Mask shamed (disability), complain? (Some TMI)

[Maskwoes]

I've NCed for this thread as I expect the details I share will make the case highly identifiable. MNHQ can confirm I'm a member of some years.

I have several disabilities, physical and psychological. I am unable to wear a face mask because I have PTSD from sexual trauma as a young teen. I'm sorry for TMI but it's relevant to the case - I was raped and penetrated in my mouth too. Due to this nothing can cover my mouth, it's an instant panic attack.

I had to attend a hospital yesterday - minor injuries unit. I approached to book in and was instantly ordered to put on a mask, one was offered, to which I replied I was unable to do so due to a mental health condition. She fetched a nurse who asked why I was refusing to wear one, and that if I did not then I would be removed from the unit. This area is very open and very public, with other patients being seen at the side of me.

I was becoming extremely anxious at this point and explained that I have PTSD. They wanted details. I was essentially railroaded into detailing what happened as a teen. I was told to wait and then taken into a room with a doctor and another nurse. I again had to explain in detail my PTSD. I was then offered a visor type mask which I found very claustrophobic and in all honesty unbearable.

I was then triaged, assessed and treated. In total I explained everything three times, had an hour-long major panic attack in the car afterwards and have been very on edge, upset, and on the edge of more panic attacks. I had two more overnight and haven't slept, am very upset.

I'm extremely pissed off in truth and am wondering whether I should complain, through which channels, how far to push and what the outcome would likely be.

I'm posting this in AIBU as I want the brutally honest views!

Thank you for reading.

I am so sorry this happened to you!

I honestly thought the whole point was that if you had a jolly good reason you didn’t have to wear a mask

Its dreadful that a hospital of all places has done this!

I would Definitely complain

They were so wrong to press this but it might not be uncommon at the moment. Ring your doctor and ask them to write you a letter that you can present instead of having to say it.

So sorry that happened to you.

Contact PALS, this is exactly what they're for Ann's they are the best people to advocate for you in a hospital setting.

Knowing that they will require people to wear masks you should have contacted them before hand to let them know your circumstances or as another poster suggested get a letter from your GP/mental health professional to state you cannot wear one.

Sound like a really awful situation, a second vote for calling ahead/letter

I'm sorry op, but it was your responsibility to make sure before hand that they were aware and make provisions for you.
Everyone knows that you absolutely must ensure safety in a medical setting. To the people sitting around you, I'm sure they were concerned about their own safety first.
They could have handled it better by taking you aside once you mentioned that you have MH issues.
But I do think you could have avoided this beforehand.

If you were attending minor injuries then I am sure you weren’t expecting to go, so please ignore those who are trying to blame you for this situation. Definitely raise this via PALS, you should not have been treated like this or forced to disclose sensitive personal information in a public place.

I am sorry it happened to you but it’s been clear for weeks that you have to wear masks ina hospital

Why not get a exemption letter or card than can be printed from the gov site. Then just show that

You can complain to the hospital

The incident needing treatment happened and I instantly went for the treatment. They have access to my medical records! I would've been ok, not happy but ok, at saying I couldn't wear one due to PTSD. They also could've taken me to a private area straight away. It was pretty obvious from how wound up I was getting that I wasn't someone on a piss take.

They could have easily handled it much better by communicating amongst themselves why you couldn't wear a mask. It was absolutely unnecessary to make you explain it as many times as they did.

It won't help for this incident, but yesterday I noticed a woman in a shop wearing a sunflower lanyard with a badge on the bottom saying 'Due to my hidden disability I am unable to wear a mask'. I know you don't have a disability as such and I know what the sunflower lanyard represents, but in these circumstances is something like that worth considering? Just so you don't get any more hassle?

I don’t normally say complain about stuff, but this I would. Contact PALS at the Trust.

Being told you had PTSD should have been enough. They didn’t need the details. I hope you’re ok x

I am sorry for your horrific experiences.

This is precisely why an identification marker, akin to blue badge is needed. Show your card, end of matter.

Too many bolshy sods who just don’t want to wear a mask because they’re awkward will lie and muddy the waters for people such as yourself who have very good reason not to wear a mask.

Complain as you were unecessarily distressed but I also see how difficult it will be for staff and there should be better organisation from a governmental level.

I'm so sorry that this happened to you but maybe going forward get a medical exemption certificate to avoid any further distress.
If you feel like they crossed the line.. complain as they should have been more understanding and it may prevent it happening to others or maybe let it go and put it down to the extra stress and upheaval during these uncertain times.
Go with your gut!

Sorry I've just re read your original post and you state you do indeed have disabilities. Apologies.

I noticed a woman in a shop wearing a sunflower lanyard

I was wearing a visible sunflower lanyard, I always do.

So they essentially made you recount your rape in an open, public area, in a hostile atmosphere? That’s awful. Definitely complain.

If it happens again, offer to write it down, and point out I not fair to ask you to explain such personal, traumatic things in public.

That's awful OP, I'm so sorry. I have ptsd too but thankfully mask wearing doesn't trigger me.

Op you genuinely have my sympathy and I'm sorry this brought up a lot of bad memories.

I think this sort of thing is only goi gto get worse tbh. I think the issue is that anyone can say I can't wear a mask or get a sunflower lanyard so they are probably told to challenge to establish genuine reasons.

I personally think people should have to apply to their GP for some sort of lapel pin or lanyard provided to them specifically because they have a condition making a mask difficult to wear. If masks are here to stay for the next year or so expect this to get worse and people go challenge those not wearing one.

Did they pay any attention to the lanyard?

Complain ASAP. This is horrific.

@NotIncandescentWithRage

Did they pay any attention to the lanyard?

Complain ASAP. This is horrific.

Nope.

I’m so sorry you had to go through such a difficult hospital visit. Defo mention to your GP so something prominent can be put on your notes and contact PALS to advise them of what happened. That way they can ensure the hospital is better prepared the next time you or anyone else who genuinely can’t wear a mask visits them. Your actions now can really help others, so please try and push through this hard time to get the emails sent.

I can see both sides of the story here.

You should not have had to go through this. However if they didn’t have anything in your notes to say as much for some reason or they were buried years down the entries in your online GPs notes, or if they did not have access via the nhs online system and were not pre warned, I can understand why they would be a bit unprepared and scared to let you in a place full of vulnerable, sick people some of whom would have compromised immune systems, in case you were a silent carrier of a killer disease.

I’d have thought they’d have let you wait outside though and ring your mobile when it was time for you to be seen or something. (Our local hospital did that when I was in with an injured friend and a whole family were repeatedly coughing until they vomited, they got sent out for fresh air as it was becoming stuffy, and called back in when their turn to be seen.

It’s a difficult one and I hope you will be OK. I’m sorry too for your past trauma. I hope you can get the counselling or other help you need to move past such a horrible ordeal.

That's awful that you had to go through that.

They should have, at the very least, taken you to a private area/side room for you to give more details when they asked (not that I feel that they needed to know the details IYSWIM).

On reflection do you think you would have felt able to ask to explain in private? Or was your anxiety too high by this point.

Sorry, meant to add that you should definitely contact PALS.