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HSE No Longer Allowed to Refer to Patients as "Love" or "Dear"

  • 03-12-2018 7:39am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭


    As per Newstalk bulletin this morning, all HSE staff have been banned from using these terms. I don't really give a fiddlers myself but wondering what others think? Do you think it promotes a more professional demeanour? Do you think it strips back a bit of the caring approach and makes it more of an impersonal and rigid experience. Tell me your thoughts pet.


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,325 ✭✭✭xi5yvm0owc1s2b


    Politically correct nonsense. A lot of elderly patients in particular would appreciate these terms. A bit of warmth and affection never hurt anybody.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 179 ✭✭Samuel Vimes


    Omackeral wrote: »
    As per Newstalk bulletin this morning, all HSE staff have been banned from using these terms. I don't really give a fiddlers myself but wondering what others think? Do you think it promotes a more professional demeanour? Do you think it strips back a bit of the caring approach and makes it more of an impersonal and rigid experience. Tell me your thoughts pet.

    My partner has been in hospital for the last month , very ill. She finds being being referred to as "dear" as condescending and patronising.
    Good to see action being taken on it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭Omackeral


    A lot of elderly patients in particular would appreciate these terms. A bit of warmth and affection never hurt anybody.
    She finds being being referred to as "dear" as condescending and patronising.
    Good to see action being taken on it.

    That's that cleared up so!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,591 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Not a bad idea when you think about it. Definitely helps with the depersonalisation,as it says in the article.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,034 ✭✭✭Ficheall


    She finds being being referred to as "dear" as condescending and patronising.
    Is that when used by the hospital staff or by you?


    (And sorry to hear she is ill.)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,963 ✭✭✭D3V!L


    You ok hun ? XOXO!



    Serious part - I'm middle aged and don't find it offensive. Helps with the interpersonal connection between patients and nursing staff. Still professional in my opinion.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,888 ✭✭✭Atoms for Peace


    More evidence of the excessive amount of useless mandarins in the HSE, haven't they got more important things to do?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,998 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    This should be patient-driven. If any signficant proportion of patients find it demeaning, disempowering or disrespectful to be address as "love" or "dear", then it's a bad practice and should be discouraged. Whether you or I think they are right to find it demeaning, etc, is beside the point.

    I take the point about trying to tackle the perception that the HSE is rigid or inhuman, but there are other ways to do that. Like using people's actual names, for instance. Or like just being helpful, supportive and sympathetic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    In Yorkshire it is "petal" or "flower"

    fuss about nothing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,591 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    This should be patient-driven. If any signficant proportion of patients find it demeaning, disempowering or disrespectful to be address as "love" or "dear", then it's a bad practice and should be discouraged. Whether you or I think they are right to find it demeaning, etc, is beside the point.

    I take the point about trying to tackle the perception that the HSE is rigid or inhuman, but there are other ways to do that. Like using people's actual names, for instance. Or like just being helpful, supportive and sympathetic.


    They've been instructed to use people's names.

    Remembering everyone's given the turn over of patients might be a pain though.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,462 ✭✭✭✭WoollyRedHat


    Gotta love the HSE with upper management making those hard every day decisions that save lives and reinforcing why our health care system is the best in the world!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭Taxburden carrier


    Huns running HSE ban use of ‘love’ or ‘dear’!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,998 ✭✭✭✭Peregrinus


    kneemos wrote: »
    They've been instructed to use people's names.

    Remembering everyone's given the turn over of patients might be a pain though.
    Precisely. If the system is organised so that the staff can give the patients so little time and attention that they cannot remember their names, that would explain why the service comes across as rigid and inhuman. Trying to mask that with diminutives like "love" and "dear" is just papering over the cracks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,084 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Huns running HSE ban use of ‘love’ or ‘dear’!!

    U OK, hun?

    Not your ornery onager



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 593 ✭✭✭engiweirdo


    FFS. Because the HSE has no more pressing issues to be concerning themselves with....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,812 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    Good to see the HSE focusing on the really important issues...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,462 ✭✭✭✭WoollyRedHat


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    Precisely. If the system is organised so that the staff can give the patients so little time and attention that they cannot remember their names, that would explain why the service comes across as rigid and inhuman. Trying to mask that with diminutives like "love" and "dear" is just papering over the cracks.

    Surely you look to the root of the problem as to whythey don't get to spend enough time with them, e.g an over stretched system due to misallocation of resources..Fix that maybe.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,315 ✭✭✭nthclare


    My partner has been in hospital for the last month , very ill. She finds being being referred to as "dear" as condescending and patronising.
    Good to see action being taken on it.

    Are you ****ing kidding me ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 179 ✭✭Samuel Vimes


    nthclare wrote: »
    Are you ****ing kidding me ?

    No.
    She finds the expression patronising and dismissive.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 617 ✭✭✭k99_64


    Graces7 wrote: »
    In Yorkshire it is "petal" or "flower"

    fuss about nothing

    In Nottingham its 'duck'


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,315 ✭✭✭nthclare


    No.
    She finds the expression patronising and dismissive.

