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.

Interesting, so you bypassed PALS? Who did you address your complaint to?

I just went onto the Trust's website and found an address. I also made it clear in my first letter (just a brief outline that we wanted to make an official complaint about X department, no details) and that we wanted to make this a formal complaint.

You should have got a letter of exemption from your GP. If you couldn't wear a mask then you should have cancelled the appointment or word a mask. They cant keep making exceptions for everybody. A line has to be drawn somewhere.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

Interesting, so you bypassed PALS? Who did you address your complaint to?

I just went onto the Trust's website and found an address. I also made it clear in my first letter (just a brief outline that we wanted to make an official complaint about X department, no details) and that we wanted to make this a formal complaint.

Thanks for that.

This rhetoric of "some people are dicks, so you can't expect at least some basic decency and respect until you prove you're not a dick" is mind boggling. I wonder how many posters from this thread would be willing to put up with it in real life, in various circumstances.

@Viviennemary

You should have got a letter of exemption from your GP. If you couldn't wear a mask then you should have cancelled the appointment or word a mask. They cant keep making exceptions for everybody. A line has to be drawn somewhere.

Learn to read? It was an emergency attendance as I'd broken bones in my hand. I should "just wear a mask" despite it making me have an instant panic attack and feeling like I'm being raped all over again?

And yes, they can, because that is EXACTLY what the Governmental guidance says.

Also, GPs are not issuing exemption letters.

You asked for brutally honest opinions. And posted in AIBU. Ask for your thread to be transferred to health.

Download a form that anyone can from the internet or buy a lanyard which anyone can and then you can't be questioned

If you had read the Ops subsequent posts you would see that he was wearing a lanyard and was still questioned.

The visors really aren't that bad. I think you have to accept a visor to keep everyone safe in this scenario.

The rest of the treatment you received was horrendous and there is definitely room for change.

I can confirm as someone who lives with a GP that they will not issue anything re exemption certificates. It's not their job and they are getting dozens of requests per day to do this.

I see you are bolshy enough on here Maskwoes with your quips - shame you didn't employ some of that in your visit

@TheStuffedPenguin you should be utterly ashamed of yourself for such a hateful comment. It’s people like you that make the world a worse place. Remember that next time you spew your bile.

For posters saying OP should have an exemption letter (like @Viviennemary) this isn’t required by law.

And OP, apologies for getting your gender wrong in my earlier post.

@Hercwasonaroll

The visors really aren't that bad. I think you have to accept a visor to keep everyone safe in this scenario.

The rest of the treatment you received was horrendous and there is definitely room for change.

The visors may not be bad FOR YOU. aOP stayed he couldn’t tolerate it. Please try to understand and not belittle his experience.

No OP I am sorry for what has happened to you, but the staff were doing the job trying to protect everyone whilst doing so.

You should have got a letter of exemption from your GP. If you couldn't wear a mask then you should have cancelled the appointment or word a mask. They cant keep making exceptions for everybody. A line has to be drawn somewhere.

GP's don't do the letters.
OP attended because of an accident.
He can't wear a mask.

If you can't read or understand what you are reading then you shouldn't be on the internet. A line has to be drawn somewhere.

I have PTSD from rape but can wear a mask. Many rape survivors can. Even more people with PTSD from non-sexual trauma can

If I hadn't been orally penetrated then I think I'd be able to wear a mask no problem.

But it fucks me off that you're basically telling posters not to be challenge you or disagree with you on this thread by implying you'll self-harm.

Nope, I expected to be challenged by posting the thread, just like I expected people to disagree even though the guidance supports me. I quoted a statistic, I didn't imply I'd self-harm to responses on this thread, that's ludicrous.

But don't say you're so broken and traumatised by this experience but in the same thread say you're not so traumatised or disabled that you're going to tell every legalese person your life story to make a discrimination case that'll take huge amounts of time and effort on your part and cost the NHS.

I said I'd consider a legal route, I may well not. I may just fire in an email to the Trust. But do not attempt to blame me for costing the NHS. I am not in the wrong, legally, here. You also have no idea how the experience made me feel.

Hi OP, sorry I have not read the full thread. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Have you looked into a sunflower mask exemption lanyard?

Ahh yes OP, you can only have sympathy as long as all you do is have a bit of a moan and then put up and shut up. How dare you want change or prevent this from happening to someone else?

@PinkSparkleUnicorns

Hi OP, sorry I have not read the full thread. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Have you looked into a sunflower mask exemption lanyard?

I have a sunflower lanyard and was prominently wearing it.

@Cheeseislife2020

I had sympathy with your first post but the rest of them you just sound like an insufferable twat. Sueing the nhs ? Give me a break.

Let me guess you’re a Twitter warrior as well?

I'll quite happily take being an insufferable twat if either a Trust complaint or establishing case law results in preventing these occurrences.

Knowing that they will require people to wear masks you should have contacted them before hand

I've not rtft yet but this is such stupid advice. In my experience anyway, the hospital departments are too large and have too many staff for you to just ring up and say 'my name is X, I'm coming in at Y time and I won't be wearing a mask because of Z'.

The likelihood is, you'll not see or speak to the person you telephoned again and they aren't going to inform however many people on shift that there might be a lady coming in at some point who's named X and is exempt from wearing a mask.

[quote Cheeseislife2020]@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble so suing is the only way change can be made ? Also How is an anonymous thread doing anything ? Millions of people suffer sexual trauma OP isn’t special.[/quote]
Millions of people suffer sexual trauma OP isn’t special.

What a truly horrible thing to say.

[quote Cheeseislife2020]@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble so suing is the only way change can be made ? Also How is an anonymous thread doing anything ? Millions of people suffer sexual trauma OP isn’t special.[/quote]
You sound nice @Cheeseislife2020 - denigrating a rape victim as nothing special

Also, GPs are not issuing exemption letters.

This might possibly depend on the area as DH got one quite easily, though had to pay 30 quid for it.