Really need to get this off my chest!
Dad (with VD) has been suffering with being very short of breath and he's been referred to Risperatory Clinic (he was seen 2 weeks ago and been referred to Oxygen Therapy and is due for a home assessment tomorrow). All of which he has no memory of and will object tomorrow when they call to the house. His Cardiology Clinic appointment was last night, so off we went. The consultant wasn't particularly over friendly, but this didn't bother me, at this point it was just an observation.
He then started to ask Dad questions. I could see Dad was unsure of the answers so I was trying to help him. One of the questions related to how out of breath Dad was when he woke up in the morning - to which his reply was 'oh I'm fine, no problems there' (when in fact he has to sit on the bed for 10 mins to get himself prepared to stand up). When I tried to 'help' by adding this to the answer I was instantly closed down by the Consultant, informing me that since I wasn't in the bedroom at the time how would I know?! OMG did he just actually say that to me? I replied that since you are asking a person with memory problems how they feel first thing in the morning, how is he going to remember that? He replied saying that if anyone had breathing problems it isn't something they would forget. OMG I WANTED TO SCREAM. I could feel my neck and face get hotter and redder and redder and just sat back in the chair. He continued with the consultation (pantomime is more of an acurate word) for the rest of the hour. Dad was doing that 'hosting' thing, and the Consultant was taken in by it. I think at one stage I heard him say to Dad 'the only thing stopping you getting on with life is you and pride' What the hell? Was he there at the house to see how agitated Dad was at just putting his coat and shoes on and asking 100 times 'So where are we going?' NO. I wanted to shout that Dad wouldn't even remember travelling to the hospital to see you, never mind this jolly bloody conversation you think you're having with him.
Dad's been referred to another specialist hospital, needs bloods to be taken etc so it was a necessary appointment for him to get the necessary meds needed, but dear God it was the worst experience I have ever encountered with anyone from the medical profession. I truly felt like he just thought I was there to dramatise the siutation and but obsticales in the way.
There was more rudeness towards me throughout the appointment, but too much to put down on here.
He may be a ruddy good Cardiologist, but he had no flipping clue how to speak to a PWD or their relatives.
There, I feel better for that offload. xx
Dad (with VD) has been suffering with being very short of breath and he's been referred to Risperatory Clinic (he was seen 2 weeks ago and been referred to Oxygen Therapy and is due for a home assessment tomorrow). All of which he has no memory of and will object tomorrow when they call to the house. His Cardiology Clinic appointment was last night, so off we went. The consultant wasn't particularly over friendly, but this didn't bother me, at this point it was just an observation.
He then started to ask Dad questions. I could see Dad was unsure of the answers so I was trying to help him. One of the questions related to how out of breath Dad was when he woke up in the morning - to which his reply was 'oh I'm fine, no problems there' (when in fact he has to sit on the bed for 10 mins to get himself prepared to stand up). When I tried to 'help' by adding this to the answer I was instantly closed down by the Consultant, informing me that since I wasn't in the bedroom at the time how would I know?! OMG did he just actually say that to me? I replied that since you are asking a person with memory problems how they feel first thing in the morning, how is he going to remember that? He replied saying that if anyone had breathing problems it isn't something they would forget. OMG I WANTED TO SCREAM. I could feel my neck and face get hotter and redder and redder and just sat back in the chair. He continued with the consultation (pantomime is more of an acurate word) for the rest of the hour. Dad was doing that 'hosting' thing, and the Consultant was taken in by it. I think at one stage I heard him say to Dad 'the only thing stopping you getting on with life is you and pride' What the hell? Was he there at the house to see how agitated Dad was at just putting his coat and shoes on and asking 100 times 'So where are we going?' NO. I wanted to shout that Dad wouldn't even remember travelling to the hospital to see you, never mind this jolly bloody conversation you think you're having with him.
Dad's been referred to another specialist hospital, needs bloods to be taken etc so it was a necessary appointment for him to get the necessary meds needed, but dear God it was the worst experience I have ever encountered with anyone from the medical profession. I truly felt like he just thought I was there to dramatise the siutation and but obsticales in the way.
There was more rudeness towards me throughout the appointment, but too much to put down on here.
He may be a ruddy good Cardiologist, but he had no flipping clue how to speak to a PWD or their relatives.
There, I feel better for that offload. xx
