Why is it in this day and age that one unqualified person can still be allowed to have such a huge impact on a persons life.

My surgery has sent me for specialist appointments without any medical history, neglected to gather information regarding my condition from a previous surgery, despite being given all the info needed and now to put the top hat on it a receptionist rang , 2 weeks ago it is now, telling me that the doctor wasn't prepared to give me any of my meds until I had been in to see him (having put a repeat prescription in two days earler). Fair enough but my meds were about to run out and they couldn't give me an appointment for a week to see the doctor.

I explained this to the receptionist and asked if it was okay to stop the meds the neurologist had been prescribing for years and she told me I couldn't have any tablets at all.

Today I got to see the doctor, what with weather problems and appts being changed and he said what can I do for you as they do.  I told him the story and guess what - the receptionist was instructed to ask me to come in for a routine check to see if I wanted HRT, not to tell me I couldn't have any medicines.

Bit put out by now I went through the routine and guess what my blood pressure is high, hardly surprising as the meds reduces spinal pressure so probably I am guessing have a pretty big effect all over.

I am very anoyed now and at the point where I feel I have to complain and I have got that patient survey thing sitting on my desk now.

Thanks for listening

I think we all know people like that - my previous doctor's receptionists all thought they were a step down from the doctor!  If I am asking for an emergency appointment and don't want to discuss it with the receptionist then that is my right - they refused to give me an appointment until I told them what it was about, like they are medically qualified to do so.  New surgery now and no problems so far.

I would put your complaint in.  I suspect it may have been a genuine error but it would not hurt to have the practice look into it and see if the system could be adjusted to avoid it happening in the future.

> they refused to give me an appointment until I told them what it was about,

I think that is common practice now with so many surgeries utilising different types of practicioners and they want to make that function to its best advantage.  Medical receptionists are bound by the same rules of confidentiality so, while I appreciate it is sometimes hard to get over our embarassment, should not be regarded as speaking to anyone different to a nurse or a doctor.

I obviously don't know about the receptionists at your GP's surgery, but one of my close friends used to be a medical receptionist & she certainly wasn't "unqualified"she has several qualifications that she was required to obtain to continue in her job & some were actually aimed at Medical/GP's receptionists.

I know our surgery doesn't simply renew prescriptions without an initial consultation, but you can always get to see a doctor within 48 hours or less & in emergencies you can be seen on the same day. My GP's practice is very patient orientated from the receptionists to the doctors & everyone else in between. We just need to persuade them that they need a nurse practitioner & the practice would be perfect(& it's not just because one of my lovely neighbours is a nurse practitioner ;-))

You do need to complain about being given the wrong information & also for being sent to a specialist without any medical history

> my previous doctor's receptionists all thought they were a step down from the doctor!

Lucky you - my previous ones thought they were a step UP from the doctors :-D  We have really good ones now though - the lag bag ones have hung up their imaginery stethascopes, pulled on their surgical stockings and are to be found demanding instant appointments and repeat prescriptions while they wait :-p

Interestingly the presription I was most worried about was given by my specialist and should not on any account have been stopped I have just been told.  I will be aware of that in future.

I have been in contact with the surgery again and have been told that the receptionist was new and is still learning the ropes. Sorry if I upset you Moonmaiden wasn't intentional.  I could not get to see the doctor within 2 day because I was away for the appointment they could offer and he wasnt available when the snow struck and then I finaly was able to see the doctor who wanted to see me.

The only other way I could have seen him was to go in as an emergency and as I have been living with this for many years I didn't think I could be termed an emergency.

The effect of stopping the Acetazolomide was quite startling and I felt in no mood to argue about it infact havent been wanting to do much of anything since it was stopped.

I have am not going to complain as it would be unfair to single out a new receptionist and I am sure she feels bad about it anyway and has learned from it.  I am still steaming about the wasted visits to a specialist without any medical notes as it was in London and quite a way to go.

Anyhow dog show Saturday - onwards and upwards....

> Sorry if I upset you Moonmaiden wasn't intentional

You didn't upset me, just wanted to point out that some receptionists aren't"unqualified"although the one you encountered obviously probably was.

I know when my cousin has needed meds urgently he's got a brilliant rapport with the practice & they all will do anything to get him sorted-not like his old one who insisted on an appointment for about 70% of his meds !

Complain the receptionist does not have the right to stop your medication. Phone her back and ask if she is willing to put in writing that she is stopping all your medication ? she will not then if you are desperate go to A&E and they will fill an emergancy perscription, or sit in the surgery until you see a nurse or Doctor.

My pharmacy is in my doctors and they will give me enough to last until my Doctors appointment even without a valid perscription (by that I mean they know my history and ensure I do not run out of drugs as this may damage my health) - complain do not allow a pocket Hitler to dictate your medical needs.

Far worse is the doctor who speaks to you as though he is soooooo bored and with a "why don't you go and bother somebody else with your hypochondriac attitude"! One of the doctors at my local surgery always comes across like this when I speak to him. I have even told him what meds my specialist has said I should have and I have been sent off with the wrong prescription on several ocassions, particularly if it is a repeat. I have complained but never heard the result of the complaints.

Lucky you - my previous ones thought they were a step UP from the doctors   We have really good ones now though - the lag bag ones have hung up their imaginery stethascopes, pulled on their surgical stockings and are to be found demanding instant appointments and repeat prescriptions while they wait 
Creasing myself Teri.. I think a couple of mine thankfully have went to join yours :-)

I have just realised how lucky we are to be in our Dr.'s practice!  :)  :)

my doctors receps are scarey...even my 6 foot 5 son & built like a tank! says ... mum will you call for me!

If your tablets are about to run out , through no fault of your own , you NEED an emergency appointment .You should have been seen for a prescription at least .
It sounds like there has been a big mix up and i would bang in a complaint to the practice manager .

I dread calling my doctors... I often say to my daughter you know that woman is going to answer... she is just damn right rude!!
Im a vet receptionist and would hope i dont have the same attitude as her ... ever!
(I do have qualifications to do my job)

I dont think receptionists  have the right to play god or doctor or vet, but they do

Donnax
(and my boysx)

Think what gets me is you see the Doctor who says try this and come back and see me in a week, you trot down to the receptionist and say, doctor wishes to see me next week, much clicking of keys and I am offered an appointment in 3 weeks, they don't have any earlier so I will have to ring every morning till I can get an emergency appointment or of course I could see another doctor, now what would be the point of that when it is the doctor who have just changed your medication who needs to know if it has had any effect.

Nova - you need to ask the Doctor to either give you a follow-up appointment there and then , or ask them what to do if you can't get an appointment for 3 weeks  when the tablets are running out in 1 week . 
Having worked as a Practice nurse , and having had a hubby treated appallingly by our own GP , i know that you have to be firm with them and remember that they don't know everything and they do get things wrong sometimes .

They told my Mum it was all in her head the second opinion was "you are not as ill as you think you are" She died of a mixture of Polymiositis & bone cancer. Im not a fan!