They’re allowed to ask but you’re not obliged to disclose anything to them. You’re within your rights to say it’s a personal matter and they’re not allowed to decline you an appointment because of it. They’re not medically trained at all so don’t need to know
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Thanks, I usually do decline but then all they will give is a phone appointment which my phone isn't great in the house so I prefer going in
Yeah it depends what it’s for. Sometimes I tell them but when I’ve had other female issues (I have PCOS and endo) I say it’s a personal issue and they’ve not ever stopped me having an appointment
I'll try an fight them more on it then, there's times I need in to see a doctor an being denied because I won't tell the receptionist what it's for is starting to get ridiculous, sometimes you can't explain over a phone either
Yeah and I feel like sometimes when I explain and it’s too long winded they cut me off and don’t want to hear anyway and just book the appointment so don’t know why they bother asking
think some let the power get to them a bit too much. Since when was it down to a receptionist if you need the dr or not. Surely the person calling knows they need to see a doctor hence the call 
I can't be the only one tempted to say genital warts or crabs or something equally embarrassing just for the giggles?? ...Sorry, I'll see myself out.
Ahahahha imagine their reaction
When I suffered with frequent UTI’s I always found it helpful telling reception because I would get seen sooner with a nurse rather than a GP or just get antibiotics over the phone. So I think they ask to see if you need to see a DR, over the phone or a nurse. I’ve never had to speak to a male though, although it’s embarrassing they’ve probably heard all sorts and don’t get phased by anything anymore
Thanks, I guess I never seen it that way, at mine if you need a nurse you have to go through a doctor's appointment first, am not sure why that is, but maybe they ask because of it, I suppose I just prefer not telling them anything lol, the ones at mine are kindi the gossip type, there's been times I've sat an heard about other people so I'd rather they didn't get anything from me
What a pain having to go through DR to see a nurse!! That’s really bad, I don’t blame you not telling them!! Fingers crossed you get seen soon and get better!
I know, it's just a small one an they have such a backwards way of doing everything, the Dr has to sign off with anything you need like a nurse or prescriptions, you also aren't allowed to see different doctors if you are returning about something either as it needs to be the same one, I try an see my own Dr that I've had since I was a kid but sometimes appointment times can be a few days which is annoying as if its any Dr then you can get same day or next day appointments
I can answer this, I work in a hospital but our receptionists are trained the same way GP receptionists are.
They’re basically asking so that they can provide the GP with as much information as possible to allow you to get the most from your appointment and to reduce the risk of delays for both yourself and the rest of their clinic.
They need to be able to book the appropriate appointment length and type. Notes are added to appointments so that GPs have an idea of what you’re coming in for and they aren’t seeing you with no clue why you’re there. They are trying to identify potential red flags in your symptoms which is vital for the GP to know before anything else. The GP also needs to know; is it something you’ve been seen for before therefore they have previous medical notes they can refer back to in regards to your symptoms and treatment, is it a new issue but could be related to other health conditions you have, is it a previous issue but with new symptoms or is it a completely new issue but with no obvious cause etc.
Some appointments might need extra tests, blood work, nurse opinion, specialist opinion or even require you to be referred elsewhere which can be a lengthy process especially if it’s an emergency referral. If they have prior knowledge of you potentially needing a referral/extra tests they can book you a double appointment to allow extra time.
I think a standard appointment is around 10 minutes which is really no time at all when you take everything into consideration, especially if the GP doesn’t have any of the above information I’ve mentioned.
It also allows for better triaging and those that don’t actually need a GP but instead should be seeing a dentist, optometrist, pharmacy etc can be directed there without taking up a GP appointment.
You should never have to go into detail if you aren’t comfortable though and they should at least offer you the option of speaking to a female (if that’s what you prefer) or allow you to give vague reasoning before refusing a face to face.
Thank you for this, that's definitely helpful, I'd definitely prefer talking with a female but you just get whoever answers the phone, I might just give a very vague reasoning then, but it does annoy me I know they all gossip, it's what puts me off telling them things, but a very vague reason might be best
You are perfectly within your rights to say "I'm really not comfortable speaking about this to you, can I please speak to a female member of staff instead?" I work in women's health and lots of women ask for female only medics especially if they need to be examined etc. I think most staff would understand this, even receptionists!