    Well I hope she recovers soon, a month is a long time to be in hospital.

    If I was being looked after properly and they called me a grumpy aul fecker I wouldn't mind.

    Isn't it amazing how people differ as myself I'm old school and can accept people mean well.....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,591 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    nthclare wrote: »
    Well I hope she recovers soon, a month is a long time to be in hospital.

    If I was being looked after properly and they called me a grumpy aul fecker I wouldn't mind.

    Isn't it amazing how people differ as myself I'm old school and can accept people mean well.....


    More for the staff's benefit regarding attitude than the patients I'd imagine.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,551 ✭✭✭✭everlast75


    So "sugar tits" is still okay then?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,291 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    No.
    She finds the expression patronising and dismissive.

    #MeToo


    If you cannot be arsed remembering my name (which is usually on the chart in front of you), then I don't trust you to remember relevant medical details.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Nothing says personal care and attention like a doctor or nurse having to get your file to check who you are and use your name. Doesn't sound forced at all.

    "hello................ "eh what town are we in tonight? Ah yeah, Springfield?" .............. Springfield, we love you, you're the best crowd on the tour "


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,026 ✭✭✭cajonlardo


    Spent several months in hospital myself with life changing injuries. No one , not even once, was in any way patronising. Everyone, from the cleaning staff to the surgical team were kind and considerate and professional


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,142 ✭✭✭Baybay


    Another irritant is the use of we. As in, how are we doing today?

    Find that & love or hun so patronising, dismissive & depersonalising in hospitals & elsewhere.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,379 ✭✭✭✭namloc1980


    Baybay wrote: »
    Another irritant is the use of we. As in, how are we doing today?

    Find that & love or hun so patronising, dismissive & depersonalising in hospitals & elsewhere.

    I think they should use patient number. Would be way better and won't upset any of the offended people.

    "Patient #P3568299, how are you feeling today?"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,462 ✭✭✭✭WoollyRedHat


    namloc1980 wrote: »
    I think they should use patient number. Would be way better and won't upset any of the offended people.

    "Patient #P3568299, how are you feeling today?"


    01010101.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,315 ✭✭✭nthclare


    Alright love, how are we doing today dear.....

    My opinion of that is, they're here to do a job if I want to feel victimised there's something seriouslllly wrong with me....

    As long as I'm getting looked after I don't care.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,499 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Baybay wrote: »
    Another irritant is the use of we. As in, how are we doing today?

    Find that & love or hun so patronising, dismissive & depersonalising in hospitals & elsewhere.
    I agree with both of those, and you can add to that using childish terms for stuff like "tummy" for abdomen or "bugs" or "germs" instead of bacteria or viruses.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭Omackeral


    Graces7 wrote: »
    In Yorkshire it is "petal" or "flower"
    k99_64 wrote: »
    In Nottingham its 'duck'

    In Australia it's "cunt"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,291 ✭✭✭✭Gatling


    Another week , another were all so offended by two simple words used by healthcare professionals.


    #getafeckinglife


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭stevek93


    This is going to free up so many bed...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,512 ✭✭✭✭Rikand


    No.
    She finds the expression patronising and dismissive.

    People like your partner are part of everything that is wrong in this world


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Politically correct nonsense. A lot of elderly patients in particular would appreciate these terms. A bit of warmth and affection never hurt anybody.
    I knew this would trigger the snowflakes. :D

    It's been presented in a way that makes it sound like PC nonsense, but it's actually a quality of care initiative.

    One of the problems Irish healthcare has always had is that it's traditionally been run like a school. Doctors and nurses are the teachers, patients are the children and need to just STFU and take what they're given.

    The medical evidence shows that patients who feel involved in their own health provision, who feel adequately informed about what's going on and who feel like it's a collaborative effort, have better outcomes than patients who feel passive, subordinate to the staff, or uninformed about their care.

    Thus, you can see how the use of words like "love" and "dear", "pet", etc, are condescending terms that are likely to make a patient feel less positive aout their care and less involved. If you are trivialised by a health provider through these words, then communication will begin to break down, and patient outcomes decline.

    Of course, this is just part of an entire range of measures by the HSE to improve communications between patients and health professionals. But naturally a few snowflakes have jumped on this specific one as an example of "PC gone mad omgz my 90 year old granny loves being called dear when will these lunatics stop!!!1".

    You'll also note that the use of bed numbers or illnesses to refer to patients is being discontinued. But, no way, people aren't up in arms about that. I wonder why that is....? It starts with an A, ends with your Da has a gen in the middle.

    This is all about ensuring that patients feel involved in their own healthcare provision and respected as an equal by health staff. Because that results in better healthcare.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    What about the radical idea of asking people how they would like to be addressed, Mrs, Mr, or Miss or by their first name.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    mariaalice wrote: »
    What about the radical idea of asking people how they would like to be addressed, Mrs, Mr, or Miss or by their first name.
    This is actually a nice idea, it would certainly put the patient at ease. But you can see how it might be difficult in the midst of rounds to ensure that each patient gets called by their "preferred" title.

