"Terrible receptionists"

I tried to make an appointment to speak to a Dr, I am pregnant and was feeling really poorly. The receptionist was really abrupt and said there were no appointments and to ring the next day. I explained that this was my 3rd day of trying to get an appointment. She just said no appointments ring tomorrow. I then said I really needed to speak to a Dr as I’m pregnant and unwell. She just said ring tomorrow. I then asked for an emergency appointment, was made to feel a nuisance and as if I was wasting her time. She asked for details of why I wanted an appointment, when I told her she replied that it could wait until tomorrow!

When did a receptionist go to medical school and get a medical degree? After a lot of sighing she reluctantly agreed to let me have an appointment.

The Dr I spoke to was lovely, told me I had done the right thing in insisting to speak to someone, she told me to ring back immediately if the problem did not resolve.

Surely if you are a receptionist in a Gp surgery you should have a degree of empathy and a desire to help people. I have been a patient at the surgery for over 20 years and have found over the last 2-3 years the nice receptionists seem to have been replaced with uncaring and unfeeling people. It makes me anxious to think about trying to ring for an appointment when made to feel as though you are wasting people’s time for seeking help. If the Drs there weren’t so good and know me and my family I would leave and go to another surgery. A cheerful and kind manner doesn’t cost anything.