"Kindly" in medical notes

[Orangeblossom78]

I got some copies of medical notes about an operation a few years ago. It was an emergency and needed admission through A & E etc.

Anyway, I noticed in the notes it says the surgeons had 'kindly' said they would accept the patient and come and see me (in A & E) I had previous surgery there.

AIBU or is this a bit odd? Surely yes they would see a patient needed admitted, not because they were 'being kind'.

Makes me feel a bit worried in case of another admission.

It’s like ‘kind regards’ or ‘best wishes’ at the end of an email.

I once got a copy of a letter to my GP from a hospital doctor who'd seen me for allergy testing. 'Thank you for referring this pleasant middle-aged lady to us', it started.

A psychiatrist I used to know told me that when she was recently qualified in the 80s it was very common to use all sorts of shorthand in notes. The one I remember is FLK, standing for funny-looking kid. She claimed it was useful.

'Well informed lady' = has spent too much time on Dr Google

I had 'we had a long chat about' on follow up- think this sounds like they got a bit fed up explaining it all!

I read lots of referrals and some do sound odd
Today I met mr xyz a retired heating engineer
Or this very pleasant lady .
It’s just how they talk

orange "Funny how we can interpret things quite differently."

It really is! I think that's the thing I find the most fascinating about mumsnet. People can be so offended by wedding invites, thank you cards, texts, just generally dissecting interactions and taking them in different ways. But depending on your upbringing / family traditions / culture / area / career etc etc you may do the opposite and mean no harm at all.

I often read posts and think I hope I'm not going around offending people without even knowing!

For what it's worth though I totally get why you would wonder about this. Such a vulnerable time to reflect on too. Glad some HCP have been able to clear it up for you.

It’s the way they write the notes up. I’ve seen a lot of medical notes through work and consultants do say things like “I saw this charming lady/man” and “thank you for kindly referring this lady to me”. You’re reading way to much into it, if you think it’s anything other than politeness.

Sorry,m@NCasIknowMNettersn-:but I do think that's a bit wankerish

My favourite to date is "this charming right handed woman". Sums me right up.

On the subject as there are some medics around, does anyone know if it is true that they don't keep the surgical notes more than 8 years? it says online they destroy them 8 years after they last saw you.

Hospital records I mean.

I think it means they have kindly accepted that they are the correct people to deal with you rather suggeting you get treatment elsewhere. Or it could that didn't have capactity to take anyone else but they have kindly areed to go above capacity to you.

It depends is the short answer to how long medical records are kept here

My referral for IVF said ‘on examination, she is a pale, thin woman’
ie to skinny and anaemic to conceive naturally!!!

It’s a bit archaic but how it’s always been done so the formality will take a while to filter out.

As a HCP I get examination requests with a fair bit of Latin phrases thrown in.

It's a doctor thing, they love the word. I work on a ward where specialities refer to each other and they always say "kindly accepted" or "kindly agreed". Last week a doctor asked me if I would "kindly" do bloods on a patient.

^^ this

I asked the hospital records lady if they destroy notes after 8 years and she told me they haven't had to do this yet but may do. I guess it depends how much they have