Well, the tooth was well and truly pulled out. However, it wasn’t without its amusing observations of NHS life.
So, we turned up at the oral surgery department at UHND in Durham. When I say oral surgery department, what I mean is a couple of rooms next to the eye department. The waiting area is shared and the one receptionist covers both specialties.
When I say ‘covers’ I mean she works for the eye department. When we arrived, the waiting room was quiet. There was one person waiting reading a magazine and no receptionist. The reception desk was a small affair with a computer and small filing cabinet behind it. When I say ‘behind’ it I mean it was right next to some chairs for patients to sit on. On top of this cabinet was a huge stack of patient notes. How did I know they were patient notes? The huge CONFIDENTIAL stamped across them gave it away. The PC was also on with the screen clearly displaying what the receptionist had been doing before wandering off. In this instance it had been filling out a job application. I could have just grabbed a handful of notes and gone for a good read. Great stuff.
After about five minutes’ wait she appeared and I advised her I had an appointment. She asked who it was with and I said the oral surgery department. She gruffly asked for my appointment letter. When I told her I didn’t have it, she said, “Well I don’t have you on the computer as I don’t work for the oral surgery department. If you take a seat I’ll see if I can tell the nurse you’re here if I see her.” Her tone was like she was doing me a favour!
So, my point is:
- I don’t know or care that you don’t work for the oral surgery department
- If the hospital doesn’t want to spring for a separate receptionist you have to pretend you are the oral surgery receptionist
- Don’t act like you’re doing me a favour. I didnt want to be there. However, I was so be nice
- If you don’t like it… get another job. Ok, she was applying. However, with an attitude like that…
Eventually, about 40 minutes after my appointment time, I was called in and the tooth yanked out. It was ok.
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Sounds like Durham, the UK? I thought it was a bit bigger city. So based on your “tooth pulling” experience, what do you think? USA is in the process of switching toward the UK-like system. Do you think the way they treated you was because of everyone being underpaid including the receptionist? Katty
Thanks for your comments, Katy.
It was Durham, UK.
As an Englishman, I like to moan: it is my birthright.
However, I will say this about the whole tooth experience.
The oral surgery department at UHND is in the eye department because it is a special once-a-week clinic when specialists visit from a larger teaching hospital. Holding the clinic in Durham’s hospital is a convenience for local patients, such as I was at the time. Without it I would have to have traveled further for the treatment (and of course, further home afterward with a sore mouth). I had a choice about whether I attended the Durham clinic or traveled to Sunderland. I chose Durham.
The receptionist was crap. The disorganised nature of the reception area was one clinic in one hospital in one city. It was NOT a fair representation of the NHS as a whole. I have also had excellent service from receptionists many times, but not written about those as they don’t make for a good rant!
There are low paid jobs in the NHS, as indeed there will be in any healthcare system, service or business. Trained professionals are not underpaid in the slightest. I know a fair few NHS doctors and dentists. Most are minted, live in large houses and drive Audis and BMWs (those who don’t choose not to).
I worked for the NHS and was well paid for my (non-clnical) role. They did ok by me.
The best part of the whole tooth-experience was the cost: Free at point of delivery. I turned up, had my treatment and left. No paperwork, bills or credit cards.
I now live in the USA and we currently have no health insurance. If I get sick I’m stuffed! It’s not a nice feeling, I can tell you!