To find my report from breast clinic condescending?

[duletty]

I’m 44, had breastfeeding pain for a few months and then found a large lump on the underside of my arm near arm pit.
Gp arranged a quick appointment (was three weeks when usually a two week wait)....
Any way after mammogram and ultrasound they said it was cysts and calcification, so all good.
Got letter today outlining results and it said:
“Saw the this delightful lady in clinic today”......etc etc
I find this language unprofessional and it pissed me off that it was shitty code like a child’s school report.
I have to write reports for EHCPs and use appropriate professional language do it set me on edge.
Am I being precious?

Seriously though how PC have we gone when a doctor can’t refer to someone as delightful! We know fine there was no offence intended.

Simmer down we do pretty well! I’m aware we pay national insurance knowledge 🙄

@BarbaraofSeville

Sorry, but that's dreadful. Not professional at all. Reports on this sort of thing should be factual and medical. I do wonder if they would write in a similar manner about a man who was having tests for testicular cancer?

Don’t know about the testicular cancer, but, yes, they do write in similar terms about men.

And even if you don’t pay National insurance.. guess what they still treat you!

Not free then, is it.

They always do this. And all my consultants letters have been sent to my GP and I've been cc'd. They all start "it was a pleasure to meet this lovely young lady..." "It was lovely to meet this delightful.." I think it's sweet, I doubt it's personal though I'm sure it's just the standard form of the letter.

It's quite old fashioned but as others have said it's code for "this patient is sensible/reasonable/not a complete pain in the arse". It's not meant in any malice or to be patronising. If it makes any difference the same kind of language is used of male patients too...." this pleasant gentleman" for example.

While in my experience it tends to be older medics who use it now, I was definitely happier being referred to as "this pleasant lady" than I am now, when I'm "this middle-aged lady". (And yes, the last one is relevant to my particular health condition!)

Take it as a compliment! It means you were a pleasant patient to deal with as opposed to a taxing one or even worse a horrendous chav!

We breaks our backs for our patients and there's people complaining that a Dr has referred to someone as delightful.

Just can't win.

All my reports and my sins reports comeback like this. "I saw this delightful young lady..." or "I saw this lovely young boy...". It's better than "I saw thia miserable old hag...'

I don't mind it, I think it's quite nice. I hope your troubles aren't too serious and easily sorted.

However this I have to write reports for EHCPs and use appropriate professional language do it set me on edge

I find an irony in when I want to send my sons EHCPs back covered in red pen corrections. For a professional document it hurts my head

I was described as delightful on a mental health referral some time back - think it's standard code for medical professionals.

I’ve had letters from the hospital & they always say this - not sure why they can’t just say saw Ms Such & such 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is the custom and practice with hospital letters to a GP.
Have you really got the time to bother about such a small thing? You should count yourself lucky that your lump turned out to be a cyst (mine didn't) and that we live a country where we have a free NHS.

We breaks our backs for our patients and there's people complaining that a Dr has referred to someone as delightful

OP posted anonymously on an internet forum, she hasn't complained to the doctor or anyone involved in her care. It is a bit odd for someone not familiar with it, I would find it weird, what's wrong with someone's name and then other members of staff you come into contact with judging for themselves. I don't really care enough to be outraged, but that's a bit of an over the top comment.

I'd love to know how they describe my son (who models himself on the young ones in respect of personal hygiene)........

My accountant doesn't do it.
My solicitor doesn't do it.
Both post grad qualified professionals who I call John and Fiona and who use my first name having asked if they may.
I fail to understand why Drs do it.

What's the difference? Let me think. Oh yes it's because the service is free at the point of delivery and they think they can behave as patronising twats because they don't rely on me to pay their fee. Oh but I do ducks - in spades.
It says absolutely everything and I fail to understand why I should be grateful for a service that is too often sub optimal and isn't free. What exactly should one be grateful for?

@Staplemaple

We breaks our backs for our patients and there's people complaining that a Dr has referred to someone as delightful

OP posted anonymously on an internet forum, she hasn't complained to the doctor or anyone involved in her care. It is a bit odd for someone not familiar with it, I would find it weird, what's wrong with someone's name and then other members of staff you come into contact with judging for themselves. I don't really care enough to be outraged, but that's a bit of an over the top comment.

It's really not.

Groan! Every evening I sit here ready to be entertained by mums net hilarity. Never before have I been moved to post but for gods sakes woman you must have a thoroughly miserable existence to have found something to moan about in this.

she hasn't complained to the doctor or anyone involved in her care

Nobody ever said she had.

@failingmother people used to say things like that about women going to work. Or serfs wanting their freedom. You get three groats and a pint of ale yet complain you can't be a free man.

Someone always has a bug bear about stuff like this. Your results were clear...why would you have an issue with phrases like ‘pleasant lady’???

@OhTheRoses, your contempt for the NHS is legendary on MN. Why on earth do you keep using it when it pisses you off so much? It’s pretty obvious from your posts that you could easily afford to pay for hcps to treat you in the way you consider appropriate.

I do much of the time @AlsoHuman. There are still bots of it one has to use though such as A&E or the occasional GP appointment. It's good to keep in touch with the real world don't you think.

Thrilled to be legendary and as I pay so much for it, occasionally I sample it. Some of the consultants are fab like the lady I see in Rheumatology but the services around some of these stars are truly horrendous.

I have choices, therefore I reserve the right to complain when I think it might make a difference. I think the attitude and lack of service of many in it absolutely stinks and that the people deserve so much better.