to write to the NHS using just my initials and to expect them not to assume I'm a Mr.

[RedToothBrush]

I have made five FOI requests in the last month, using my initial and no title.

Two of the responses (so far) I've had have been addressed to Mr.

AIBU to think that I should be allowed not to state my gender and marital status when making formal and official enquiries and to simply be addressed as I have titled myself.

Is this really too much to ask or expect?

[madoldbird]

I started out thinking Y were BU, then re-read what you wrote, and saw you just wanted to be addressed as you had ended your letter, which actually does seem reasonable, even if to others Dear Initial Surname seems awkward. You have indicated how you wish to be addressed, so why can't this be used? I tend to end letters Firstname Surname, so responses come back Dear Ms Surname, which is fine, as i don't see why people need to know if i'm married or not.

[Floggingmolly]

I don't see why people need to know if I'm married or not
What is this mindset?? It's for the convenience of being able to address your correspondence correctly; nobody actually cares, you know?

[madoldbird]

My correspondence can simply be addressed with "Ms" (as any man's can be addressed "Mr". 'Tis not a problem

[givemeaname]

I work in customer service and its frustrating when i receive communications which are signed M. Givemeaname which i then have to follow up with a telephone call - have you ever called & asked to speak to a M.givemeaname?
YABU. I never understand why people have such a hang up about giving their gender or marital status, are you ashamed or something? No one actually cares if you are Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Master, male, female or transgender so why hide the fact? Anyway, only 2 out the 5 replied Mr so the odds are in your favour. You need to lighten up.

[houseelfdobby]

Of course nobody cares whether you are married or not which is why it is SO odd that many of you are not questioning the convention where women are asked for their marital status every time they write a letter or an email but men are not. We need a new convention. Initials Surname seems good enough. Sure, if you are the poor operative and have a drop down list then that's tough but really the people WRITING the drop down menus should be more imaginative and at least have a Mr/Ms option instead of having to choose between Mr or Ms.

Incidentally Ms has never really taken off because it is hard to pronounce and has been appropriated as shorthand for separated/ "it's complicated" which is a whole message of its own. I wouldn't mind so much if men had to do the same but cannot stand the casual sexism that dictates the continuance of this convention of marital status declaration by only women, for no apparent purpose.

[houseelfdobby]

Of course nobody cares whether you are married or not which is why it is SO odd that many of you are not questioning the convention where women are asked for their marital status every time they write a letter or an email but men are not. We need a new convention. Initials Surname seems good enough. Sure, if you are the poor operative and have a drop down list then that's tough but really the people WRITING the drop down menus should be more imaginative and at least have a Mr/Ms option instead of having to choose between Mr or Ms.

Incidentally Ms has never really taken off because it is hard to pronounce and has been appropriated as shorthand for separated/ "it's complicated" which is a whole message of its own. I wouldn't mind so much if men had to do the same but cannot stand the casual sexism that dictates the continuance of this convention of marital status declaration by only women, for no apparent purpose.

[houseelfdobby]

sorry about the double post

[ClareMarriott]

RedToothBrush

In the space of one day your query over using just initials has generated 108 responses. If I require information from a formal body I provide them with my full name , address, date of birth, NI number or anything else I think may be relevant and then send off for what I want. This way there should be no confusion over who I am . Now can we all get on with our lives please ?

[madoldbird]

I got fed up with people assuming that because i used Mrs, I had a husband, and that my children had a father around. I was a widow. Those assumptions (frequent) hurt. Using Ms helped stopped people making those assumptions

[EmmelineGoulden]

You could just use Dr. - it doesn't give away your gender or marital staus and it's not protected as a title by law. Just don't go trying to make people think you're medically qualified or an expert in any particular area.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

See, I would say Ms has taken off. It's a pretty standard choice, at least.

[ivykaty44]

So what sort of information do you request for in a FOI request

You may wish to see a deceased relatives medical records

or coroners record

or you may want to know about general numbers of patients being seen in a&e

To put 5 request in though could be deemed as harrasment so it would be wise to be careful

FOI can be charged for if there is a certain amount of work involved so that the work doesn't impact on the service

[CecilyP]

Agreed, Ms seems to be an option on just about every form.

[ClippedPhoenix]

Well put your correct before's in then!

Nutter!

[tigerdriverII]

In my experience FOI requests are often made by journalists. Not always of course, and there are legitimate reasons for making them, but they are often fishing expeditions.

[ivykaty44]

I probably look at around 4-5 FOI a week and never see them from jornalists, a lot from OAP's though

[Floggingmolly]

Just how daft / paranoid would you have to be to call yourself Dr.
Emmeline, just to avoid disclosing your marital status to anyone??? NOBODY CARES

[EmmelineGoulden]

You don't have to be paranoid flogging, just bored. I have tried many different titles in my time. Oddly it turns out quite a lot of people do care a very little bit, so it can be quite amusing. I've used Mr. a few times but that mainly confuses people.

[notcitrus]

I get loads of NHS letters, and most are addressed to Dear Not Citrus, with about equal numbers to Mr, Mrs, Ms and Dr Citrus (either of the last two would be correct - I'm not an MD so don't use Dr in medical settings by default, but my PhD is in biomedical stuff so I do sometimes pull it out if being patronised...). Plus lots to Parent/Carer of Mini Citrus or Micro Citrus, as well as Master and Miss Citrus.

The audiotypists and admin staff should know better, yes, and like OP I get annoyed by the Mr or Mrs assumptions, but standards of letters seem to have plummeted in the last couple years, so badly that I can't understand the last one - I think it's meant to say 'hyper' a lot or possibly 'hypo' but says 'hipo' mostly instead, with lots of other typos. If I have to choose I'd prefer the medical terminology to be correct over a title, but I suspect someone who could do the former would manage the latter anyway.

And FOI requests shouldn't be a burden on any organised body - most of the time people are asking the same questions they did before the Act, but ensuring they are taken seriously. And I've been on the receiving end of shedloads of them. The public should have the right to know what is done with their money and in their name!