Been told off by the receptionist!

[Rosiecarmel]

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

 

[Pine Marten]

Flaming cheek! It's nothing to do with her - I get that they might have to weed out timewasters, but this is absolutely not her job to tell you off. Some of them really are little Hitlers.

But all the best for your results, Rosie 🙂, well done!

 

[Robin]

Ahh! What is it with some doctors receptionists! Do they breed them specially somewhere?

 

[Amigo]

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

I'm afraid I'd have told it it was none of her business and I'd prefer to receive medical advice from the medically qualified. Easy to say I know but gone are the days I take c**p from meddling busybodies! 😡
A letter of complaint to the Practice Manager maybe but I can understand the reluctance to cause a stir. She has absolutely no right to give medical advice and needs to be stopped. At the time these people catch us unprepared but I'd have had to go back and ask to speak to the Practice Manager.

Great averages though Rosie. Clearly you are managing very well indeed!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Ignore the receptionist - a misguided conversation at best. Hope you are pleased with your A1c result Rosie.

 

[Greyhound Gal]

It's none of her bloomin' business how many test strips you need. Only the doctor should be querying (if they think there is a problem). I get 100 a fortnight as I test 7x a day, and that's without driving a long distance, and mine hasn't yet queried it.
Good luck for your result - fingers crossed 🙂

 

[Ljc]

How very dare she, I think you need to put in a written complaint to the practice manager.
Good luck with the results of your blood test, I'm betting you'll be over the moon.

 

[sparklestar]

It's not her job to tell you you are using too many! I work in a GP surgery and am sometimes responsible for issuing repeat prescriptions and we would ever dream of telling a patient they don't have control of their condition!

I'm very lucky in that my GP practice have never queried the number of strips I ask for 🙂

 

[pav]

The only one that said I am testing to much is the DN , my old doctors receptionists were just plan to nosey wanted to know everything that was going on and could be like running the gauntlet to get past them.

 

[Stitch147]

My dr told me to stop testing, so sto my repeat of test strips, even though im on gliclizide. His reason was that I was getting too paranoid about the numbers.

 

[pav]

That was her logic, even though on gliclazide and drive, she said I did not need to test before driving except on long journeys

 

[trophywench]

Fine.

So - when you asked her for the promise in writing made and signed before witnesses that the Law would hold you blameless should you hypo at the wheel and cause an accident that your licence wouldn't be revoked, plus they would may for any losses (eg the people you mowed down and the property you damaged) - what was their reaction?

 

[grovesy]

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

My repeat slips actually say when the next repeat is due. A 100 in a month is not excessive!!!!

 

[Northerner]

I think a letter to the practice manager is in order, Rosie. Reception staff should not be making these kinds of judgements and a bit of 'education and retraining' is most definitely in order! 🙄 I appreciate it's not the British thing to complain, but I can imagine that this attitude, unchecked, may lead to problems for some people who don't understand that it's none of the receptionist's business and accept it Should it ever happen again, simply calmly ask for a doctor to be called to confirm the 'advice' being given - receptionists sometimes think it's their right to upset patients, but would hate to bring a doctor into it! 😱 🙂

 

[Lindarose]

What a busy body receptionist. She really needs to be trained as she sounds dangerous!
But very well done on your great control Rosie 🙂

 

[graj0]

My GP receptionist just told me off for using too many strips.

I hope you will take the opportunity to remind the practice manager and your GP that it is not up to the receptionist to tell you that you are using too many test strips. If you are using too many then it's a medical professional who should not only tell you but tell you how many they think you should be using.
You might like to remind Ms Busy Body that using test strips is to make sure you are managing your diabetes instead of not testing.
Seriously though, you must make your displeasure known and in a polite and factual manner.
All the best, Victor Meldrew

 

[Mini-Vicki]

hmmmm a complaint is definitely in order Rosie.
I've had a lot of trouble with supply of strips in the past year or so, my consultant had to write two letters in the end as I wasn't getting enough. They now supply me with six boxes of strips per month (so 300 strips) I don't use this many generally, but it's nice to have a few spare by the time I can order a new script (my doctors have the date of when you can order the next one and WILL NOT let you have one before that date without a fight!). I reckon they give me so many at once because they were simply fed up with my moaning and the letters form the consultant and DSN, that they just wanted to shut me up! Persistence is the key, even if it is incredibly frustrating!

 

[AlisonM]

I'm in the letter to the Practice Manager camp as well Rosie, a receptionist has no business giving you medical advice of any kind. It's time to be a troublemaker for sure.

Clearly being able to test is helping you, you're obviously improving as a result.

 

[Ralph-YK]

I did complain at my last practice (over another issue), in writing to the practice manager and subsequently left. I think I should have done it more, and some of it at the time it happened to the people concerned.
I'm firmly in the We Should All Be Making A Fuss camp.
Of course, this is your GP and your medical care. Take a couple of days to consider and write a suitable letter. Then see how you feel.

 

[graj0]

noun: complaint; a statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.

Most of us don't like complaining, you can say that the situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable without actually saying so, maybe approaching it in a different way could avoid that. It's still possible to inform the practice manager (maybe copy in the doctor as well) about what happened but how about posing the question, something like:

Dear practice manager,
I have recently requested some test strips so that I can continue monitoring my blood glucose levels in an effective manner. The receptionist informed me that I was clearly not managing my diabetes well. Am I to be advised on how many test strips I should use and how I'm managing my diabetes, by the receptionist or should I discuss this with my doctor?

Or something like that, I think that fairly puts the ball in their court, you haven't really complained, just want to know what the proper procedure is, and hinting that you think it should be the doctor and not the receptionist, unless she's a qualified GP who knows all about diabetes.