Doctor's receptionists!

Lillibet_2

Smartasss wrote:

Hi mini

On 22nd Feb, MSE Martin wrote:

"this is a moratorium. We're starting afresh from here."


The posters who have been ranting since the Board rules were spelt out, (eg lillibet above, who has posted this morning), are well aware this is not a forum to sound off about receptionists, yet they still are continuing to do so!

Sorry All, but the above was not at all clear to me, had it have been I would obviously not have posted. I do not habitually break the forums rules. Apologies to all if I have contravened any rules but as I say it wasn't at all clear to me & I am at a loss to see how anything connected to a doctors receptionist could be money saving in the first place?

Lillibet x

MSE_Martin

I have to say I havent read all the posts above. However I don't see any problem with discussing GP receptionists - it is giving advice about medical treatments I dont want discussed on the boards.

Martin

Smartasss

MSE_Martin wrote:

However I don't see any problem with discussing GP receptionists - it is giving advice about medical treatments I dont want discussed on the boards.

This discussion was triggered by Tom Hutchinson's question in his post above (no.26):

"Does anyone else think it is unfair that a discussion on the rights and wrongs of receptionists is permitted but an enquiry as to what to do when your consultant is an ignorant prat is locked?

If we are to help moneysavers get the best value from their health service it is appropriate to allow discussion of ways to improve either the NHS or the patients ability to deal with it?"

It does seem conradictory to allow vents against receptionists (which are not to do with money saving), but to lock a discussion on doctors because it is not to do with money saving!

Poppy9

Here we blooming go again. Hayfever for me and daughter has kicked in. Rang on friday for repeat prescription at 12.30pm - "sorry surgery closed please ring back after 2pm". Sadly my lunch hour was over at 1.30pm and as I was in a meeting all pm unable to call back until 4.30pm then I had "sorry repeat prescriptions can only be ordered between 10am and 11 am". This morning I rang - blooming engaged between 10am and 11am constantly. As I have to wait 48 hours after ordering a repeat prescription to collect I have lost another day.

At this rate I am going to have to go for an appointment and waste a doctors time because I need my medicene.

pickle

Poppy9 wrote:

Here we blooming go again. Hayfever for me and daughter has kicked in. Rang on friday for repeat prescription at 12.30pm - "sorry surgery closed please ring back after 2pm". Sadly my lunch hour was over at 1.30pm and as I was in a meeting all pm unable to call back until 4.30pm then I had "sorry repeat prescriptions can only be ordered between 10am and 11 am". This morning I rang - blooming engaged between 10am and 11am constantly. As I have to wait 48 hours after ordering a repeat prescription to collect I have lost another day.

At this rate I am going to have to go for an appointment and waste a doctors time because I need my medicene.

That's ridiculous! How on earth is anyone expected to function if this is the service. I found out this morning that an urgent consultation i was supposed to have had referred a week ago hadn't even been received by the hospital! It was only after numerous phone calls and insistence that i got it sorted out! I hate to think how people who find it difficult to assert themselves fare. I guess they just get forgotten about. I think the NHS needs a serious overhaul - there is far too much bureaucracy. In making an appointment for hospital about 5 people are involved. It's not just the receptionists, its the structure of the whole operation.

For example, for my test i had to first go through the secretary to make the appointment with the GP, then see GP, who then gives it to the receptionist who sends it to another medical centre to a person who make the appointments for the clinic at the hospital, this then gets received by the bookings clerk who sends out a letter to me (probably typed up by someone else). Then if (if i had actually received the appointment rather than having got lost in the system) i wanted to change the appointment i would have had to ring and leave a recorded message with 15 different answers to various questions and then they pluck another date (without consultation with me) and send another letter. And we wonder why there are waiting lists as long as there are??? Why can't doctors or nurses do basic tests in the surgery eg. blood tests, basic biopsies etc. There needs to be less people involved in the referral and treatment process. It's absolutely ludicrous and an accident waiting to happen (if it hasn't already). It's like something out of the movie 'Brazil'. I'm all for universal healthcare but it's got to work to be of any use. It's got all of the bureaucracy of a communist state without any of the benefits. Rant over now.

Poppy9

I think what upsets people most about the silly systems that surgeries seem to employ is that most people are working and trying to fit in ringing and arranging appointments that are compatiable with their jobs and any family committments. You are not always so physically ill that you cannot work as most employers adopt a harsh attitude to sickness. In my place of work 5 days in 6 months and you are interviewed and a note is put on your employment record. 10 days in 12 months and its level 1 disciplinary. The result is that everyone comes into work smothering in colds and spreading the germs. The whole office for about a month is then working at below capacity so nothing has been gained. With the surgery though the attitude seems to be if you are well enough to work you don't need to see a doctor soon so keep calling at times convenient for us.

What has this got to do with Moneysaving. Well there is potential to save money on phone calls

queensway_boy

Ted_Hutchinson wrote:

Does anyone else think it is unfair that a discussion on the rights and wrongs of receptionists is permitted but an enquiry as to what to do when your consultant is an ignorant prat is locked?

If we are to help moneysavers get the best value from their health service it is appropriate to allow discussion of ways to improve either the NHS or the patients ability to deal with it?

I Agree with that Ted

pickle

It should just be a whole lot simpler rather than being such a major pain every time you want to get something done! We'd save a lot of money in National Insurance if we didn't have to pay for so many bureaucrats whose only function seems to be to delay the efficiency of the structure. I think i heard somewhere that the NHS is the second biggest employer in the world, i think the Chinese Red Army was first. You'd think you'd get better service with that many people wouldn't you?

Edinburghlass_2

queensway_boy wrote:

I Agree with that Ted

Exactly how many times does Martin have to tell you what HE does NOT want posted on HIS boards?

Actually, don't bother replying to me and leave the thread to stay on topic please.

Smartasss

edinburghlass wrote:

Exactly how many times does Martin have to tell you what HE does NOT want posted on HIS boards?

Actually, don't bother replying to me and leave the thread to stay on topic please.

You lost me there, edinburghlass - how is your post "on topic"?

(And "Actually, don't bother replying to me" is not really in the spirit of "please be nice to other MoneySavers" which is at the top of every page)