Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits. Receptionists are asked to collect brief information from patients: 1 – to help doctors prioritise phone calls and house visits 2 – to ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care 3 - to direct patients to see the nurse or HCA, signpost to the appropriate service or other health care professional rather than a doctor where appropriate Reception staff, like all members of the team, are bound by confidentiality rules - Any information given by you is treated strictly confidential
- The practice would take any breach of confidentially very seriously and deal with accordingly
- You can ask to speak to the receptionist in private away from reception
- However if you feel an issue is very private and do not wish to say what it is then this will be respected
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