How to get past the receptionist...

victory

ValHaller wrote: »

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.

It was the GP that gave me the number and sent me on my way...

warehouse

So 5 days of being nice and polite has got you nowhere? I think it's time to become someone they want to get rid of. Stop being nice.

victory

warehouse wrote: »

So 5 days of being nice and polite has got you nowhere? I think it's time to become someone they want to get rid of. Stop being nice.

Yes I have been nice and polite it is in my DNA, I can fully appreciate I am no one and by no means not the only one that needs to have a return call, I know they are very very busy but my heart sinks everytime it gets to 4pm and I know that I have to wait another day (I rang this morning at 9am got straight through, was voice recognized and the secretary acknowledged me straight away and said what she said for the last 4 days that she had past the message on)

I have not rang since as the secretary said x was in clinic (fair enough) but it is approaching lunch time, fingers crossed...

elona

Is it worth contacting PALS?

cllola

Is there a specialist nurse in that particular department?

I work in a hospital and although the consultants i work with are very approachable i know that some aren't. The nurse tends to be a first point of contact for patients in my experience. They may be able to hunt down the consultant and speak to them whereas a secretary will wait until the dr comes into their office/will email them which potentially adds a long delay in the reply process.

This is just my experience of my department in the hospital, i know it may be different for you!

scooby088

you could ask the consultants secretary to put whatever you have to tell the consultant on your file, the system is computerised and should stay on there. The secretary is the person to contact as many consultants are not very well organised.

lostinrates

scooby088 wrote: »

you could ask the consultants secretary to put whatever you have to tell the consultant on your file, the system is computerised and should stay on there. The secretary is the person to contact as many consultants are not very well organised.

But......if victory's son's changes necessitate a treatment change the secretary cannot make a clinical call, so a medical team member still needs to see it, so while I think that's a good idea it can only be part of a two pronged approach.

victory

elona wrote: »

Is it worth contacting PALS?

I don't know what PALS is? I feel if it is an escalation process it is not necessary yet, rang the GP and but closed until 2pm...

cllola

scooby088 wrote: »

you could ask the consultants secretary to put whatever you have to tell the consultant on your file, the system is computerised and should stay on there. The secretary is the person to contact as many consultants are not very well organised.

This would depend on which hospital they are at wouldnt it? The hospital i work for does not currently have this facility.

DKLS

A good medical secretary or PA, is the gatekeeper to her consultant, and will be well trained at fending off pharma reps so fending off patients comes easy.


You need to get her onside, not trying to get past her.