My old job within NSS [National Services Scotland] involved working closely with a huge number of GP practices over Scotland.

I think receptionists get an unfair flak over all things medical just because they happen to be the first person the patient comes into contact with.

Receptionists aren't medically qualified, so they can't triage patients in the manner a lot of people think they do. That would border on litigation. Instructions are passed down to them from management/doctors/gps without fail. So when a receptionist tells you your symptoms don't warrant an appointment within the hour, that's because they've been told by those above them your symptoms don't warrant an appointment within the hour. I'm using hyperbole in case someone thinks I'm insinuating we all want appointments within the hour.

Your first point of contact when complaining about your treatment should always be the practice manager, not the receptionist. Whilst there are awful people in every line of work, I often wonder how a lot of the people complaining about receptionists the internet over (not just cancer related) would fare if they kept getting constant grief over the phone on a daily basis. A lot of these people put up with awful verbal abuse on a daily basis. It would grind anyone down. However, the people who do make these decisions are often out of the firing line.

Same goes for being told there's a 2 week wait for an appointment. Ignoring cutbacks etc, the reason for most of the waits is because of your fellow patient. The amount of no shows are staggering. For example, the last time I was at the gp, they had a sign up stating there was 400+ no shows.In a single week. 400 appointments that could have been given to others had folk had the decency to call and say their symptoms had either improved or they wouldn't be able to make it for some reason or another. Even an appointment cancelled an hour before can be given out as an emergency app. The "no-show" thing affects all parts of the NHS. The numbers are staggering. If you ask, a lot of GP practices will actually provide you with the no show figures. They don't hide them.

You seen the same in pubs and restaurants after the lockdown. A lot of businesses had to close because folk weren't honouring their bookings.

My old job within NSS [National Services Scotland] involved working closely with a huge number of GP practices over Scotland.

I think receptionists get an unfair flak over all things medical just because they happen to be the first person the patient comes into contact with.

Receptionists aren't medically qualified, so they can't triage patients in the manner a lot of people think they do. That would border on litigation. Instructions are passed down to them from management/doctors/gps without fail. So when a receptionist tells you your symptoms don't warrant an appointment within the hour, that's because they've been told by those above them your symptoms don't warrant an appointment within the hour. I'm using hyperbole in case someone thinks I'm insinuating we all want appointments within the hour.

Your first point of contact when complaining about your treatment should always be the practice manager, not the receptionist. Whilst there are awful people in every line of work, I often wonder how a lot of the people complaining about receptionists the internet over (not just cancer related) would fare if they kept getting constant grief over the phone on a daily basis. A lot of these people put up with awful verbal abuse on a daily basis. It would grind anyone down. However, the people who do make these decisions are often out of the firing line.

Same goes for being told there's a 2 week wait for an appointment. Ignoring cutbacks etc, the reason for most of the waits is because of your fellow patient. The amount of no shows are staggering. For example, the last time I was at the gp, they had a sign up stating there was 400+ no shows.In a single week. 400 appointments that could have been given to others had folk had the decency to call and say their symptoms had either improved or they wouldn't be able to make it for some reason or another. Even an appointment cancelled an hour before can be given out as an emergency app. The "no-show" thing affects all parts of the NHS. The numbers are staggering. If you ask, a lot of GP practices will actually provide you with the no show figures. They don't hide them.

You seen the same in pubs and restaurants after the lockdown. A lot of businesses had to close because folk weren't honouring their bookings.

Hi.  I really think that when I tell a receptionist that my stools are coming through my vaginia this warrents an appointment. This would set off alarm bells in anyone.  I did make two complaints to the practice and on my next visit to pick up a perscription  for my foster child tne practice manager jumped out of her box and shouted that I was banned from the surgery infront of all the other patients.  The gmc are investigating the doctor for a misdiaognoes as when I first went to the doctors I rold him I had blood in my stools to which he replied not to worry it is probably heamphroids.  NHS England phoned me yesterday as they were looking at my case and asked why I did not complain about being banned.  I said I was too upset and ill with cancer at the time This has now gone to the very top of NHS England as they are not allowed to ban someone with cancer.  This has cost the nhs afortune because everytime during chemo and radiotherapy I became ill I had to see the oncologist instead of a doctor same with blood tests.  I have heard receptionists being rude for no reason with other patients.  When I was refused an appointment I went private to see a gastrologist and then a colonoscopy which cost me £5000 that I had to get a loan for .