Family Planning Clinic Staff Degrading

Lorrs33

I avoid going my local family planning clinic when I can because I find they are not discreet about your business. For example, whenever I ring them for an appointment, they DEMAND to know why you are going, and then proceed to repeat it out loud. I went to them the other day and after checking in, I went to sit down in the waiting room when all of a sudden I hear one of the secretaries shouting, 'repeat pill prescription, yeah?' Needless to say, my whole face burned up. I've also had incidents of them leaving me standing outside the clinic until they buzz the door, which is degrading in itself.

Anyone else had issues like this?

OkayWhatever

I went to get a pregnancy test done in a clinic when I was 16.

The person who worked there sat beside me in the waiting room and started telling me to stop having unprotected sex and it's about time I started using contraception because I was sexually active, in front of everyone. I didn't even have unprotected sex :mad: I was just so embarassed, she didn't need to say it in front of other people.

anewme

Sorry this reminds me of something that happened when I was about 19. I needed the Morning After Pill after a burst condom and I went to the Family Planning Clinic and made my boyfriend come along. I also sent him up to the counter as I was too chicken to do it myself.

Like you guys are saying, the staff were shouting like foghorns and he kept mumbling. The girl could not understand him and kept asking him to speak up a bit. Eventually he too like a foghorn said "I want to see someone about getting pregnant" The whole place turned and looked to see the man who wanted to be pregnant. He was red as a tomato, I was sitting with the large queue of people and red too and wishing the ground would open up.

It was nearly 25 years ago but any time anyone mentions the Family Planning Clinics and the way they broadcast your business, it reminds me of this and I smile.

Honey-ec

Lorrs33 wrote: »

I avoid going my local family planning clinic when I can because I find they are not discreet about your business. For example, whenever I ring them for an appointment, they DEMAND to know why you are going, and then proceed to repeat it out loud. I went to them the other day and after checking in, I went to sit down in the waiting room when all of a sudden I hear one of the secretaries shouting, 'repeat pill prescription, yeah?' Needless to say, my whole face burned up. I've also had incidents of them leaving me standing outside the clinic until they buzz the door, which is degrading in itself.

Anyone else had issues like this?

Erm, I think you're overreacting a bit. What's so embarrassing about a repeat pill prescription?

Also, I don't think having to wait outside for them to buzz you in is particularly "degrading". They could be in the loo or something.

krankykitty

Honey-ec wrote: »

Erm, I think you're overreacting a bit. What's so embarrassing about a repeat pill prescription?

Also, I don't think having to wait outside for them to buzz you in is particularly "degrading". They could be in the loo or something.

Mightn't be "degrading" as such, but is somebody broadcasting your personal medical business... Not particularly professional for someone working in a doctors office, and I'm sure there's data protection/confidentiality issues there too.

Shivers26

I never found them too bad. Its never going to be a walk in the park having to discuss your sex life and your girly bits with a stranger in fairness.

I had one doctor tut me because I have 2 sons and no daughters 'no daughters tut tut tut' - apparently you get judged for seeking contraception in those circumstances :eek:

The buzzing in thing never really bothered me either. I did feel sorry for the younger girls who were there, I think as I got a bit older I got less bothered about it and also I would lie to the receptionist on the phone about why I wanted to come in if it was something embarassing. I would just tell them I was due a mirena check up and then the doctor what I really wanted when I got in there.

Morag

krankykitty wrote: »

Mightn't be "degrading" as such, but is somebody broadcasting your personal medical business... Not particularly professional for someone working in a doctors office, and I'm sure there's data protection/confidentiality issues there too.

I think you are being a little over sensitive, if your not happy with the clinic then switch to another one or find a GPs practice which can handle all of your health care.

MissFlitworth

My family planning clinic (WellWoman) would always ask me what I want to make an appointment for but I think that's because there are some things you can only have done on certain days of your cycle (smears) and they only do some procedures on certain days of the week (fitting coils & stuff), so it's not like making a normal GP appointment.

They also have a buzzer on the door which I think is there so they can keep out the odd 'only sluts and heathens would need contraception' nutter. I definitely did find it all a bit intimidating when I was in my early 20s and not used to the whole shebang but have a rhinos skin to it now

Shivers26

MissFlitworth wrote: »

They also have a buzzer on the door which I think is there so they can keep out the odd 'only sluts and heathens would need contraception' nutter. I definitely did find it all a bit intimidating when I was in my early 20s and not used to the whole shebang but have a rhinos skin to it now

Actually now that you mention that, I think those clinics sometimes draw attention from anti-abortion protestors as some FPC's offer counselling services. Probably a well needed security measure.

Doctors receptionists are notorious for being nosy wagons who broadcast your business. Its just more annoying because of the personal nature of the FPC. There is one receptionist in my GP (his wife I think) and she wants to know all the ins and outs of why you are there before she decides you are worthy to be admitted to the inner sanctum.

Penny Dreadful

Lorrs33 wrote: »

I avoid going my local family planning clinic when I can because I find they are not discreet about your business. For example, whenever I ring them for an appointment, they DEMAND to know why you are going, and then proceed to repeat it out loud. I went to them the other day and after checking in, I went to sit down in the waiting room when all of a sudden I hear one of the secretaries shouting, 'repeat pill prescription, yeah?' Needless to say, my whole face burned up. I've also had incidents of them leaving me standing outside the clinic until they buzz the door, which is degrading in itself.

