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Oooer, a telling off - from the doctor's receptionist

Tabbyjoolz

Well-Known Member
Messages
556
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Cruelty, bigotry
Dear me! A reminder on my calendar flashed up this afternoon to make an appointment with the diabetes nurse for a couple of weeks' time (six weeks after my diagnosis). Because I was told to do so.

So, like a good girl, I rang the doctor's to be told by the receptionist that I MUST have tablets because my blood glucose is too high and that I MUST see the diabetes specialist doctor and not Nice Doctor, who I have seen twice now and is very encouraging.

I stopped her in the middle of reading the riot act to me and said I'd leave it for now.

I don't know whether to be furious or to find it funny, in a farcical sort of way!

Ah well, I've got my diabetes education day to look forward to on 18 October - thankfully not at my GP practice. Whoohoo!
 

I would make a formal complaint about the receptionist, it's not her job to tell you what or if you need medication and certainly illegal I would have thought.
 
@CarbsRok - I'm considering changing doctors altogether as my recent experiences with them - even before my diagnosis - have been terrible.
 
I'd like to change my practice, but the other surgery have their books closed to local transfers now. Although my practice nurse is lovely, the Dr's are hit and miss.
 

That would have been like a red rag to a bull to me. Fortunately I have the best receptionist in the world but if she was like yours I too would take evasive action.
 
There used to be one good receptionist at my GP surgery, but she left. The three there now don't seem to have a clue. They certainly don't tell me anything like that.
I used to know a GP receptionist and they are low paid so I don't expect too much from them, except for making the appointments to see the practice nurse. I make the appointment to see GP online.
 
The online services are such a relief!
- no waiting for half an hour for the phone to pick up
- no engaged tone
- no endless unhelpful answerphone
- no phone line being down (it often is)
- no pushing to get an appt in the next 6 months while the receptionist guards her emergency stash of appts like a mother hen her chicks...
Thank heaven for technology, eh?
 
We used to have an on-line service but they closed it because too many patients were making appointments! Now we have to ring, tell the receptionist why we need to see the doctor, who rings us back about 2 weeks later and decides whether we need to be seen or not. I had a reminder letter and when I rung asking for a blood test the first question was 'who told you you needed a blood test' grrr! Needless to say my practice has been classed as 'inadequate' after the latest QDC report!
 
I've decided to stay with this practice until after my next Hba1c (due November) and will insist on seeing Nice Doctor to discuss the results. I'll sign up for making online appointments too in the meantime and I am composing my letter of complaint to the practice manager.

I may well go back to my old practice- the receptionists there may be rude there too, but at least they don't try and tell you what to do. The doctors are all good and the practice nurse is lovely.
 
Don't know why me need doctors nor why it takes years of learning to become qualified,doctors receptionist have 10 to 15 minutes training and are then medically qualified to make medical decisions,haha
 
I have never had a problem with the receptionists at my practise. It has two surgeries in
adjoining villages and quite a few receptionists who alternate between the two and I have never a problem with any of them they are always really nice certainly never rude and really helpful in giving an appointment with our doctor of choice
 
When someone I knew tried to get an appointment for her brother on 2nd Jan (England NHS|) she was told it was only for emergencies. Receptionist told it WAS an emergency and the receptionist wanted to know what was wrong. The receptionist was told it was against patient confidentiality to discuss patients! Friend's brother did get an appointment after a lot of discussion and it was found he was almost blind, total kidney failure and undiagnosed diabetes type 2, along with glucoma and other bad conditions. Emergency case, yes I would say so!
 
You could also try getting online access to your test results etc.
........By April 2016, online patient records should include coded information on medication, allergies, illnesses, immunisations and test results.......
 
Hi @Tabbyjoolz. You might consider making a formal complaint with the practice manager. The receptionist has no right and isn't qualified to comment on your medical needs. Over the last few months we had a number of complaints against our old GP practice and we did let our feelings be known. Interestingly this resulted in a written apology from the senior partner at the practice!

Even if you do change GPs, your complaint could pave the way for better treatment for other diabetics seeking out advice from their DN or GP.
 
I would write the practice manager a nicely worded, highly disguised sarcastic (not too sarcastic, just on the edge of type of letter) and tell him/her you are unhappy with the receptionist. What business of hers is it if you see the doc for an ingrown toenail or diabetes! NONE!!!

I am going to have to sign up for online appointments! Heaven help them if they ask why I want to see the doc!
 
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