So, let me start this months’ blog with a little anecdote.

I love anecdotes… Do you?

Thought so….

“*NAME OF MY SHAMBOLIC DOCTORS SURGERY* CAN I HELP YOU?” “Hi, good morning, I was wondering if I’d be able to book an appointment for this morning at all?”

“*snide giggle* I’m afraid we’re fully booked up this morning.”

“Is there any chance for an appointment this evening at all?”

“No.”

So… That is one example of the many similar conversations that took place between myself and one of REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLY HAPPY and enthusiastic receptionists of my GP surgery.

Many would believe I was phoning several hours after surgery opening hours, but believe it or not, I was phoning on my way to school (at 8am) , literally 10 minutes after surgery opening hours. I should think I’d have more of a chance meeting Oscar Wilde than getting an appointment to see a doctor, when all day, every day they’re ‘fully booked’… “Can I book for tomorrow?”

“No it’s book on the day only”

It’s like a vicious circle; I tried the very same time the next morning, and surprise surprise… “We’re fully booked up for today I’m afraid”.

HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED TO DO THIS!?

I told the receptionist my terrible problem and she said “Well, you should’ve called sooner”.

Oh, gosh, thanks for the advice Sherlock, I tried.

Before someone comments it’s my ‘telephone manner’ - Well I’d hate to break the news to you, but this well-spoken and incredibly polite girl has worked as a hostess and an amazing telephonist, (BOTH JOBS ARE STRESSFUL AND CHALLENGING, BY THE WAY) so I could probably teach them a thing or two about how to speak to people IN AN IMMPECCABLE WAY on the phones to be honest, I’d be more than happy to do so.

Researchers at the University of Manchester say we shouldn’t hate our receptionists (but I do) because they’re under tremendous amounts of stress and they’re not qualified enough to do their jobs. But to be fairly honest, why is this allowed? Why are receptionists in roles if they are unqualified to do so? If I was unqualified and unskilled in my job, I simply wouldn’t be allowed to work where I do.

As mentioned in a previous blog, my GP surgery recently underwent a facelift, but surely that money spent on a lick of paint and a stretch of new carpet could’ve been spent on some training for those who work the front line of the GP surgery for sick, ill and annoyed patients who flatly get declined appointments just because the receptionists don’t really know what they’re talking about.

“What seems to be the problem”

Why do the receptionists ask that question when you full well know they won’t be able to do anything about it? I highly doubt NHS budget has stretched to buy them a genies lamp.

WAIT FOR IT… THE BEST IS YET TO COME IF AND WHEN I DO GO TO THE DOCTORS SURGERY…. THERE IS TUMBLEWEED ROLLING ABOUT ! I cannot justify how this can be, because, well… they’re fully booked all the time, so I’d imagine that it’d be like Kim Kardashian stuffed into a pair of her too small leather trousers?

HMMM… RECEPTIONIST, ARE YOU FOR REAL?!

DO YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR TOO?!

Obviously, this may not be the case for most of you, thus resulting in some disagreements, but I really cannot comprehend why these receptionists (who in my eyes) have an important job to do are not qualified /not trained enough to do so… It’s wrong.

I remember back in the day when the dear William Beverage published a report in which he said “from the cradle to the grave” – A promise from the government to take care of the people from birth to death… It blatantly seems that I am the only one who remembers that nippy day of December 1942.

I’m sure I’ve ruffled some feathers, but I am beyond caring, perhaps my doctor could prescribe something?

Oh wait, I can’t get an appointment.

As my dear pal Kanye once said… “Doctors say I’m the illest, cos I’m suffering from realness”