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Original poster

My doctor has described me as ‘a very pleasant lady’

205 replies

HouseyMcHouseFace · 28/01/2019 19:45

And it made me cry.

I have to go to hospital tomorrow for an infusion and needed a letter from my doctor as it’s an urgent referral thing. She wrote the referral with my age, weight and the fact that I’m very pleasant.

I am feeling poorly and a bit down at the moment but it really made my day.

OP posts:
Vitalogy · 28/01/2019 23:07

And the naysayers try and bring OP back down to earth with a bump Hmm

As another poster who is a GP has said, they also use it for people they like, that's if you aren't a cold hearted cynic though.

LaurelAndMardy · 29/01/2019 01:31

How do you get to see these letters?

Also I never knew it was called an infusion. Makes it sound like you’re going in for a cup of tea! Every day’s a school day.

Best of luck OP.

Alanamackaree · 29/01/2019 06:17

I was described as “difficult” so I’m pretty sure that “pleasant” means pleasant.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Stompythedinosaur · 29/01/2019 07:46

Does anyone know what sensible is doctor code for?

Sensible means will show up for appointments, will listen to options and make their own decision, won't have a tantrum in reception if they have to wait for an emergency, understands that treatment may take time multiple appointments or some discomfort.

Original poster
HouseyMcHouseFace · 29/01/2019 09:07

laurel it was a last minute appointment so I had to take the letter with me to show when I get to the hospital. Irrelevant now though as appointment was cancelled. Again.

Is there a way of setting up an iv iron infusion at home? Only half joking. I’m early thirties and currently unable to walk my dc the 300m to school as I keep fainting. And not even in an elegant way that gets me swept up by a handsome gentleman. In a crack my head on a wall and land in a dog shit kind of way.

OP posts:
MeetJoeTurquoise · 29/01/2019 09:38

I've had lots of very pleasant, lovely's and delightful from one consultant over the years. They always great me with a smile and we can joke about stuff. It is a compliment and I don't give them a hard time at all, I'm a well behaved patient Grin

Good luck op.

Escapenextyear · 29/01/2019 09:42

Standard language I’m afraid ! Bit good luck

KatherinaMinola · 29/01/2019 10:11

Oh how interesting. Mine also noted my occupation - I did think that was barely relevant (although perhaps there to gauge whether sedentary/active etc) but perhaps it was a warning!

Fazackerley · 29/01/2019 10:15

It's not code! How bizarre that people think it is!

It means you are easier than a lot of the stroppy difficult people that come in.

MrsFezziwig · 29/01/2019 10:21

Former hospital worker here. It is used widely but then most people are pleasant, so why wouldn’t it? (Also used in opposition to “batshit crazy” or “has unreasonable expectations which no-one will ever be able to satisfy”) Wink which sadly you are not allowed to write in letters.

MorningsEleven · 29/01/2019 10:25

It's not code! How bizarre that people think it is!
People who've worked in the NHS and know fine well what it means?

Fazackerley · 29/01/2019 10:26

I've worked in the NHS. It means you are 'pleasant'. It's used widely but it certainly doesn't mean you are bolshy.

icannotremember · 29/01/2019 10:34

It really depends which GP is writing about me! The GP who referred me for sterilisation a couple of years ago and who has recently referred me for prolapse repair always writes that I am "very pleasant". Other GP wrote on the letter referring my eldest to ds to CAMHS that he had seen "this young man and his very persistent mother", and when the psych wrote back to the GP I was described as "extremely determined". I would have described myself as hysterical with worry, but it's true that I was not 'very pleasant' in either appointment...

Whatdoiwanttohear · 29/01/2019 10:39

Hee hee anyone else think I shall be aiming for a no 10 - delightful - next time they see a consultant! I had either pleasant or very pleasant last time, I'm intrigued now so will be looking for the letter later!

Juells · 29/01/2019 10:39

In a crack my head on a wall and land in a dog shit kind of way.

Well as long as you can see the funny side... :( :( :(

Flowers
TheSpottedZebra · 29/01/2019 10:45

Am I the only one who thinks that judgements on patients' characters, be they positive or negative, don't belong in medical letters? confused It feels rather patronising and presumptuous, tbh.

You're not AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo but it's amazing how were just meant to accept this as they way things have always been done. Medical staff are doing a great job, but they're not there to stand in judgement on our character or personality during a long-awaited or much-feared appointment. And surely nice people, or those with a relative in the medical profession are not more deserving or better treatment?

Under the NHS, we're all meant to be equal, aren't we?

CurbsideProphet · 29/01/2019 10:47

I asked my doctor friend about this after over 10 years of my consultant calling me a pleasant lady in his letters. It is obviously used for patients who are pleasant to deal with. I don't know why some posters are claiming it means the opposite, unless they just want to deliberately shit on the OP who is having a tough time already.

Hope you're OK @HouseyMcHouseFace I'm sure that you are a pleasant lady Smile

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 29/01/2019 10:50

I read it as if it say you’re a pleasant lady then you’re a pleasant lady, if it doesn’t say anything then you’re probably not.

listsandbudgets · 29/01/2019 10:56

My neurologist described me as "unusually inquisitive" I am not sure it was a compliment!!

listsandbudgets · 29/01/2019 11:00

OP I am sure if he wrote pleasant he meant pleasant... as you can see from the other posts there are so many other ways he could have described you.

go have a slice of cake and a lovely cup of tea and rejoice in being pleasant not as I've been variously described "unusually inquisitive" "persistent" or as my GP once described me in a letter to a consultant "deeply distressed" (one up on deeply distrubed I suppose :) )

viques · 29/01/2019 11:03

weedangerousspike a consultant accompanied by a group of students described me as a prima gravida, I gave him a look because I thought he was being snide about my unmarried status. One of the students, who I sincerely hope has gone on to great things, stayed back for a second and whispered in my ear what it meant. Top marks to that student for observation and compassion!

Limpshade · 29/01/2019 11:09

Sorry, OP, it's a standard turn of phrase on doctor's letters. I used to spend every summer as a student working in a hospital's medical records department and in the hundreds of notes I'd see each day, this seemed to be a substitute phrase for "normal and polite". Thats's not to take anything away from you, though - I also saw some not so very veiled language for "rude and obnoxious".

WhoKnewBeefStew · 29/01/2019 11:10

My dr at the breast clinic signed me off from him as for and healthy and very present lady Grin

HappydaysArehere · 29/01/2019 11:15

Same here. Same phrase. It’s obviously intended to make you feel better about yourself and the doctor who wrote it. Seems to be a common courtesy but very nice.

hatethinkingofusernames · 29/01/2019 11:17

@HouseyMcHouseFace I work in medical. If they say you're pleasant it's because you're pleasant x

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