Would Anyone Know

[jennyjoan]

If I addressed a letter to my doctor does the receptionist read them before her

[naomi24]

I would say yes.

[Ellipsis]

Yes, seen it recently. I got a letter from a consultant, cc another consultant, cc my GP. It needed action but everybody was a cc. I knew it could be a problem and (amazingly!) got hold of my GP, who confirmed that the letter had been filed "without a doctor having seen it".

[weecalf]

I’d put the letter to doc in a envelope put it in an envelope with note to receptionist to forward letter to doctor as you feel this is a private matter between you and your doctor and hope you understand that I do not question your ability and in other matters I would be grateful for you assistance .

[LadyCG]

Yes, Doctors seldom open their own post and many things have to be date stamped the day you receive them for future reference.

My Consultant doesn't even look through results - I have to do that for him.

[DTCwordfan]

At the very least, mark it 'Private and Confidential'.....

[fbg40]

Jenny
I'm with DTC on this one - put Private & Confidential on the envelope. I have had 2 occasions at my surgery where the Doctor didn't see my letter for at least 2 weeks - the receptionist opened it and didn't think it was important !! - twice.Good luck
FBG40

[bednobs]

the receptionists probably dont open the letters - they are too busy dealing with pts.
the secretaries probably do it. they probably dont get many actual letters - most stuff is electronic

[nailedit]

After recent experiance, all the best in getting past the receptionists to see a doctor at all.
The bloody pen pushers like to see them selves as medics as well!

[DTCwordfan]

it's the same as sending a letter or email to a leading CEO in major industry...the benefit being that you dodge the underlings and are pushed towards a personal resolution team and, often, an offer of some financial consideration. Their e-addresses aren't that hard to find - my latest one being EDF and £50 credited to my account....over their badgering of me to take one of their automatic meters.

[bednobs]

in my experience that doesnt happen dtc, any complaint to a big org goes to the complaint dept whether its addressed to complaints or the ceo.

[jennyjoan]

ok - thanks for the replies - don't know what I will do except there was an ABer on last couple of weeks ago who was waiting on Letter of Referral from her GP and it took some time.

I myself wanted a letter of referral a couple of months ago and it literally took 6 weeks to get.

Told on the phone it was ready, when I went down not ready. And this went on for a long time - so that makes me think my doctor will not see this letter because I simply don't think the doctor saw the Letter of Referral letter for such a long time.

[jennyjoan]

bednobs - they don't even answer the emails either, take that from me. When I ask for Practice Manager maybe twice a year - she is never there. Badly run practice.

[DTCwordfan]

not in my experience, bednobs.....

[DTCwordfan]

Connie...that may be the nub of it...my daughter suffers from Lymes and its consequential effects with other things/conditions. Recently she moved to Salford General and, aged 25, a cyst issue broke out.

She went into A&E and in seventy-five minutes was out with her medication, a nurse looking after her the whole way through, a dedicated examination room, the doctor appearing, bloods and the results back for the verdict, the prescription and delivering the medication. she asked if they were 'private', the answer being 'no' and, when I looked, they are classified at one of the best hospitals in the country.

It can be done!

And one could always move to Salford! Arksided would be happy what with Old Trafford within spitting distance.

[ParsleyDumpling]

Speaking as a GP receptionist, all mail addressed to GPs is opened by us (the doctors are well aware of this). We date stamp it, and the letter will be scanned into the patient's notes. Once scanned, depending on its content and urgency it will either be actioned, or sent to the relevant GP, if it is something only they can deal with.
We try and action as many letters as we can before a doctor is involved. If you need a referral, then you would still need a GP appointment. Our GPs initiate the referral paperwork, but it is the receptionists that actually complete the referrals and book patients into the NHS.
I have been in the job for just over two years now, after spending the previous 30 plus years working in laboratories. I absolutely love it, and am very proud to say we won GP Practice of year for 2022. There is so much more to the job than answering the phone, GPs would not be able to do their job without us : -)

[ParsleyDumpling]

When a patient requests a letter for a referral at our practice this would be classed as a private letter. There is a charge for it and it can easily take more than a month to be completed. The request is normally classed as 'private' work and is done as and when the GP can fit it in. Our patients are made well aware of this, though.