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?

It's standard. I find them amusingly old fashioned but it's convention.

It's just doctorspeak.

It’s not a code it’s just social niceties acknowledging you’re an amenable patient and there were no problems outside your immediate reason for the consultation.

Its very common in the hospital I work in but different doctors have different styles. Some will consistently refer to the patient’, others make use of the formal mr/mrs/ms or even first name terms throughout. It’s a fine balance, for every person who dislikes personal opinion or over-familiarity another really likes it and it makes them feel less like just the next on the list. Can’t make everyone happy all of the time I suppose.

When the content of the consultant letter is full of doom and gloom then I’m quite thankful for the random compliment at the top of the letter. It might be old fashioned and unprofessional but sometimes it’s nice to be acknowledged as a human being rather than just a physical body with a condition.

Who cares! The NHS are heroes and we are lucky to have it. Think of that instead of trivial rubbish like this

Would you have preferred, saw this miserable bitch in clinic today?!

That’s what I’d be writing about her next time if I were the poor doctor and recognised her from this thread

I’m a doctor. I used to write more descriptive letters. It paints a picture of the person and what is important to them and can be helpful for my memory and that of the next doctor. I still describe patients as delightful on occasion usually for an older person. It flags up that they were very very nice , extremely good for their age and suggests to me and the reader that we should go above and beyond the call of duty .

It's absolutely normal language for consultants to use when writing to doctors and dentists. I've had copies of letters that say something similar, and so has my husband.

I'm a solicitor and did a lot of personal injury cases as a trainee and read many medical reports. The pleasant/ delightful patient is commonly referred to. I thought it rather twee but my supervising partner explained it is a type of professional "code" to indicate that they think the patient had given an honest account and not exaggerated their symptoms etc. A report saying simply "this man/lady" indicates a reservation or concern.

I work in adult social care so we regularly get referrals for elderly people, often saying things like "this delightful 88 year old woman". We are still waiting for the one which says "Mr B, 92 and a pain in the arse..."

I don't think you are being unreasonably, I think it's unnecessary and odd.

In your shoes I think I'd probably be concentrating more on the positive fact that my lump was benign and I had the privilege of being seen by the fantastic NHS within three weeks to confirm that. There are far worse thing to be called on a piece of paper than 'lovely'. Some people can really get pissed off about anything.

Medical secretary here. Most of the Consultant's I have worked for have started their clinic letters as 'I reviewed this patient' or I was pleased to see this patient again' etc. Patients get a copy of the letter these days.

20 years ago, patients did not get a copy and I recall typing one that started... 'I saw this big fat slob of a man...'

It's absolutely standard, it's not condescending to you personally. This whole convention is condescending to patients though.

I don't like it because it implies that doctors can meet someone and reliably assess their personality, attitudes, thoughts or mental state. They cannot. They may sometimes get it right but are often wrong and do a great deal of harm in the process. This 'code' is a way of deciding that they know best, letting others know the label they have put on someone...it's really not based on clinical or safe assessment.

sorry... random apostrophe there. I blame the Saturday night vodka.

I'm so sarcastic I'd assume they were calling me a dick but glad you've been reassured OP.

My DH's consultant wrote: "I saw this 76-year-old patient..."

DH was really narked - he's only 66! (Mind you, he does look older!)

It’s a shame when being “professional” can only mean some sort of grey-suited, emotionless corporatism. Seems like if this kind of pleasantry is standard in the medical profession, even if it’s not in whatever your profession is, then it is actually perfectly professional.

I still describe patients as delightful on occasion usually for an older person. It flags up that they were very very nice , extremely good for their age and suggests to me and the reader that we should go above and beyond the call of duty

I see how that could be very helpful/important (I hope someone would do that for my mum if it became necessary), and I am not doubting your judgment, but is this risky with some doctors? Not all will get it right, and it worries me that a patient who has negative past experiences with medicine, or is a poor communicator, or just misunderstood for any number of reasons, could be deemed less 'deserving' of the best treatment. Then if other doctors do regard them accordingly, it could become somewhat of a vicious circle.

Some NHS workers are heroes, some are shit. Can we not over generalise please?

Yes many doctors and specialists will write this. Totally normal and professional as it describes your sex (female) and your general countenance in very short words.

@olympicsrock Please keep on doing what you're doing. I hope you'd ignore ridiculous, petty and precious complaints from the likes of the OP. Most people would think "there but for the grace of God go I"

Same Dr code in France. I was unreasonably pleased!

As an ex-NHS worker this language is bizarrely common but it also used to make my toes curl. I suspect their was a misguided "bedside manner" course some doctors attended in the 1980's where it was claimed people liked this kind of language

Christ, the things people moan about! I have had breast cancer, so have had several letters like this and was quite chuffed to see 'delightful' in there, especially when it had actually been a nice appointment. Can't believe some people would moan about this, only on Mumsnet!

Didn't realise it was simply code for 'not a pain in the arse' though, that's taken the shine off it a bit!

I don’t understand why anybody would be offended about this, why is there so much to be offended about these days. It’s old fashioned but in no way sexist or condescending.