Using our voice...

I recently attended a couple of medical visits. They weren’t for me and I was supporting someone who’s appointments they were.

Both followed a very similar theme. being:

a/ unfriendly

b/ quick

c/ disappointing

One was in person and the other was a phone consultation.

With the ‘in person’ consultation I actually felt the need to intervene and speak to the nurse in question explaining that how she was conducting herself was not appropriate and providing gentle (but firm) advice that she should perhaps look at the way she carries out her work and maybe (just maybe!!) seek further training.

The phone consultation was pretty much over before it began and there wasn’t a chance to intervene.

I appreciate we all have better days than others, can feel stressed, demotivated and sometimes be preoccupied, even so, for me ‘professionalism’ means putting ‘my stuff’ to the side and placing the person in front of me first.

We all work and live by our own levels of standards however I feel there’s no excuse for those working in healthCARE to remember the CARE element and place this at the forefront of their day, each day and regardless.

Where service falls short, over the years and with confidence I am growing into my voice and urge others too. I think of the next person going in for an appointment and the person after that and rightly or wrongly feel that good manners, politeness and healthy care are basic human qualities that are the least we should be able to expect from any practitioner we come into contact with. Nothing more / nothing less.

Use your voice to be kind, considerate and healthy and ALSO to feedback when not receiving such.

“Treat everyone with Politeness and kindness, not because they are nice BUT because you are”.

Roy T Bennett