I think people like this should be publicly named and shamed! It's disgusting!
I'm disabled but it's mainly invisible but anyone observing would see I have a slight limp and am not exactly speedy! Weirdly many chairs are unsuitable for me so I'm often standing/pacing as sitting is too painful/likely to cause numbing.
I've occasionally had to explain this to people who've noted the limp and offered me a seat, who are being quite insistent that I sit in a chair I'd likely need an hour and an injection to get up from again!
Clearly the man in the op's example is plenty fit enough to stand and just a rude git!
I'm a gobby cow though and if I see clearly fit (eg I've just seen them do a little jog or something else that indicates it) people taking up seats they don't need I'll tell them to get up! It's basic good manners.
My aunt has an invisible disability (heart condition means she can't walk far) she got so sick of older BUT fitter people having a go at her for sitting at the front on buses she's started taking her blue badge with her (even though not needed for buses) and silently holds it right up to their faces.
Personally I think if they do it in medical places they should be fined! Especially if they get rude/aggressive. Unfortunately the nature of nhs employees (caring, understanding) generally means they're reluctant to deal with these idiots (that and the very real threat of violence).
Fluffymule - Re chemo - I'd go as far as to say anyone obviously ill/infectious shouldn't be admitted at all unless a patient. That's not just ridiculous that's potentially fatal!
Celebelly maybe it's the cantankerousness of age but I'd have told him to "turn that off! The midwife needs to hear the equipment!"
I do think if more people complained and told off these arses they'd be less likely to do it. People weren't better mannered in the past because they were better people but because there were consequences.
I've a lot of military in my family and knowing them well I honestly believe it's more the case their manners improved because when they were in if reports went to their bosses of poor behaviour it wasn't just a bollocking it affected promotion prospects!
Ditto schools now not properly disciplining pupils, when I was at school if we misbehaved in school uniform we got in trouble off the school AND parents (school would tell the parents in full expectation there'd be consequences at home too) and we'd get (depending on the severity of the "crime") litter duty, extra homework, detention, stopped from going on next school jolly.
Too many people don't behave well altruistically but to avoid consequences for themselves. We seem to have forgotten this.
Here's an idea - what about patients get a (reusable) wristband and only those with wristbands can sit when seating ltd/busy. Then if necessary staff can check periodically and tell any non wristband wearers to get up!
And on buses/trains hard barriers across seats that only disabled/pregnant passengers (who'd have an appropriate barcode or something on their ticket) can access.
actually what I'd like is each seat wired to provide a small electric shock and if a staff member spots a non patient sitting can give em a jolt! Would also be good to apply on buses & trains
Chocatoo - herein lies the difficulty though. Dd appears fit but has a hidden disability (eds) and standing on buses in particular can result very easily in injury if the bus stops suddenly or she's jostled. We ended up getting a disabled ID thingy for her cos she was constantly getting berated for not standing. She does though get friends/acquaintances to stand for others and will stand at a push if she can "anchor" herself and they're more disabled than she and no other fucker will
Rarfy and others re wards. Long time since I've worked on one but for patient rest ALONE I think doing away with strict visitors rules was the worst idea ever!
"We see this dreadful entitled behaviour going on yet we continue to facilitate it by tutting, sighing, complaining afterwards but not calling the guilty people out at the time!" Exactly!
MrsAriadne - personally I think security should have been called to remove those men. That's utterly disgusting behaviour!
On "but they might have an invisible disability" if that's the case they usually have no problem saying so, most of the time they don't, they're just lazy, selfish, entitled arses - and yes usually men!