Doctors’ receptionists should be trained to “deal more sensitively with patients” as they could be putting people off seeing their GP, according to research.

A study published in the Journal of Public Health found 37 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women do not like having to talk to a receptionist about what is wrong when trying to book an appointment.

More than 40 per cent of people reported finding it difficult to get an appointment with a particular doctor or an appointment at a convenient time.

And more than a third of people said they were put off visiting their GP because they did want to be seen as someone who makes a fuss.

The analysis was taken from the Cancer Awareness Measure, a survey of almost 2,000 people run by Cancer Research UK via the national opinions and lifestyle survey from the Office for National Statistics.

It follows a 2015 study published in the British Journal of General Practice when researchers posed as patients with stroke symptoms to call GP receptionists, and found around one third of calls were not recognised as emergencies.

Dr Richard Roope, Cancer Research UK's GP expert, said: "We need to ensure that patients are able to get appointments at a convenient time, can book an appointment to see a particular doctor and aren't put off coming to see them in the first place.

“This may mean more emphasis on training front-desk staff including receptionists to deal more sensitively with patients.”

Dr Jodie Moffat, lead author and head of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said: "There's still more to learn about the things that may put people off going to their doctor, and how important they are when it comes to actually influencing behaviour.

"But it's clear that a new sign or symptom, or something that has stayed or got worse over time, needs to be checked out by a GP. Don't let anything put you off. The chances of surviving cancer are greater when it's caught at an early stage, before it's had a chance to spread, and seeking help sooner rather than later could make all the difference."

Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's GP committee, said: "All receptionists receive training to help ensure that when a patient calls they are given the most effective advice about what appointment they may need, but it is always made clear that are under no obligation to disclose information they are not comfortable with."

What are you experiences – good or bad – of dealing with receptionists at GP surgeries, or of actually doing the job yourself? Add your comments below.