Transcribe hospital appointment?

[BaleOfHay]

DU (uncle) is 84. He lives independently but is getting forgetful. He is a v proud ex policeman. Old school.

He has a hospital appointment this week following up from an operation in Jan that he struggles to rehab strength after. He will not take someone with him.

Is there any service or anyway he can get the conversation recorded or transcribed do that those who love him can help him understand what is said and the choices he has? I worry that he will forget or misremember and stubbornly lose out on opportunities to make him more comfortable

[FizzyStream]

He should get a copy of the consultants letter after his appointment (patients do in the trust I work in). Would he let you read that?

[FizzyStream]

Failing that if he is willing, could he give his permission for the letter to be sent / copied to his next of kin?

[BaleOfHay]

But will the letter provide all the information from the appointment? If it is just the facts and not the discussion we'll still lose the full amount information that could be so valuable

[DrFoxtrot]

He could ask if the consultation could be recorded and record it on his phone? But if he doesn't want anyone there, will he agree to that?

The medical team are unlikely to take responsibility for actually doing the recording or providing a transcription. Their record of the consultation will be the notes/ letter, and they're unlikely to offer more.

[PermanentTemporary]

Does he use a smartphone at all?

Or if not, could he ask the consultant/doctor to write down the key points of discussion, including the choices offered?

Alternatively he could ask the doctor to use his own phone to record it and send the recording to his email address? They might or they might not but you never know until you ask.

[BaleOfHay]

Thank you. He doesn't have a smart phone, but. Like the idea of asking for assistance

[NoBinturongsHereMate]

You could go old school and get him a dictaphone, if he does want to record it. But the key question is whether he wants to.