The Student Room Group

Why do gp receptionists ask what im booking urgent appoinments for ( i am a young car

So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor's time?
Original post by Anonymous
So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor's time?


They don’t think your wasting time, they only ask this because even thought you have a family doctor, if he/she isn’t available and it’s urgent then they need to fit you in with a doctor that specialises with what is wrong. I noticed this as well when I have went to book urgent appointments because i am also quite young at 17, and I asked why they want to know and they just kind of explained it to me. I hope this makes sense! I’m not the best with exposing things x
they've always asked me that and even my parents, I think it's just to make sure it really is absolutely urgent because they only have limited appointments
Reply 3
Original post by Anonymous
So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor's time?

It's nothing personal. I worked in a GP Surgery for a bit and numerous people phone up asking for an urgent appointments. It's really just understand what the issue is and seeing what can be done/is right. Sometimes it may be better to forward you to 111/local walk in or an ambulance.. or for a large number of people they don't actually need one urgently and they just hope saying that cheats the system per se because they want it and they want it now (putting people like you in a difficult position) :smile:
I highly doubt it's intended as something disrespectful, since it's an urgent appointment they probably need to prioritise the appointments to those that need it most, as well as deciding the best cause of action for the patient.
Original post by Anonymous
So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor's time?

It sounds like you are very stressed at the moment and this is making you take this too personally.

They ask this question to help them triage and decide whether you really do need an urgent appointment or whether you need to see someone other than your GP (e.g. if you need to go straight to hospital, or if it's something that you simply need a prescription for without needing to see a doctor). They are not asking you because you sound young or because they think you are wasting their time, they are just making sure that people who need to see a doctor urgently are actually getting appointments. The receptionists are not being nosy, they are trained to ask these questions. If it is something that hasn't happened before, it might be that your surgery has only just moved to this system.

To answer your question about your mum's blood pressure, it's only just above normal.

I would encourage you to speak to your GP about getting some support for yourself because it sounds like you are struggling with being your mum's carer.
(edited 4 years ago)
Reply 6
Original post by Anonymous
So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor's time?


Yes it has happened to me. I refused to explain anything medical to the receptionist. I told her that it is my right to privacy and the gp agreed with me.
They do it to make sure you actually need an urgent appointment as these appointments are very limited. Could be 30 urgent appointments a day for a catchment of 10,000 patients. They want to check you actually require a same day appointment or if they can book you in for a normal appointment at a later date, or even signpost you to a more appropriate place for care such as the pharmacy, dentist or an urgent care centre. Try not to worry about it, they will do it for everyone.
"I'd like to be seen before everyone else"

"Why?"

"How dare you!"
Reply 9
Original post by 8472
It's nothing personal. I worked in a GP Surgery for a bit and numerous people phone up asking for an urgent appointments. It's really just understand what the issue is and seeing what can be done/is right. Sometimes it may be better to forward you to 111/local walk in or an ambulance.. or for a large number of people they don't actually need one urgently and they just hope saying that cheats the system per se because they want it and they want it now (putting people like you in a difficult position) :smile:

Yeah I do understand that but it gets me angry when they things like 'she was seen earlier why did you not mention the issue then'. Well she was not experiencing the problem then and is now hence I am trying to get an appointment.
Original post by mgi
Yes it has happened to me. I refused to explain anything medical to the receptionist. I told her that it is my right to privacy and the gp agreed with mWas ie.


Ooh okay. Was it like an embarssing issue or you just didnt want to say what it was. I feel like if I say that the doctor will qusetion me and tell me off as its not a embarssing issue and it looks like im just being petty
Reply 11
Original post by Anonymous
Ooh okay. Was it like an embarssing issue or you just didnt want to say what it was. I feel like if I say that the doctor will qusetion me and tell me off as its not a embarssing issue and it looks like im just being petty

Your gp can tell you off for simply get medical advice and he has a duty of vare to be confidential and private about your medical details or problems. And you do not have to explain any of this to a receptionist, especially when you consider that they are not medically qualified dictors!
I was embarrassed by the receptionist having the cheek to try and assess my medical details when all i wanted was a gp to do it, not a receptionist!
They ask this so that they know how long the appointment is going to be, depending what you need you might need longer with the doctor so book you more appointment time with them.

Original post by Anonymous
So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor
Reply 13
Original post by Anonymous
So I am 19 and care for my mum who has numerous issues. When I book an urgent appointment the receptionist asks me what its for which I find highly disrespectful. I sound young and I feel like she asks me because she thinks im going to waste time etc. Once we had an appointment and then a week later I called in to book another and that was the first time she asked and said she was already seen then etc. I felt so upset that I wanted to cry. Its so stressful to take care of my mum and its scary when your mums sick and you want her to be seen but the stupud receptionist wants to be nosy and make your request invalid.When serious things arise I feel on the edge having to book urgent appointments now. Why should I have to explain myself?
Now my mums blood pressure medication is not seem to be working and it is up to 150/90 and I am not sure if this is urgent or not, I feel like even if I book a reg appointment she will ask why because she just had one. But I should not have to explain why, does it look like I go there for fun or that my mum loves to become ill or something?
This happened recently and I told her the issue which was a chest infection. Btw my mum is a known patient to them and she has been one for more than 10 years.

Does this happen to you ?
Do you think they ask because they think im there to waste the doctor's time?


Receptionist have to ask what it’s regarding to get you booked with the right clinician. You don’t always need to see a GP and a Nurse Practitioner can be just as useful. I’ve always been asked what my appointment is regarding.

The receptionists are basically triaging calls when they take them.

Especially, now when they’re limiting who comes in and out of the practice for infection concerns. They also wouldn’t make someone come in if they thought it was too risky.

It’s not a personal thing or being ‘nosy’. It’s their job.
(edited 3 years ago)
Reply 14
It’s perfectly normal for them to ask you’re what your booking for because you may need to see a doctor or nurse or would like to see your own GP ect.

Some receptionists have asked me a number of judgmental questions before allowing me to book an appointment in some cases almost refusing to book me in for a regular appointment I have. However, this is the minority but some are just like but that. It doesn’t seem like that’s what’s happening here but keep in mind as it’s an emergency appointment they will always want to know what it is as it’s an emergency.

Under normal circumstances they are not entitled or required to note any private information such as your age to book you in. That’s just a nosey receptionist and you just have to deal with them sometimes. Asking why you’re booking is kinda normal though.