Why does the receptionist ask what is wrong with me when I am making an appointment at the surgery? 

Our reception team are trained to ask certain questions in order to ensure that you can be directed to an appropriate health professional.  This is because in addition to GPs our health professional team also includes;

  •  Nurse Practitoners who support our GPs in providing medical advice and are also able to prescribe medication

  •  Practice Nurses who are able to attend to nursing needs, for example dressing changes, injections, cervical smears, annual reviews and health checks

  • Health Care Assistants who are able to provide (for example) blood tests, health checks and ECGs


Receptionists are asked to collect brief information from patients:

  • To help our health professionals to prioritise home visits and phone calls
  • To ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care
  • To direct patients to see the most appropriate health professional

Reception staff are bound by confidentiality rules: 

  • Any information given by you is treated as strictly confidential
  • The management team would take any breach of confidentially very seriously and deal with accordingly
  • You can ask to speak to a receptionist in private away from reception desk
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