Pride goes before a fall

My consultant described me as 'pleasant', can I get him struck off for that or make a claim? Somebody help me, what is it code for, it certainly isn't decriptive of me.

I think they are impertinent to make any comments at all.

Years ago, I saw on a letter written about me, that I was "a pleasant, plump young lady"

It seems to be a good thing that a doctor can recognise that a person may have lots of things wrong with them and can look at the treatment of a person as a whole. My sister was not well served by being treated for one thing at a time as there was no consideration of the interaction of the various drugs involved nor of her ongoing needs in respect of what were regarded as "co-morbidities" - i.e. secondary problems. These so called lesser problems had a huge effect on her quality of life but were just ignored altogether. As we age we certainly need to be treated more holistically.

So glad that you're fit Monica - keep doing whatever you're doing and remain fit. That way we can avoid the polymorbidities until as late a stage as possible - well that's what I'm hoping!

Some (!) years ago when I was in my late thirties, I attended a daytime course at a further education college. I had always been told I looked young for my age - but obviously not, as I asked a student the way to the Ladies, and on following her directions found myself outside the Staff toilets.

This reminded me of a time when I was in the supermarket queue with my late husband . He was portly and sported a white beard . A little girl behind us whispered to her Mum " Is that Santa, Mummy ? " We dined out on that one too.

My (almost) 90 year old father in law said that he wasn't going on another cruise as they were full of old people!

I was described as a ''lovely lady'- by the nurse practitioner at the heart clinic.
Strange, but all my friends, family etc are all agreed that the letters to the GPs must have got mixed up!

It means what it says, but if in a description it could say: this 62 year old elderly gentleman it is stating that the man is very old for his years, post 69 is elderly in NHS, in fact when I saw said man yes he was very ancient for his chronological age. It sometimes would mean the person is spirited in their responses, or charming, women of a certain age learnt to charm be bright put on a good face. Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.?

I used to work in a hospital where I dealt with all the referral letters coming in from the GP's, and there was one particular GP that would always start his letters with a not very flattering description of the patient, he was well known for it in the hospital. Obviously this was before the days when you were able to have copies of your letters!

Going off at a tangent, I had no idea consultants letters to one's GP are now also sent to patient. I've never seen one .....
Is this a new practice?

As Mrs Brown would say, "That's nice!"

What happens when they have to write a letter about someone they haven't got on well with.

"This unpleasant person" maybe, or "This person is wasting my time" ?

Our next door neighbours are the same age as us - 69. Our 11 year old grandson twice kicked a ball into their garden this week. The second time, I told him off saying that he should be more careful as they would get annoyed. He replied that the old man next door had told him just to come round and retrieve it without knocking. So that's me told!

I have never had a copy of any consultant letters sent to my GP, do you have to ask for a copy?

I have copies of all my consultant's letters, oh he is such a nice young man.

Doctors used to use many ways of describing patients but since we now have access to our records they now have to be more careful.
Worked with an anaethetist who described patient as F.O.B.- Fat Old Bird!

I often wonder if there is a code between GPS and Consultant. I too was described as "this very pleasant lady". I wonder if it means genuinely needing treatment. Perhaps
the code for malingering time waster is, "this patient presents with"

Familiarity breeds contempt or so I am given to understand.
My pet hate being the use of ones Christian name by those other than friends or family should in my opinion be restricted to children and young adults unless persons themselves request otherwise.
This practise using my Christian name is not just by doctors at my local surgery, no they didn't ask me, but has now extended to those outside and more recent being the contractors laying a new patio at my property.
Am I unusual or is this a sign of the times and like many other issues in the 21c that I question and not to my liking, we wont go into that, then I must like it or lump it.
All opinions most welcome.

My husband always gets described as charming or lovely. I never get anything but this lady is 67 years old. I’m getting quite paranoid now! I’m going to be my most charming next time I see a consultant and see if it works!

oh, and i took mine personally....

i walked into the cubicle and the consultant said... oh there's been a mistake... it says here you are 76... i preened and agreed it should be a mistake but wasn't...
as someone else said... been dining out on that for weeks...

new guidelines for bed side behaviour?

I think my letter said something to the effect of "pleasant and CHUBBY!!!"

They claim that there is no code:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/04/consultants-code-gps#img-1

Picking up various comments.

1) We always get copies of letters sent to our GP. We do not ask for them. They just appear

2) As to being a charming woman of a certain age (who) learnt to charm, be bright, put on a good face. I am not sure that anyone would ever describe me thus. All I did was bounce into the consultants room in my usual Tiggerish way and agree with the consultant that my symptoms were visibly as described in the GP's letter.

Carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't make you feel ill, just makes your fingers go numb and muscles in the hand waste and it was a nice day and I was generally feeling cheerful. So cheerful I was.

Some Consultants have sent Patients copies of the letters sent to GP for many years. Now I find you often have to ask for a copy which will always be provided. I think they do have to be careful now when we can ask to see the letters.

Probably means "not ready for DNR yet"