Soldato
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It is the typical public sector "passive aggressive" attitude. It really grinds my gears.
Doctor receptionists **** me off
- Thread starter Neil79
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It is the typical public sector "passive aggressive" attitude. It really grinds my gears.
Errr, who were you swearing at then?
Apparently her, if i'd actually said **** you then i would've been swearing at her and the lovely lady might be right.
Nor should people in some form of power or in the health sector talk down to a person in a nasty tone who was originally being polite.
touche
I'd never swear at kids, this was an adult woman or not!
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Soldato
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Completely understand where you are coming from, I had not visited my GP for a few years but I was feeling quite unwell and wanted to see the GP and I encountered the same problem as the OP.
I made the phone call but couldn't get through as the line was permantley engaged, spent almost the whole day trying to get through and gave up on the idea of seeing my GP.
What I learned from a colleague was that if I called the 'Patient Advice and Liason Service' they would intervene and offer and get me to speak to someone at the practice. It worked !
OP - you really shouldn't have sworn at the receptionist, it doesn't help your cause at all.
I made the phone call but couldn't get through as the line was permantley engaged, spent almost the whole day trying to get through and gave up on the idea of seeing my GP.
What I learned from a colleague was that if I called the 'Patient Advice and Liason Service' they would intervene and offer and get me to speak to someone at the practice. It worked !
OP - you really shouldn't have sworn at the receptionist, it doesn't help your cause at all.
Soldato
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Our doctor's tried this policy and it was a nightmare.
Fortunatly, they have gone back to a sensible system again now where same day appointments are for urgent cases only but you can book ahead.
When they did have the "call at 8am for an appointment" policy, I found if you speak to the practice manager, you should find they are magically able to fit you in
Fortunatly, they have gone back to a sensible system again now where same day appointments are for urgent cases only but you can book ahead.
When they did have the "call at 8am for an appointment" policy, I found if you speak to the practice manager, you should find they are magically able to fit you in
He said he swore NOT at her, but out of frustration, and he didn't exactly shout '' **** SAKE YOU COW' down the phone, did he.
@spudbynight: Genuinely lold there.
@spudbynight: Genuinely lold there.
Sounds like he may as well have done; as someone said above they can be right mardy little Hitlers. You'd swear half of them had a medical degree the crap they ask and the way they talk to you.
That said, swearing in general won't have helped his cause. Persistence usually pays off more than frustration in this situation, but in the OP's position I'm sure he can be forgiven for losing his rag a bit.
e: Not that it helps the OP but our GP has the same system. I just called and asked for an appointment for my step-daughter and she said 'Of course; 9.45am'.
Soldato
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So many places have signs up saying they will push to prosecute for any aggression shown against staff. They would really help by training staff to not be so politely antagonistic.
And during a conversation between two people the other person is kind of going to assume you are swearing at them as they are the only other person in that conversation over a phone where the only form of communication is verbal.
I'd rather go to a NHS walk in clinic than try to see my doctor. Same reason as the OP really. The receptionists are rude, unhelpful and sarcastic.
We had a website for the local village which is where the doctors are. Someone posted about the receptionists on the forum and with a few days became the biggest topic. It had to be deleted as people started threatening them!
We had a website for the local village which is where the doctors are. Someone posted about the receptionists on the forum and with a few days became the biggest topic. It had to be deleted as people started threatening them!
Soldato
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Do you go to Mill Bank in Stafford? They have that scrolling on their display
Or maybe all surgeries have that display?As for my own surgery, Mill Bank in Stafford, you can generally book up to 4 weeks in advance, although if you want to book for today, you have to call around 8:30AM to book a morning appointment and they won't allow booking of afternoon appointments until after around 11AM.
Our doctors used to have this policy, it was magic.
The problem with being able to book up in advance is that OAPs were booking all the slots which meant that no one who had an urgent problem could get an appointment. The majority of the OAPs were turning up for a chat because they were lonely, and completely wasting the doctors time. Before I get shouted at for sweeping generalisations this is what the receptionists said when I spoke to them about it.
Now if I call up at 8am I only have to contend with the OAPs who actually bothered to come and wait outside.
The method I use at work to let them know (and this should work for school) is to tell them I am trying to get an appointment tomorrow and I will call in if I manage to get one, that way they know whats going on.
Edit: THey have moved to a 50% pre book and 50% on the day system now.
The problem with being able to book up in advance is that OAPs were booking all the slots which meant that no one who had an urgent problem could get an appointment. The majority of the OAPs were turning up for a chat because they were lonely, and completely wasting the doctors time. Before I get shouted at for sweeping generalisations this is what the receptionists said when I spoke to them about it.
Now if I call up at 8am I only have to contend with the OAPs who actually bothered to come and wait outside.
The method I use at work to let them know (and this should work for school) is to tell them I am trying to get an appointment tomorrow and I will call in if I manage to get one, that way they know whats going on.
Edit: THey have moved to a 50% pre book and 50% on the day system now.
That's very true and it's the same woman too, I've NEVER EVER got angry with my own receptionist. She is polite and says " Hello Neil " sometimes when i go down there. Makes me happy and i can sort things out, but this woman wouldn't give me the time of day as soon as i picked up the phone and said HI. A polite " If you phone tomorrow, we will do our upmost to get you an appointment " would've made a BIG difference.