Need some advice on handling a delicate situation

[Jaybird37]

I have a lovely cleaning lady, who I am very fond of. She has worked for me for 15 years.

However, she speaks really poor English.

A routine blood test at her GPs showed a low white cell count.She was referred to a haematology dept who decided the low cell count was a normal variant (common in people of African origin). But the other tests she has show/ suggest myeloma.

The problem is that, although the test forms she has been given say myeloma on them, she believes that she has been given the all clear. The appointment note from the doctor said watching/ waiting.

She had a translator at the appointments, but the first translator was not very good. By appointment 2 she was not asking any questions.

I offered to go to the hospital with her for both appointments, but she said it was OK.

Her son speaks good English.

I feel like I need to explain to her that things are not all OK. However, it is 8 weeks to the next appointment, and I do not want her to worry. Also, I am concerned that I may be able to give her the information that she needs.

I could call her son, but I don't want to upset her by not speaking to her first.

I don't want to worry her ages before her next appointment, but the longer I do not tell her the worse I feel.

My guess is the hospital think that they told her, but it got lost in translation.

What would you do?

Maybe you could get hold of some leaflets from Myeloma UK (the relevant charity).

Then myabe you could speak to her, give her the leaflets, and say that this word (Myeloma) is what it said on her results and you thought her son and her might want to go through them.

You are not going behind her back then.

She does need to know what she has or take her son with her to listen to the Dr and translate properly.

Unfortunately, she is illiterate, which is why she showed me the blood forms. Her son isn't though.

The question is, do I do speak to her now, or do I wait until nearer her next appointment?

I think you should speak to her now. What if she decides not to go to the appointment because she thinks she's okay?

Thanks

I agree, I would do it sooner rather than later, she needs to know, and even if you ensure that she finds out, then she is in the same situation that she would have been if she had understood what the hospital are saying.

It is possible (though hopefully unlikely) that she may have unwittingly implied to the hospital team that she wasnt very concerned, or didnt want active treatment?

Even if it is 8 weeks to her next hospital appointment she can go back to her GP if she wants to discuss things before then.