Just maybe if people did not get abused so much then they would not need to put the defences up. Sure some of them start of as little Hitlers but most people with this attitude are made that way.
Doctor receptionists **** me off
- Thread starter Neil79
- Start date
Just maybe if people did not get abused so much then they would not need to put the defences up. Sure some of them start of as little Hitlers but most people with this attitude are made that way.
1) Regardless, swearing never helps.
2) If the conversation ran as he posted, then it strikes me that he didn't make his point particularly clear regarding why he couldn't call tomorrow or whatever.
There is just no point in getting angry with the receptionists. If you do have an issue then pop into the surgery and talk about it. We don’t have this call on the day nonsense, just call during surgery hours and usually have an appointment within 2/3 days.
Well if they are the custodians of someone you want to get access to then unfortunately they are.
Yes i like that
It's the I'm always better than you attitude
Always people with some form of power over others
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My local Doctors you have to ring up on the day as well but they have gone one step further before you can make an appointment. The Dr rings you back. It's stupid as hell, most people have hardly enough time to make an appointment and then have to get a phone call off the Dr when at work to get an appointment.
I remember calling our Health Centre to get a repeat prescription, snotty lady answered the phone and said "ring the prescriptions line on xxxxx xxxxxx" then put the phone down on me, I rang the prescriptions line and she answered it and said "there's no-one here to take your prescription" and put the phone down again! It's hardly surprising they get swore at.
At the surgery I used to do admin/IT work for their policy was half the appointments for any day can be made in advance and half are reserved for on the day (ie can be made after 8.30am). I'm pretty sure some of the on-the day ones were reserved for serious problems.
There's no point in shouting at her if that's their policy.
There's no point in shouting at her if that's their policy.
Our GP surgery just recently fired someone by doing that. If that was at our place, the receptionist would just note down when you want the appointment and on the day just input it and then phone you up. Some GP's in our town are really bad.
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I know the feeling. GP receptionists are sour witches and this whole call on the day thing is only fair enough if you have the whole day to sit around and wait on your appointment which could land at any time. There is options for advanced booking but they only give you a time between 8-9am.
I never realised these call on the day requirements were for 100% of appointments. Must be hell at that kind of surgery 
My Doc's requires you to call on the day for an urgent appointment. Otherwise you can book in advance over the phone or using the EMIS online booking system. You normally see a doc in 2 or 3 days.
EMIS is great, it lists all the Doctors/Nurses and their available slots then lets you pick which you'd like. Just logged in now and it is offering appointments all the way through to 24th June.
You can also request repeat prescriptions through EMIS though I don't have any so have never tested that part of the system.
My Doc's requires you to call on the day for an urgent appointment. Otherwise you can book in advance over the phone or using the EMIS online booking system. You normally see a doc in 2 or 3 days.
EMIS is great, it lists all the Doctors/Nurses and their available slots then lets you pick which you'd like. Just logged in now and it is offering appointments all the way through to 24th June.
You can also request repeat prescriptions through EMIS though I don't have any so have never tested that part of the system.
The whole thing sucks to be honest.
My Wife does not keep well and sees several Doctors in different departments at our local hospital on a regular basis and also our GP on a regular basis and what really annoys me is when we see our GP he will say "OK, come back and see me again in 10 days and we will see what effect xyz is having".
You go to reception and ask for an appointment in 10 day to be told "nothing available - phone on the day". When I point out that the DOCTOR wants us back in 10 days it makes no difference at all and it usually takes a fair bit of dogmatic discussion to get the appointment booked.
The majority, but not all receptionists, seem to think they are above the patient and taking things to the Practice Manager makes no difference at all. I have even been told by mine on one occasion that they (the Manager) has overall authority on the clerical side (appointments etc) regardless of what the Doctors say despite the fact that they work for the Doctors!
And why do receptionists need to know the nature of my illness before they will book an appointment? On the rare occasion that I go the docs when I phone for an appointment (which has to be on the day because you cant get one ahead!) they demand to know why I need an appointment.
My Wife does not keep well and sees several Doctors in different departments at our local hospital on a regular basis and also our GP on a regular basis and what really annoys me is when we see our GP he will say "OK, come back and see me again in 10 days and we will see what effect xyz is having".
You go to reception and ask for an appointment in 10 day to be told "nothing available - phone on the day". When I point out that the DOCTOR wants us back in 10 days it makes no difference at all and it usually takes a fair bit of dogmatic discussion to get the appointment booked.
The majority, but not all receptionists, seem to think they are above the patient and taking things to the Practice Manager makes no difference at all. I have even been told by mine on one occasion that they (the Manager) has overall authority on the clerical side (appointments etc) regardless of what the Doctors say despite the fact that they work for the Doctors!
And why do receptionists need to know the nature of my illness before they will book an appointment? On the rare occasion that I go the docs when I phone for an appointment (which has to be on the day because you cant get one ahead!) they demand to know why I need an appointment.
My girlfriend in livi has to phone at 8.30am too. It's a ridiculous system and should be abolished immediately. 
Neil, it's a pita but if you can let the school know in advance (think you've done this) that tomorrow your sister/s won't be coming in and phone the doctor at 8.25am constantly. Should work.
Neil, it's a pita but if you can let the school know in advance (think you've done this) that tomorrow your sister/s won't be coming in and phone the doctor at 8.25am constantly. Should work.