How to get past the receptionist...

victory

I have been trying for 5 days now to get past the secretary at the hospital to talk to the consultant for my youngest and just cannot get to talk to her...

Day 1- Secretary listens-'oh ok will pass on the message and get x to ring you'

Day 2- Good morning, I rang yesterday etc- 'oh yes I past on the message (practically trying to hang up whilst speaking to me) me- what is a best time etc secretary -'like I said I have past on the message...

Day 3- Good morning- secretary ' x is in clinic' ok thank you shall I ring back this afternoon, ' no I leave at 4pm and there will be no one to pick up the phone'

Day 4- Good morning- secretary- 'x is not in at the moment but will give her the message that you rang again'(never rang)

Day 5- Still waiting...

Jeez what can I do?

lostinrates

Receptionist or secretary?

Its the consultant's secretary you need to speak to, they will pass the message on. These people sort everything out. If the consultant is going to call you back its the secretary who will facilitate it, not the receptionist or asking to speak to the consultant directly IME.

victory

lostinrates wrote: »

Receptionist or secretary?

Its the consultant's secretary you need to speak to, they will pass the message on.

Sorry yes secretary...yes I am sure she past the message on as well as I know they are very busy etc but still day 5...

lostinrates

victory wrote: »

Sorry yes secretary...yes I am sure she past the message on as well as I know they are very busy etc but still day 5...

Then the consultant doesn't want to or isn't available to speak to you.


If you have information you need to pass on my suggestion is you put it in An email.

I do this and often my consultants email me directly. But the secretary is a person of influence and power and it never does to piddle her off or badger her IMO. They do what they can, sometimes dealing with difficult personalities of consultant and lots of patients who all feel as urgent)

victory

lostinrates wrote: »

Then the consultant doesn't want to or isn't available to speak to you.


If you have information you need to pass on my suggestion is you put it in An email.

I do this and often my consultants email me directly about this. I wouldn't badger on the phone however tempting.

The consultant is at present unaware of the latest developments, the phone call message past to her would have informed of her the latest, a daily phone call is not badgering, 5 days waiting is unbereably frustrating and I have no email contact details, just got told to ring this number, written down it really can come across as I am a pain in the butt, badgering a secretary to pass on the message to get the consultant up to date and to talk to me but 1 phone call a day does not make me a monster

thorsoak

Go to the hospital website and search for consultant's email details; if they are not available, email chief executive and start a complaint procedure that you are not able to pass on important information! That generally works.

victory

thorsoak wrote: »

Go to the hospital website and search for consultant's email details; if they are not available, email chief executive and start a complaint procedure that you are not able to pass on important information! That generally works.

Do I do it with her name? Googling now...

lostinrates

Have you check the hospital webpage? There is usually and email for the dept or consultants secretary. If not you could ask the secretary for an email address so that you can 'just put all the details in an email for the consultant, would that be ok?' And see what they would prefer.

That way you have given details, and they have got message.

I know its frustrating victory, I deal with a fair few of consultants and their secretaries regrettably, and I really do get the frustration, but I also know what gets my messages through to the five consultants I have to keep in the loop with best .

ValHaller

victory wrote: »

The consultant is at present unaware of the latest developments, the phone call message past to her would have informed of her the latest, a daily phone call is not badgering, 5 days waiting is unbereably frustrating and I have no email contact details, just got told to ring this number, written down it really can come across as I am a pain in the butt, badgering a secretary to pass on the message to get the consultant up to date and to talk to me but 1 phone call a day does not make me a monster

If you are getting no sense from the secretary and whatever has developed needs dealing with, I think I would be off to the GP.

victory

lostinrates wrote: »

Have you check the hospital webpage? There is usually and email for the dept or consultants secretary. If not you could ask the secretary for an email address so that you can 'just put all the details in an email for the consultant, would that be ok?' And see what they would prefer.

That way you have given details, and they have got message.

I know its frustrating victory, I deal with a fair few of consultants and their secretaries regrettably, and I really do get the frustration, but I also know what gets my messages through to the five consultants I have to keep in the loop with best .

I completely understand what you are saying I really do, I have just placed one phone call per day and have said good morning, please and thank you, on day 5 I am getting a bit desperate and stir crazy from having to stay in again and still no phone call;)

I tried to give her my mobile number but she could barely stay on the line long enough to listen (oh yes past on your message) so I never got the chance

victory

The secretary said they close at 4pm so will wait, then at 3.45 maybe ring and ask for the email address? Can't find anything on the website, obviously my brain is not working today at all because all I have is her name and have put it in but it comes back with nothing...