I know it seems like they gatekeep GP appointments, but I recently had an issue with my eyes. I was convinced that it was something serious, and that I'd need a referral to a specialist etc, etc. I submitted an e-consult and got a reply telling me to "Consult with my optician". I was quite cross, but I did go and speak to our local optician, who immediately suggested what the issue was, told me how to deal with it, and advised me to come back to see her if it didn't improve in a month...which it did!
I have an issue with an online merchant.
I purchased some items and paid for a express delivery. On the merchant’s website, it is indicated the buyer should receive their order within 3 business days of the order being put through.
It has been a week since I made the order and the order is still in the warehouse and has not been dispatched.
I have asked for a refund of the delivery fee as the delay is on the merchant’s end not the courrier. The merchant keeps responding to this query stating ‘you should receive your order within 3 days from now’.
It’s complete nonsense. I paid €20 for express delivery which is rather steep. I’m honestly at wits end because even with multiple emails, the order is still sitting in their warehouse and hasn’t moved.
Has anyone ever experienced something similar? How can I get the fee refunded?
I purchased some items and paid for a express delivery. On the merchant’s website, it is indicated the buyer should receive their order within 3 business days of the order being put through.
It has been a week since I made the order and the order is still in the warehouse and has not been dispatched.
I have asked for a refund of the delivery fee as the delay is on the merchant’s end not the courrier. The merchant keeps responding to this query stating ‘you should receive your order within 3 days from now’.
It’s complete nonsense. I paid €20 for express delivery which is rather steep. I’m honestly at wits end because even with multiple emails, the order is still sitting in their warehouse and hasn’t moved.
Has anyone ever experienced something similar? How can I get the fee refunded?
Go through resolver they’re really good at getting money back. If not I find calling better than emailing as you don’t get the same automated responses x
My doctor is booking 28 days in advance now. There have been times I can’t book an appointment because they can’t book over a month in advance and they’re full.You have to call on the day at 8.30 for any chance of an appointment, you’ll hit the call button and already be 14th in the queue. I’ve sat many times to be told “sorry, all gone, try again tomorrow”. Rarely see the same doc twice, often not even a GP but a nurse practitioner. I’m not even in a big city or town. It’s appalling.
My 2.5 year old was put in for a referral at the hospital. They told me they were booked 4 months in advance and couldn’t book more so they had to wait on file. A child!
Back on topic - I would put in a complaint about their indiscretion and gossiping. That’s bang out of order!!
I guess I do have the benefit with it being small that I can get quick appointments but the con in it is management just don't care if the staff gossip about patients, small towns aren't the greatest when everyone knows everyone an they all talk 🫤
You have to call on the day at 8.30 for any chance of an appointment, you’ll hit the call button and already be 14th in the queue. I’ve sat many times to be told “sorry, all gone, try again tomorrow”. Rarely see the same doc twice, often not even a GP but a nurse practitioner. I’m not even in a big city or town. It’s appalling.
My 2.5 year old was put in for a referral at the hospital. They told me they were booked 4 months in advance and couldn’t book more so they had to wait on file. A child!
Back on topic - I would put in a complaint about their indiscretion and gossiping. That’s bang out of order!!
Anyone here had a colonoscopy?
Been referred for one and just had a phone call with a colorectal nurse and I'll get one in the next two weeks
Any advice regarding the procedure would be very much appreciated
Been referred for one and just had a phone call with a colorectal nurse and I'll get one in the next two weeks
Any advice regarding the procedure would be very much appreciated
I won’t lie to you it’s not pleasant. But I found the laxatives you have to take beforehand far worse than the actual procedure. The laxatives mix with squash it’s much easier to get down than in water & I rolled reduce remedy on my pulse points to try relax me and it helped. I just layed there with my eyes shut and tried thinking of other things. It wasn’t painful just felt uncomfortable and it hurt a little when the took a biopsy but other than that it was ok. I opted for sedation and think it definitely helped. Good luck
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