I went to see my new consultant at the beginning of the week.
My first port of call was the reception desk where I was met by a very stern lady

She fired lots of questions off i.e name. dob etc. and then handed me a sort of crib sheet saying 'Pick one of these', (in a very sharp voice)
It was a list relating to ethnicity. I looked up and down the list, and with an equally po face said - 'I'll have this one'
It was the bottom of the list and it said - patient refused!!!!! My friend who was behind me burst out laughing, the lady in
question was completely taken aback until I said - 'I'm just joking, I'm white British'.
The doctor too laughed out loud when she heard.

The lady by the way was very cheery when I was booking my next appointment, so she'd possibly been having a hard time, or was just glad
to see the back of me!
Gogs

Well I do think I should come to the defence of receptionists as I am one myself!!! Yes there are exceptions, as in every walk of life, but most of us want to help. In my surgery we often go the 'extra mile' to explain and sort out problems. I get huge satisfaction from the detective work we sometimes have to undertake and it's a great joy to finally have an answer and put minds at rest. I have had some lovely comments, thanks and praise and it makes the job so worthwhile. It can be a difficult job as we are sometimes 'piggy in the middle' between the clinicians and the patients, enforcing rules we may not entirely agree with, and sometimes we may be juggling emergency issues with the routine calls and perhaps we can then appear a little distracted. It can be stressful, upsetting and tiring but smiles, laughter and jokes with the patients (those with a sense of humour!) are part of our day too. I like to think that living with RA and caring for my mum who is deaf/blind help me to serve my public better and the contacts I like the best all begin with 'Cathy I am so glad it's you .......'

I always try to be polite and ask for help (as most people will always want to help if they can) and actually I find that our receptionists are very good at detecting and responding to pain or suffering in your voice, even over the phone.