Are Nhs Staff Told To Treat The Over-60S As Senile?

[naomi24]

Not sure where to put this, but here goes. In recent days two people in their 60s have told me that when attending NHS appointments at different medical establishments in different areas, they’ve been asked if they knew why they’re there. Well, of course they knew why they were there. They’re not stupid. In those circumstances I think I would feel just as miffed as they do. Is that approach the norm now - and if so, why?

[Baldric]

Lie down was the last thing they did before they became pregnant ;o)

[youngmafbog]

Yes, see my post at 12:32.

[Cloverjo]

Oh yes, I missed that bit, ymb.
I don't appear to be demented then. I did wonder.

[Old_Geezer]

It's possible that the staff didn't know why they were all there, so it was a simple solution to ask.

Have to say I've not been all there for ages.

[NoMercy]

I more or less asked the question today, "Why am I here?"

I knew I had a scan but I hadn't the foggiest that I'd got a Clinic appt directly afterwards.

As to asking patients routinely, "Do you know why you're here?" ... Surely if the patient was unsure what the appt was for, they could query it by ringing the given number when they receive their appointment letter through the post...

[campbellking]

Fairly standard question for all age groups and avoids possible misunderstandings at an early stage. I certainly wouldn't be miffed by it.

[webbo3]

I haven't been.

[Jackdaw33]

I was taken into casualty in August. After four hours or so a young doctor came to see me. After the usual questions about symptoms he asked me if I knew what day it was. Quick as a flash I replied that it was the 6th August, I have been lying here for four hours or more so I estimate the time to be somewhere between 10 and 11 at night, probably nearer 11 than 10. He looked at his watch and said, "It's 1055, very good".

"Not really", I replied, "there's a bloody great clock on the wall behind you".