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Nosey Receptionist....

20

Ok, dont know where to post this but, went to the Dr's today to book my appointment for a pill check and the Receptionist asked me what the appointment was for, so gave her a beat around the bush reply and she still wasnt interested so, their phone rang and she referred me to another receptionist and I basically then said ''Pill check''.

Now this is the 2nd time that they have got me to tell them information to which I didnt want to discuss with them - what would you do? tell them to buzz off or inform someone?

Reply 1

Viridis

10

If they ask, you just tell them to mind their own business :smile:

Reply 2

MentalSarcasm

Apparantly they have to do it to find out if you can go to the nurse rather than the doctor. However I do agree that it's rather impersonal and really none of their business.

I once went to get a Doc's appointment, receptionist said (very loudly with a big queue of people behind me) "IS FOR THE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE?", so I held my arm that was covered in eczema and went "NO IT'S BECAUSE THIS HURTS LIKE HELL."

Just say that you're not comfortable answering that question, doctor-patient confidentiality and all that.

Reply 3

Devil Bunny

They shouldnt ask you what the appointment is for.. its none of their business.

Reply 4

Renal

17

AIUI, they are tied by professional confidentiality, this is because they work with patient notes and patient details day in, day out.

The reason they want to know is twofold; one so that the person you're seeing has an idea of why you're seeing them, the second is so that you get streamed to the right person - if you're actually going for a pill check you should get an appointment with a practice nurse, if one is available.

Reply 5

username94219

OP

20

Devil Bunny

They shouldnt ask you what the appointment is for.. its none of their business.

Yea its what I thought - when i wanted to book an appointment the other week for a ''lady issue'' - she asked me a quick question which gave me no alternative but to say what the problem was and then she said ''that's not an emergency, therefore that can wait. I was like Ok!

Reply 6

Elles

17

They aren't asking to get kicks from knowing what might be wrong with you personally or recording you on candid camera whilst trying to make you squirm. :rolleyes:

They're doing their job. As Renal said - making sure patients see the most appropriate person & possibly giving them some advance indication of why, which is useful for preparation or admin of allocating double appointments or giving an emergency slot.
Increased efficiency of these things = more doctor time available (So many people should be seen by HCAs/Practice Nurses instead!) & decreased likelihood of clinics running so far behind = win win?

Just a polite but firm 'I'd rather not say' or something vaguer like 'medication review' if you're that sensitive. Sheesh.

Reply 7

Angelil

19

If you're mature enough to be on the pill then why would you be embarrassed about saying that's why you're there?

I agree with the replies above - they're not doing it to be a pain in the ass, they're doing it for a reason. As long as they're doing it sensitively then there's no need to complain.

If, however, they are being rude or insensitive then of course that's not right.

Reply 8

Renal

17

Next they'll be refusing med students. Ingrates! :wink:

Reply 9

prettygreeneyes99

9

I think they just ask so they know whether its a routine appointment i.e. like what you were going for... or something more sinister i.e. you think your legs falling off or something similar

Reply 10

username94219

OP

20

Angelil

If you're mature enough to be on the pill then why would you be embarrassed about saying that's why you're there?

I agree with the replies above - they're not doing it to be a pain in the ass, they're doing it for a reason. As long as they're doing it sensitively then there's no need to complain.

If, however, they are being rude or insensitive then of course that's not right].

Which is exactly what one of them done the first time i went for a different reason and today I was basically forced to say - I shouldn't be forced or have to give reason as to why I want to see a Dr/Nurse. Have been for a Pill check before and have never had to give reason as to why im asking for an appointment.

Reply 11

jointhedots

16

Devil Bunny

They shouldnt ask you what the appointment is for.. its none of their business.

Unless they're making sure that you get to see the right person, or get the earliest appointment available (maybe the nurse could deal with it rather than a doctor?), or that you're going to get a long enough appointment (say, if you want a smear test)...I've done a lot of reception work and we generally do have reasons for asking what seem to be irritating questions that don't include us actually caring one bit what's wrong with you this week :rolleyes:

*But yes, some are incredibly insensitive in doing so.

Reply 12

Vampyrcorn

14

They just do it to check that you need the doctor and not the nurse. They aren't being 'nosey', they're doing it so that people don't mess around having doctors appointments when they aren't necessary. If you're just there about the pill then I wouldn't be so worried if i were you.

If you're there about something sensitive - you're growing an extra penis, for example - then I'm sure you can say that it's a personal matter for the doctor and not something that the nurse can help you with.

At the health clinic I go to they have a list of all the things that the nurse helps you with pinned to the wall so that you can see whether it's a doctor you need or a nurse.

Reply 13

flump

The problem is other people can hear what is going on. It might be something personal that you don't want to discuss. I went one day as I thought I was having a miscarriage and I couldn't say what it was without crying, I was trying to keep it together and didn't want a debate or to breakdown in public.

Reply 14

Angelil

19

^^ Even if you had become upset, though, I'm sure other people in the surgery would have been supportive. They're not exactly going to point and laugh are they?

Reply 15

username94219

OP

20

Ok, can understand the aspect of them wanting to know so they can refer you to the right person but its there whole attitude to it all - they just werent at all bothered about other people behind me in the cue which i didnt like at all. Ok its only the Pill but still, its still something to which I didnt/dont want broadcasted in the reception area.

Reply 16

jointhedots

16

DancinBallerina

Ok, can understand the aspect of them wanting to know so they can refer you to the right person but its there whole attitude to it all - they just werent at all bothered about other people behind me in the cue which i didnt like at all. Ok its only the Pill but still, its still something to which I didnt/dont want broadcasted in the reception area.

I find leaning over the desk a bit and talking in a quiet voice tends to work in quieting them down too :smile:

Reply 17

flump

Angelil

^^ Even if you had become upset, though, I'm sure other people in the surgery would have been supportive. They're not exactly going to point and laugh are they?

No I didn't think they would laugh but I was feeling vulnerable and I wanted to hold it together, just a personal feeling about personal dignity in a public place. Perhaps I'm odd but I think in the circumstances I was entitled to have my feelings respected.

Reply 18

Dollaleigh

8

the receptionist in my dr surgery is just plain nosey sometimes and plain rude too. i went a couple of weeks ago to get a vaccination and she was like "WHY DO YOU WANT THAT?" which shocked me cos she practically yelled it at me, so i gave my reasons even though my doc had alreadysaid that i needed one and then the receptionist just gave me dirty looks. i swear its cos im a not an "adult" in her eyes cos im not like 40.

also, the receptionist always completely ignores me if i go to the doc which isnt that often cos im normally really healthy just got really low blood pressure. like i stand at the desk for like 15 mins while she has a chat in the back room and keeps coming back to get papers, coffee, cake etc while im waiting there to talk to her. gah its soooo annoying. ok thats my rant over lol

Reply 19

tourist

9

Same happened to me when I went into the surgery, they asked me what for, I said "about my contraceptive" and was referred to the contraceptive clinic.

They have a right to ask surely so that you can make the right appointment?

Nosey Receptionist....

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