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.

So I've been debating this within myself all day, I've now emailed the responsible Trust, I will escalate to CCG, MP and NHS Ombudsman if I have to. If I get to Ombudsman stage I'll involve the press because it's fucking ridiculous by that point and they deserve the shit. If I get to Ombudsman stage I'll be looking at formal legal action with Case Law in mind.

I'm too fucking angry to let this drop.

I'm musing whether a petition on 38 degrees etc asking the Government to introduce a formalised blue-badge style system would attract much support too...

Hi maskwoes, sorry for how corny this sounds but I'm really proud of you for taking a stand. You're strength and determination is inspiring. You were treated appallingly and rightly so you should take legal action. If you start a petition please post the link, I'd happily sign as I'm sure many others would also.

This thread is fucking disgusting. What a nasty, nasty side of humanity this is, this OP's been treated appallingly. What do the hospital do if they get someone coming in having, as I did a few years ago, falling on my face after tripping on the pavement and unable to wear a fucking mask or visor as I have lower facial injuries bleeding out and broken my nose? Some people cannot use a mask or visor, it's just part of the job of treating them.

Between this and the victim-shaming one from the woman who was sedated extra so her body could be used as a lesson to someone training during a procedure, this place shows up the very worst this whole thing has brought out in people.

Fucking sick.

You are very brave, OP. I mentally salute you and wish you every success in your case regarding how you were treated, which was wrong in every way.

@Maskwoes

So I've been debating this within myself all day, I've now emailed the responsible Trust, I will escalate to CCG, MP and NHS Ombudsman if I have to. If I get to Ombudsman stage I'll involve the press because it's fucking ridiculous by that point and they deserve the shit. If I get to Ombudsman stage I'll be looking at formal legal action with Case Law in mind.

I'm too fucking angry to let this drop.

You certainly should be! I have PTSD and can use a mask. I also have a child with autism who can use a mask. I realise not everyone can and respect that.

I’m sorry this happened to you.

But I would not complain. Medical staff are scared. And some of them have died. They have watched thousands of people die without their loved ones. They are exhausted and by not wearing a mask you are putting more people at risk regardless of your disability. You need to have compassion for our health workers and understand that at the current time they will make mistakes.

@Glowbuggy that's not a reason to accept poor care. Anyway, a complaint isn't solely to get someone in trouble, it's so that measures can hopefully be put in place to stop it happening to other people.

Hmm @Maskwoes why would you tie up any part of the health system in your righteous anger?

Why not communicate better with hospitals in future and explain to them your issues?

I am so sorry this has happened to you, you should not have been made to relieve the trauma that happened to you

What part of exempt do people not get? Yes masks are mandatory in hospitals unless exempt. The OP clearly was for extremely good reasons and some of the comments aimed to him have been disgraceful. PTSD is a complex issue and if something like this happens he could be pushed back massively in his recovery. It's not a quick fix to get through PTSD, it takes years

There is a pandemic, many hospital staff probably are scared but they should understand government guidelines surrounding masks and display empathy when a person explains the reasons behind not wearing one. There are many people who cannot wear masks

OP if you wish to take legal action; for which you have the right as you have a case, then go for it. It's not for anyone else to judge as they were not in the situation you were, have not experienced the same as yourself and have the same trauma

I hope you are doing better today?

Why not communicate better with hospitals in future and explain to them your issues?

Are you being sarcastic? Sorry it's difficult to tell.

If not, where DIDN'T the OP explain his issues? He explained them 3 times to various hospital staff

I agree, a letter explaining the poor treatment at that time is warranted, however, demanding a formal meeting with management is not appropriate during this time.

Do not forget that nurses, doctors and hospital staff are Being diagnosed with, and experiencing PTSD. Many still have to go to work. They are stressed and their mental health is suffering.

Someone coming in without a mask can be scary and triggering for them.

It’s painful reading through some of these ignorant comments... good old MN and victim blaming tendencies... disgraceful

Glowbuggy I work in care and many many care workers have died. Does that mean it's ok for me to treat your elderly loved one in a discriminatory, undignified, disrespectful manner? No.
If someone without a mask is that triggering the NHS has a very good sick pay package or they could transfer to a different area of the hospital.

The OP was talking about a hospital. Not care home. Different.

I dont see how glow

I assumed from your post, and happy to be corrected, that you were referring to NHS staff having ptsd and stress due to the amount of covid deaths they may have seen

People talk about MN being vile and posters being on the attack being on the rise and until this thread I hadn't really seen it. I'd seen people being robust and angry but nothing like this. The dismissing of the experience of someone who has been through horrendous trauma as insignificant, the single-minded obsession with masks as the only important thing, the casual disregard for PTSD and that it affects individuals in highly different ways. I'm very rarely shocked but this thread has done it for me.

OP I wish you all the best with your complaint. From the posts you have made on here I imagine it has been politely and calmly worded in the face of much provocation. You were treated appallingly and nobody else should have to go through that.

You need to have compassion for our health workers and understand that at the current time they will make mistakes.

Lack of protocol and measures to deal with patients that can't wear a mask is not a mistake, it's a pretty massive oversight. It's lack of care.

I don't consider it the fault of the staff either if they had no training and measures put in place to deal with situations like this.

However, by letting it go , it means that this will happen again and again because staff can't make the necessary changes and decisions on their own. So yes, it does need bringing to the attention of managers, the trust etc. and they need to take it seriously, because they are the ones that can make changes. You need to look at the bigger picture.

Perhaps. I’m not a healthcare worker, but from a family member that is frontline staff, they have people rock up not wearing their masks, complaining their human rights are being violated, that COVID is a myth and other ridiculous scenarios. I think it’s ok for them to ask for a reason. I think it’s also ok for the to ask your history. As not wearing a mask essentially puts the hospital at risk.

Remember - this is still new. But I do agree it should have been done privately. I can see from both sides. It’s hard right now. For everyone.

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.
^this
However even though you weren't expecting it to happen I'd have called up once outside to explain the situation and ask what you should do.

Glowbuggy How is it different? Do you not believe people in hospitals should be treated fairly with dignity and respect?

Hi there. Haven't rtft. But oh my gosh. That's horrific. I feel for you

I wear a sunflower lanyard. As I have a hidden disability. I have a really rare disorder. I do wear a mask however. But you can buy the lanyards. They do work!

You don’t have people showing up from the street in a care home with no idea where they have come from. These frontline workers risk their lives every time they go to work. The OP could have called the hospital to let them know she was coming and to warn them she won’t be wearing a mask and why.

Glow - have you read the thread because you seem to be referring to the OP as female rather than male? . He did explain why he wasn't wearing a mask and instead of being dealt with dignity he was required to repeat his traumatic experience multiple times and in public setting. This is a failing of the hospital to prepare its staff with how to manage for this absolutely foreseeable occurrence.

@RufustheRowlingReindeer

4. refering to you as female when you aren't (because people can't even use the very simple 'read all OPs posts button

I agree with most of your post and I absolutely agree that all of the ops posts should be read before commenting

But the above is a paid for feature

Afraid to say, it isn’t a paid for feature. I can click on any of the OP posts and see all his posts in order. I also have activated the option to change colour of OP posts which makes them stand out in the thread.

Thanks remember

You are, i think, the 7th person to tell me that 😀

The fifth since I apologised for my original mistake

Big thread though...