We went to see an NHS podiatrist for the first time and although he was experienced in his field I feel that his approach to R and some of the comments he made were inappropriate. First of all he was quite loud and over-friendly calling R "sweetness and light" and then tugging on her pony tail and I think he was just trying to be fun and playful but R just got upset and became uncooperative and didn't really want to be examined by him (she can be quite sensitive but also imagine a stranger who you have never met before doing this). He said to me (in response to her sensitivity) that what she needs is a brother or a sister ! ( to which I responded that I was a single parent (to which he had no response) and also that I should send her to school so she can mix with children her own age (I home educate and R attends a local kindergarten 3 days a week - she is very sociable and loves playing with other children). He then asked her (after a long pause on hearing I home educate and that no I am not a teacher) what she wants to be when she grows up and she just replied 'a hairdresser' to which he responded 'that's not very ambitious is it?! Why not a doctor or...' (R's ideas of what she wants to be change all the time, but seriously is that a way to speak to a 6 year old and why was it any of his business? I'm not sure R really understood this so I don't think it affected her but what if she had been older and understood, this could be a devastating statement to make to a young child)... Then he made some comments about how one of his boys used to embarrass him at supermarkets (in response to R being sensitive and not wanting to cooperate and crying) and said she was 'fiesty' (her refusal to cooperate) and the final thing he said before we left was 'my boys have pets (cats and chickens) and I bet they would like to have you as a pet!' I mean what on earth is that supposed to mean? ...The diagnosis was that she has hypermobility and that is why she gets leg pains at night (due to muscles having to work harder) but as she is physically fit and active and it doesn't impact her during the day then it is not so severe and will hopefully get better over time. He was very good at explaining what was going on - he also said that what she needed when she was in pain was 'robust sympathy' - what does that mean?... Am I being overly sensitive to his approach and comments and judgement, is it worth making a complaint? I don't think we will be seeing him again... Reminds me of the one time R was about 3 or 4 and I took her to the doctor to have her checked and he tickled her to try and get her to allow him to examine her (which didn't work at all) - I mean seriously are health professionals not trained in appropriateness and boundaries when it comes to kids? I have been advised to complain as he crossed many professional boundaries but I doubt that will do much to change his approach or personality... At the time I was too overwhelmed dealing with R's reactions and trying to get a diagnosis to respond maybe I was just stunned and didn't know how to react... Any thoughts? ...Also he asked whether she had seen the Harry Potter films (why is that relevant?) and told me that I was over-worrying about the overpronation of ankles/feet and leg pain...