Anyone else had issues like this?

Given that you were in a family planning clinic the other people there who may have heard the "repeat pill prescription" comment were most likely there for something similar themselves.
Also, my GP has a buzzer operated door system which is in place to protect the staff and patients from any old person turning up and doing who knows what. All I do when I get there is buzz the door, they answer, I saw Penny Dreadful for appointment at X and they let me in. Nothing degrading there either.
Gotta agree with the others who say that maybe you're being a little over sensitive about things.

LeeHoffmann

I once went to one in Germany. Took a seat in the over-packed waiting room. My German wasn't the best and I'd heard tales so I was a little intimidated. The receptionist came over to take down some details for her file I suppose but she started asking me in depth personal questions right there in the quiet waiting room full of patients. The questions (about sexual history, the date of my last period etc) coupled with the language barrier meant I was mortified. The last straw was when she asked me the date of my last Untersuchung...I didn't know that word so she repeated it a few times (smirks and uncomfortable shifting of position all round the room)...eventually she translated it as 'investigation' :eek: I wanted to scream in embarrassment but feigned ignorance. Thus ended the conversation. BTW I was only 21

krankykitty

Sharrow wrote: »

I think you are being a little over sensitive, if your not happy with the clinic then switch to another one or find a GPs practice which can handle all of your health care.

It wasn't me that was unhappy (i'm not the OP) I was just saying I thought it was a bit off the receptionist shouting the reason for the visit. Like, if you were at the GP and the receptionist shouted out "Hey, are you here about your piles again, oh and the doctor left your Viagra prescription here for you"

I don't think its too much to ask that the reception staff be discreet about the purpose of your visit? It is a medical environment after all and it's hardly anyone else's business even if it is about something as minor as a pill prescription. If you were there for an STI check (which are offered in these clinics) , would you be happy with that being announced to all either?

username123

I wouldnt be remotely embarrassed about someone shouting repeat pill prescription, or about waiting to be buzzed in, or indeed about being asked some medical questions in a waiting room full of people. But if it was the case that I wasnt happy with my medical business being broadcast aloud Id have no problem shouting back just as loud 'DO YOU MIND USING SOME DISCRETION, ID RATHER NOT HAVE MY PERSONAL MEDICAL INFORMATION BROADCAST FOR ALL AND SUNDRY THANKS'.

I do remember going with a friend to one of those family planning clinics when she was about 17 (I think I was about 20) and I also remember thinking they were wagons the way they treated her, not so much the shouting of things, but more a whole tone of condecension and looking down on her. In retrospect I wonder if it was our own naivety and embarrassment that had us thinking there was any of that? I really dont know, but as another poster said, Id have rhino skin these days.

NeonCookies

I have to say, the women's health centre I go to could not be any better. My first experience of it was as a scared 19 year old needing the morning after pill. Took me ages to build up the courage to walk inside. I hadn't made an appointment so I walked up to the receptionist asking to see a doctor. Was early in the morning and no one was in the waiting room. She asked me what it was for and if it was an emergency and I almost burst out crying! She guessed from my face and asked if it was for the MAP, and I nodded and she gave me an appointment in 30 minutes time and just smiled and told me not to worry and to go get myself a cup of tea while I waited. The doctor was also lovely, no real lecture or anything, she just reassured me.

I've been back a couple of times in the last few years (I find them much better than my own old male GP when it comes to specific "woman issues") from actual problems to most recently getting my implant fitted and they are always lovely, professional and discreet and make me feel very comfortable. Complete opposite of degrading

LeeHoffmann

^ I had to get the MAP once myself and my doc and receptionist were quite sympathetic, which was a relief and comfort to me. They were also discrete. A friend of mine (when we were about 17) had to get it but she came out crying. She said the doc had given her a guilt trip and freaked her out about STI's - obviously it's the doc's job to inform her patients about such things but I guess there's a way to do it and a bit of calm, sensitivity and understanding wouldn't have gone amiss. I'd say the majority of doctors have a more balanced/sympathetic attitude but a bad experience can stay with you.

ElleEm

I have personally only used the Family Planning Clinic once, when I was 16. It was after the first time I had had sex, the condom split but the guy didn't come. Went to the clinic on a half day from school, in my uniform and all. The woman went mental at me, kept saying I shouldn't have had unprotected sex, etc. She wouldn't listen to me when I told her we had used a condom. I was mortified. I vowed never to use them again. The docs are always much nicer about contraception, I find.

I used to work with vulnerable teens, and had to go to the clinics a bit with them, and even though they were different ones (location) the staff were still rude and judgemental. I have pulled them up on this though, as a grown up I have the confidence I didn't when I was a scared youngone.

Kimia

I too think it's a disgrace that anyone would be so unprofessional as to broadcast your personal business across a waiting room, but at the same time I would have absolutely no problem getting up, walking over them and asking them to keep their voice down. The more people who do this the better! They might cop on then.

jellie

If you are unhappy with the service then 1) complain and 2) dont return. I had to go to a womens clinic recently & was quite nervous but they could not have been nicer to me.