General Chat

My son woke up this morning having a asthma attack he has learning difficulties although hes 27 and 6ft 8in hes still my son. He cannot use an inhaler so i thought lets get him to the doctors (nearest hospital half hour away). We got there just before 8.30 hes now slowly turning blue, i said to the receptionist he needs to go on a nebulizer, she said after looking at her computer can i bring him back at 10.30 as there are no appointments till then. no i said he needs to go on it now, go and wait by the nurses room she said but there are no doctors or nurses here until 9am, i was just going to sit down when my doctor came up the hallway he could see the distress my son was in took us in to the treatment room and guess what there was the nurse it was only 8.35 got him straight on there and he is fine now.

Some of the receptionists are little hitler jobsworths. I know the ones at our surgery think it's their job to know all your business before they'll even give you an appointment. I do wonder if it's their way of making themselves feel like the have some power. Absolutely disgusting that she would just sit there and watch him turn blue (and possibly die) for the sake of picking up a phone and checking who was around. Our surgery opens at 8 and there's always a nurse or doctor wandering around. Also, sure patients wouldn't mind being interrupted for an emergency.

glad your son is ok now but know what you mean............11 years ago we called the Dr's as our eldest was ill......she said Dr would come out,after a while still no Dr so we called back only to be shouted at"your not the only one thats ill you know".......we waited a little while longer but the phoned for an ambulance............our daughter had meningitis and a 10% chance of surviving.....luckily she pulled through but oh it makes my blood boil even now thinking about it,


best wishes to your son,
Karen x

Sounds like the receptionist could do with a bit of training in a) using her initiative and b) Recognising an emergency.

I assume what she meant was that the nurse does not start work until 9am!!!!........Normally!

Ann
Glos

you must wonder why i didnt call an ambulance but it would make him more distressed

Many years ago somebody I knew phoned for an appointment and the receptionist (a dragon) of the time asked what her symptoms were. Silence.... Then, "Tell me again, your medical qualifications are?"

She never asked again!

Ann
glos

Have to remember that one Ann.

No, Lynne, I think we understand why you chose to go to the doctor (nearer) than call an ambulance - they can take longer to come than if you drive to the hospital.

I remember all too well the distress of an asthma attack.

not all Lynne, you know your son


Kx

if i was quick enough i should have said if he was having a heart attack would i have to bring him back later they are both killers.

My best one was popping into Doctors surgery to get results of an iron test, (which Midwife had told me to do) The receptionist bought up the screen and looking at it said "yes it's here" "great" I said "how is it"
She replied "I can't divulge that" to which I replied "are you looking at the results now" she said "yes but I can't tell you"
So some Hitler receptionist can read MY private medical history in front of me but not tell me.

I stood right there in front of reception for 15 minutes in the way, until she fetched a nurse out who looked who looked at it and said "hello Mrs. ?? your levels are fine now, thanks for coming in.
GGGGGRRRRR

Hope your son has now recovered - I sincerely hope you brought the attitude of this receptionist to the attention of your GP? If not I feel you should write a letter with your concerns about her inability to fail to recognise and emergency when she sees one. The next person may not be as articulate as you!! I am very fortunate in that all the staff at my GP practice are top class - could not praise them highly enough.

did anyone see the Doctor's Receptionist episode in The Catherine Tate Show when Gran went to the GP and after a verbal tangle with the receptionist, when asked if it was an amergency said "Yes" and when asked what the problem was said "Me ed's anging orf"

We have four Receptionists at our Doctors, who do shifts, three OK, but one, Does not know what she is doing, but tries to cover it up.

I phoned for an appointment for the next day, and she said you will have to phone between 8 and 8.30am tomorrow.

I was on that phone at 8 am the next day, different Receptionist, and she said, you could have made the appointment yesterday.

Yes some of them are little Hitlers.

Mo

I think it is because they are running an efficient office,not caring for people.
My dad was very inefficiently discharged from hospital after his stroke,leaving me with no night-bags(don't ask) but the carers dealt with that,several other thingsmissing and we had a bag of pills including an assortment of strengths of warfarin.
I was left for three days while he went without medication because the receptionist would not put me in touch with anybody at the surgery.

Lynne, we had a nubulizer at home for our son when he was younger and it saved a lot of panicky visits to the doctor.

I envy you your home - we were in West Wales recently and had a day in Tenby.

Gwynne

We found my mother dead in her flat, she had suffered an asthma attack.

Prompt attention (as I'm sure you know) is needed with this sort of emergency.

The "receptionist" should be better trained.

Glad you son is recovered now.

Dee
x

Hi Lynn,

I agree with Ann, it should be brought to DR attention i do know what your on about lynn asthma is serious actually i am useing a nebulizer now at home was in hospital 4 weeks ago with a attack have had asthma for years hope your son gets better xx

I won't go into the receptionists stories from our surgery......much the same attitude.....too much power....

I am glad your son was seen quickly Lynne, I have no experience of asthma attacks, only a little one who had croup.......and asthma is far more serious and life threatening.......your receptionist is a silly woman, and I hope the Doctor has a word with her.....x

Just to let you all know my son is back on top form but my daughter has to go today i think she needs a steroid inhaler where this asthma comes from i dont know myself and hubby dont suffer at all with our chests. i will let the doctor know today what happened on tuesday

thank you all for your concern

Hi Lynne,

Sorry to hear that your daughter is not so good now :O( fingers crossed she gets sorted today, how is your Son now ?
My daughter works in a Dr's here in Germany, they do not have such a thing as a receptionist here the literal translations of their job is Dr's helper.
She had to go to college part time for 3 years, and is able to do bloods, injections ecg's dressings etc.
Maybe if the receptionists where trained in this way at home it would help them asses patients and their needs better :O)
One thing in their defense though, I do not know how it is in Egland now though, but here she works roughly 10 hours overtime a week without pay, and quite often has to put up with a tirade of abuse from patients, when things have not been her fault :O(
There will always be abrupt staff in every work place, and some of your reasons for being annoyed seem very genuine , however, for the others working there please remember they are in a very stressed job, and most of them try to do their best :O)

Hope the kids are feeling better soon Lynne !