To ask why people think it’s okay to abuse NHS staff?

[notafanofthisanymore]

I’m NHS admin. I just got a call through to me and I was the wrong person to help, but as it was a simple query (think where to go as opposed to anything medical), I tried to help the patient.

I understand that having health issues is stressful. But I’ve just been called a useless thick bitch and told that my job is the reason the NHS is sinking, because I told this patient something they didn’t like. I was then told that if this patient died on the way to their appointment it would be blood on my hands, and I should hope they don’t.

I’m just baffled. I was polite, answered this person’s question and got abused because they didn’t like the answer (having to go somewhere else for something they needed). In what world is this acceptable?

Most of our housebound patients don’t have diagnosed or suspected mental health problems. It’s physical problems that make them housebound. The majority also have capacity too. When they’re told they’re not housebound (eg if going out shopping or for coffee etc) and they need to go to clinics instead then the family/patient abuse can also escalate.

Im not sure where you’re getting that the NHS provide a couple of visits a day? Most are a couple of times a week for dressings etc or catheters, PICC lines for cancer patients. Are you mixing district nurses up with CPNs?

I just don’t think your average NHS service user/patient shows their frustration by throwing faeces that’s all … there must be an element of mental illness or disability involved which makes it an attack which is not personal to you

Would you not suspect mental health problems if the patient is throwing their faeces without reason or as a form of communication?

I went in for a minor op today.

Naturally most patients there were about nervous or even scared.

All the stages were fully explained to all participants. Nobody had to wait a long time somewhere uncomfortable. Staff introduced themselves and chatted kindly.

And nobody was rude, or even a bit short.

It's almost as if staff who were calm and well-staffed enough to be organised and considerate resulted in patients who were calm and well-mannered.