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They are bound by confidentiality laws. They can look at your records if they are required to do so for their job. So for example, if the practice is conductnig an audit about how many patients come to visit the GP in a week but are only given advice to buy something over the counter, the receptionist may look at the records of all those people who had an appointment that week, because her job role requires her to do so. If she was just a nosy moo who wanted to know what the sexy man who saw Dr X on Thursday was in for then she shouldn't be looking. Of course that doesn't mean she won't.
As for confirming things, I don't know why the receptionist would need to say your name and purpose for visit allowed for the waiting room to hear. Some practices no longer take repeat prescriptions over the telephone because of the issues raised in this thread. If you are really bothered about confidentiality at your surgery I would urge you to take up the matter with the practice manager. Nothing will change unless you speak up.
Where I worked we would not allow someone to collect a prescription on someone else's behalf unless they gave us express written permission to do so. They had to sign the form infront of us to authorise a named person to collect on their behalf and then that person had to bring ID. Yes, it was a clart on for most people, and yes, we did suffer tons of "but she's my WIFE" related abuse but it made sure that nobody could steal your prescription without your knowledge.
My mum used to do that, she used to get things like every month and always felt the need to get me more pills, it got to the point where i have a years supple within 3 months so just had to tell her to stop.
She picked up some tablets for me today as well.
That was one of the reasons we bruoght it in. A neighbouring surgery had allowed a man to pick up his daughter's prescription and a few days later she was in hospital having been beated up for being sexually active. :nervous:
She was picking up one of hers, and they 'kindly' gave her mine as well at the same time. Lead to a nice falling out when we got home, she thought I was doing all sorts behind her back etc etc. This was years back now, and it was solely for acne.
Which is exactly what I thought.