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Been told off by the receptionist!

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Rosiecarmel said:
My GP receptionist just told me off for using too many strips. Not my doctor. I was already at the surgery for a blood test so thought I might as well ask for a repeat for my test strips. All is fine until she gets my records up and goes "well you had 100 on the 14th November." I reply "well yeah, that was almost month ago and I'm having lots of hypos especially at night time." Thought that would be the end of it but instead she took it upon herself to tell me that I'm clearly not managing my diabetes well!! Like she knows anything about me. I was fuming. She said she'll ask the doctor but she's not promising it'll get done today and to ask on Tuesday. I honestly couldn't believe the way she spoke to me.

In happier news, my blood test was for my hba1c. My meter is telling me my 30 day average is 7.1. I'm actually rather excited to find out the results, after the year I've had. August a1c was 102 and this time I'm aiming for half that! I will keep you updated on Monday/Tuesday
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Well done on the numbers Rosie...shame about the upset and distress the receptionist caused you...I agree you should get it documented...whether a complaint to the practice manager...or a letter direct to the GP...you need to decide...two points here...1. any decision on what medication/equipment supplied is a matter for your GP...2. since this 'advice' ( I use the term loosely) given was by the receptionist I am assuming this was in a public area...if so...outrageous...you could ask your GP for clarification on whether such advice should be given by a receptionist (we all know the answer to that!)...and what authority she had to discuss your treatment & prescription needs at all...much less in a public area...believe that would make it clear you find her approach unacceptable...and should it occur again...a formal complaint would result...let us know what you decide...good luck.
 
Bubbsie said:
Well done on the numbers Rosie
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Yes - well done indeed Rosie! I was so inflamed at hearing about the receptionist I forgot to say how well you are doing now, and I'm sure you will show a great improvement when you get your latest results 🙂
 
Well done on the good control, Rosie!

I agree that a complaint is in order but wonder whether a conversation with the receptionist might be more fruitful than going immediately over her head. Of course it depends on her general demeanour, but I would rehearse what I was going to say first, along the lines of "last time I was here you told me ..... which made me feel ...... and on reflection I don't believe this was right" she then gets a right of reply, sees first hand the effect of her behaviour, and might be less resentful than if she hears third hand from her boss that a patient has complained. The boss might filter what they say to her, so she might just become more bolshy than ever!
 
Receptionists are a pain. I telephoned twice in one week, but very rare for me to phone at all. The first call was regarding appointments the second I was going to ask about an overnight blood pressure thing which after a number of years I still haven't had! She said you phoned before didn't you, we are very busy you know. Fine by me, won't be phoning again. Didn't fancy having it done anyway.
 
If that had been i would of just stood there and said "and you are Dr.....who? are you qualified to tell me i am not managing my diabetes" then i would of got pretty sarcastic and remind her that shes the receptionist there to answer the phone and book appointments so i can see a qualified Dr and not a wanna be Dr.

but thats just me 🙂

You need to complain about this
 
Surely one of the problems dealing with some receptionists is that some are a law unto themselves, some might believe that they are actually in charge and defending the doctor from all sorts of unreasonable requests from their patients. Sometimes just asking them a question gets them going even worse. The receptionists at my surgery are all pretty good although one can be a bit "sharp", Yet the other day when I was there to pick up some signed forms, she was as nice as pie, like she was my best friend.

It's why I suggest a letter asking for clarification, no need for it to complain, just ask what the situation is. She might even have been told that she was to be bring it up as an issue, not that she handled it very well.
 
i have had receptionist like this some have had me in tears, theres not enouth under standing in this world, i suggest you watch cathrine tates gran at the drs its so very true, and very funny
 
You are doing so well Rosie. Ignore the receptionist and carry on testing.

A letter to the Practice Manager would certainly be good.
She should not be attempting to make decisions about your care.

Let us know how you do.
 
Ditto said:
. . . . . . . we are very busy you know. Fine by me, won't be phoning again.
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So, she won! Desired effect achieved. You say "I was going to ask about an overnight blood pressure thing which after a number of years I still haven't had!" and then you say "Didn't fancy having it done anyway." Playing devils advocate and I'm not having a go or anything, but you wouldn't have phoned if didn't want it done.