    "Hi Peter, how are you today?"

    "Doctor, my chart clearly says that I preferred to be address as Hotrod Bananahammock!"

    So going for a flat approach to all patients is safer.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    Omackeral wrote: »
    As per Newstalk bulletin this morning, all HSE staff have been banned from using these terms. I don't really give a fiddlers myself but wondering what others think? Do you think it promotes a more professional demeanour? Do you think it strips back a bit of the caring approach and makes it more of an impersonal and rigid experience. Tell me your thoughts pet.


    I’m more curious about people’s ideas of what they imagine is professionalism. For me at least, professionalism means being able to be yourself, rather than behaving like you’ve got a thermometer up your arse.

    I can only hope there isn’t some jobsworth inspector following the nurses around making sure they’re adhering to this new policy. It’s introduction at a time when superbugs are rife in hospitals is typical of the kind of mindset that fiddles while Rome burns.

    I would hate for anyone to think they couldn’t be themselves, I’d certainly never be so petty as to complain about pet names. They’re terms of endearment, be different if they were intended maliciously.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,419 ✭✭✭corner of hells


    mariaalice wrote: »
    What about the radical idea of asking people how they would like to be addressed, Mrs, Mr, or Miss or by their first name.

    Excellent idea , I'd like to be referred to as Battalion Sergeant Major Corners of Hells.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭Cockadoodledoo


    It is also to stop patients being referred to e.g the one with the hip.

    I hate being called Love, dear, hun, pet.... I would feel like the care is more personal if they called me by my name because then I would feel that they have taken the time to read my chart.

    Would I be offended or upset if I was called the above, no.

    There is no right or wrong answer here. It’s individual preference.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,181 ✭✭✭CinemaGuy45


    Omackeral wrote: »
    As per Newstalk bulletin this morning, all HSE staff have been banned from using these terms. I don't really give a fiddlers myself but wondering what others think? Do you think it promotes a more professional demeanour? Do you think it strips back a bit of the caring approach and makes it more of an impersonal and rigid experience. Tell me your thoughts pet.

    Not really bothered Dear.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    No.
    She finds the expression patronising and dismissive.

    She's not worried about the actual level of care, so. She seems a bit thin-skinned.
    Sad world we live in.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    She's not worried about the actual level of care, so. She seems a bit thin-skinned.
    Sad world we live in.


    A sad world that you live in where everything is a false dichotomy. It must be exhausting for you.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,181 ✭✭✭CinemaGuy45


    A sad world that you live in where everything is a false dichotomy. It must be exhausting for you.

    Calm down there love.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,301 ✭✭✭✭gerrybbadd


    There also no longer allowed to use the words "Boys" and "Lads"

    Come on now Lads


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    A sad world that you live in where everything is a false dichotomy. It must be exhausting for you.

    You keep using that word...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,638 ✭✭✭✭ohnonotgmail


    You keep using that word...


    Dont worry about it love, you will figure it out one day.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    seamus wrote: »
    I knew this would trigger the snowflakes. :D

    It's been presented in a way that makes it sound like PC nonsense, but it's actually a quality of care initiative.

    One of the problems Irish healthcare has always had is that it's traditionally been run like a school. Doctors and nurses are the teachers, patients are the children and need to just STFU and take what they're given.

    The medical evidence shows that patients who feel involved in their own health provision, who feel adequately informed about what's going on and who feel like it's a collaborative effort, have better outcomes than patients who feel passive, subordinate to the staff, or uninformed about their care.

    Thus, you can see how the use of words like "love" and "dear", "pet", etc, are condescending terms that are likely to make a patient feel less positive aout their care and less involved. If you are trivialised by a health provider through these words, then communication will begin to break down, and patient outcomes decline.

    Of course, this is just part of an entire range of measures by the HSE to improve communications between patients and health professionals. But naturally a few snowflakes have jumped on this specific one as an example of "PC gone mad omgz my 90 year old granny loves being called dear when will these lunatics stop!!!1".

    You'll also note that the use of bed numbers of illnesses to refer to patients is being discontinued. But, no way, people aren't up in arms about that. I wonder why that is....? It starts with an A, ends with your Da has a gen in the middle.

    This is all about ensuring that patients feel involved in their own healthcare provision and respected as an equal by health staff. Because that results in better healthcare.


    Long winded way of explaining the idea is entirely founded upon political correctness. It’s true that patients who feel more involved in their own healthcare experience better outcomes, so why introduce these policies then rather than allow patients to pull someone up on it themselves? If someone has an issue with their treatment, let them make a complaint, rather than introducing yet more policies which make assumptions on patients behalf?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,620 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    Dont worry about it love, you will figure it out one day.

    Well, it's not an either or, but more "my, my, what big, clever words you know!"
    Well impressed, so I am.
    I'm anaspeptic, frasmotic, even compunctuous to have caused you such pericombobulation.


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