"Radiology Service Main X Ray - Rude Receptionist"

The receptionist at the X Ray department was very officious. My partner was on crutches and after a long walk to the department sat down right in front of the receptionist [front row of seats] and I gave his details. That wasn't good enough and they insisted my partner heave himself back up and go directly to the window.

When I queried why I just received a repeated line of 'it's hospital policy - we have to see the patient' which I could understand if he was miles away but he was right in front of them. Also if I'd been of the same sex I could easily have just said I was him and given his details and then when the medics came and called his name he would have gone.

They were very rude and offhand and just repeated the same line. I'm not quite sure how many people would present at the X Ray department and give someone else's name and complaint and then sit down just so they could have the other person's x-ray - not least until the medic presses the button to authorise the x-ray the patient would have been seen.

So if you want to be absolutely sure you're x-raying the right patient - then why don't you give them a wrist band which they show to the receptionist and they could scan in the details. As it is - this was purely bureaucracy with no good reason other than for the receptionist to flex their muscles. If they don't want or enjoy the job I would suggest they move on to a position where they don't come into contact with the public and can concentrate on being very bureaucratic in other ways.