Dealing with people by phone is obviously the easiest way to communicate, but when your enquiry is met with that sort of comment, there's a plan B. Make the request in writing, and send it registered so they have to sign for it and in the letter explain that if they're too busy to handle your telephone enquiries then you're happy to deal with them in writing, as it is not so urgent. They will hate that even more than the telephone call.

As a general observation I note that a lot of these "issues" seem to become confrontational and much angst is generated, possibly on both sides. I know a GP receptionist very well and some of the stories she tells me are quite alarming. It doesn't excuse any of their actions, but explains a lot.

Logically if somebody is telling you that they're too busy to deal with on the phone, don't take it personally, ask them how they want you to make the request.
 
Rosiecarmel said:
My GP receptionist just told me off for using too many strips. Not my doctor. I was already at the surgery for a blood test so thought I might as well ask for a repeat for my test strips. All is fine until she gets my records up and goes "well you had 100 on the 14th November." I reply "well yeah, that was almost month ago and I'm having lots of hypos especially at night time." Thought that would be the end of it but instead she took it upon herself to tell me that I'm clearly not managing my diabetes well!! Like she knows anything about me. I was fuming. She said she'll ask the doctor but she's not promising it'll get done today and to ask on Tuesday. I honestly couldn't believe the way she spoke to me.

In happier news, my blood test was for my hba1c. My meter is telling me my 30 day average is 7.1. I'm actually rather excited to find out the results, after the year I've had. August a1c was 102 and this time I'm aiming for half that! I will keep you updated on Monday/Tuesday
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Mini Hitler! When I was first dx, even the dental nurse at the surgery told me off for using too many strips 😱(there's a dentist at Asturian health centres). I'd never seen her in my life before! These are conversations we should be having with our GPs, etc. NOT with health centre staff in general: cleaners, dental nurses, receptionists, delivery staff, car park attendants, paramedics, medical reps, window cleaners...bug out!😛

Fingers crossed for the A1c, Rosie. Sounds like you deserve an award for your patience and hard work!🙄:D
 
Bloden said:
Mini Hitler! When I was first dx, even the dental nurse at the surgery told me off for using too many strips 😱(there's a dentist at Asturian health centres). I'd never seen her in my life before! These are conversations we should be having with our GPs, etc. NOT with health centre staff in general: cleaners, dental nurses, receptionists, delivery staff, car park attendants, paramedics, medical reps, window cleaners...bug out!😛

Fingers crossed for the A1c, Rosie. Sounds like you deserve an award for your patience and hard work!🙄:D
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Here on the forum we are forbidden from giving medical advice because a) we are not professionally qualified (on the whole), and b) We don't know the patient's full history anyway. We can only share our own (vast and encyclopaedic) knowledge and experience - but we probably know a lot more than many GPs and practice nurses, and certainly more than the vast majority of receptionists or other random people who happen to work in a medical setting! 😱
 
I had a very interesting conversation which might explain why a pharmacist might make a comment about the amount of something that's being prescribed.

My pharmacist told me that they are supplied with a certain amount of products for prescription purposes based on some algorithm based on current use, customers (seems most, but not all, use same pharmacy these days) etc etc. They have to be able to explain why they run out of certain thing sooner than big brother expected. That explains why my wife seems to have the same problem every 2 months with a particular drug that always has to be ordered.

It would seem that in an effort to stop us silly type IIs (for example), every man and his dog is involved.
 
Thinking about it, you can actually picture the practice 'Monday morning meeting' if you've ever worked in an organisation with different types of staff where periodic meetings to disseminate general type info to all in a spirit of everyone being INFORMED. Cos we is all equal, isn't we? And it demonstrates amply that we is an equal rights employer, isn't we? Which we needs to do for the Brownie points so we get our money. And ticks another box on the list .......

A rep from every department is there and the Chair tells them that the CCG have asked all GP surgeries in the area to take care they aren't spending too much money on, eg, strips. The GP and nurses enquire further into this. How are they supposed to differentiate between whose strips should be restricted and quite a debate ensues - most of which the receptionists rep doesn't take in or bother to try since it doesn't apply to their dept as far as she knows - but she does catch part of the bit '... (and try to advise them further on how) to control their condition and not waste strips' - so goes back to the Dept and tells them that the practice needs to 'tell Diabetics to control their condition better and not use so many strips'. Cos 'tell' is the same as 'advise', in all contexts isn't it, obviously?

LOL
 
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