"Receptionists are doing Triage"

I've visited this centre numerous times, for myself and my 2 young children. I am very grateful for the service and have no problem waiting to see a doctor.

I was concerned on my last visit that I had waited a long time to be Triaged by a nurse - my 4year old had hurt her eye and not opened it without screaming for the past 3 hours. I was concerned.

After waiting patiently for 45mins to be triaged, I saw an able, older woman who had just come in, filter through to nurse triage very quickly. When I challenged the receptionists on how this had occurred they said the nurses had put them in order and we were lower down the queue - obviously I challenged this decision.

I bring this to attention as I believe this to be untrue. I don't believe triage to the nurse happens by another nurse reading the descriptions the receptionist writes into the system. And if this is in fact the case, it sounds very unreliable.

I am happy to be triaged to the bottom of the queue by a nurse, but not by the receptionist.

Incidentally, after I questioned the triage system we were seen very quickly by a nurse, after a 30min further wait we were instructed by a doctor to go to A&E.

It is fundamentally unacceptable for the receptionists to Triage. Triage should occur on a first come first serve basis and then a qualified professional should arrange the order.

I look forward with interest to Barnet's response to this.