, if as you say you have worked with some bad ones, then that obviously does not include yourself. I also wouldn’t take offence to anything I didn’t feel I was guilty of or party to. I have a saying though “bad exists, when good people do nothing”

Maybee, but when you consider they are at their place if work, so they’re job is to be “professional” whilst the patients are the people who are “unwell” be it physically or mentally... then I think people who are “unwell” are not always themselves, be it they are in pain or anguish, so there should be no excuse for a receptionist to treat anyone like they are a nuisance, regardless of how busy and rushed off their feet ( or fingers) booking in appts etc.

Some of them maybe. I have worked with receptionists that are horrible. But this branding of all doctors receptionists being nasty is very upsetting. A lot of patients can be horrible too.

Oh dear! I’m not going to be very popular.... so just another normal day then for me ?.
YOU weren’t wrong to be polite enough to let them know the first date for your jab wasn’t suitable, as this was an option on the letter. YOU weren’t wrong for turning up on time for your appt, YOU weren’t wrong for checking if their link was working ok and asking for their advice..Civility costs nothing, but it’s obviously not something this receptionist has taken advantage of in her manner. CRY!!! no... I wouldn’t have cried.... I would have gone off like a rocket ?. Overworked, tired etc... all excuses, the surgeries have been or are almost empty, seems to me they’ve got used to not having many people around.... so I think you were right.... some of them no longer see us as “patients” but nuisances.

Mamo a thumbs up from me! We are of course all extremely polite all the time, aren't we? But we aren't, and we don't know what else had happened to the receptionist, do we?

Also working in a GP surgery, we find that many patients are incredibly inpatient (!) and rude!

Well said Folkestone78
Its the receptionists job to be professional and also kind....There are no excuses for reducing someone to tears
Absolutely, especially during this pandemic. People who actually manage to get an appt to come to the surgery are stressed enough.

GrandmaTrisha if you don't complain to the Practice Manager then this behaviour goes unchecked and will continue.
The receptionist may have been having a bad day but she sure as hell managed to ruin yours

It's horrible. I never actually believed any of the support for NHS staff but this sort of confirms it.

MayBee70 Wish there was a ‘like” button for your last post!!

Yes, well said Mamo. I was a doctors receptionist for many years and along with most of my colleagues did my job to the best of my ability and really cared about our patients. Yes, some receptionists are horrible and I’ve worked with a few but the vitriol in this thread is quite upsetting.

I am aGP receptionist. It sounds as though maybe she had forgotten you were outside ( easily done as we are all human) but I think it would have been right that she take time to apologise to you and the physio for the error. No matter what your query with the vaccine or what your plans were , it’s the receptionists job to be professional and also kind. I wouldn’t blame you if you decide to raise it with the practice manager there is no excuse for reducing someone to tears .

Well said Mamo. Let's hear it for GP receptionists everywhere: "THANK YOU". (But bearing in mind that this is life, and there are therefore sure to be a few rotten apples in every barrel.)

I think I’d print off your post, and send it to your doctor with a complaint letter. This is unacceptable and I’m sure the doctors are unaware of her attitude. X

Doctors receptionists sometimes think they're the Doctor.. Anyway suggest you go on government site and book independent of the surgery. Sorry you're upset..

There is no excuse to be rude.....but I would not of wanted to do her job throughout this pandemic. So much stress for ALL NHS staff, whether a hospital or GP practice. Maybe she was just having a bad day.