Patient Patients Make The World (And Not Illnesses) Go Around
CURRENT EVENTS, HOSPITAL, INSPIRATIONAL, KIND STRANGERS, PATIENTS, UK | HEALTHY | MAY 11, 2020
My new job is booking appointments for radiology services, and work is split into modalities — obstetrics, x-ray, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI, etc. So, they start me on an easy modality: obstetrics.
I have to work out twelve-week scan dates, book the appointments, and let the women know that due to the recent global health crisis, they must attend their appointments alone to reduce visitors to the hospital and reduce risk of infecting mother, baby, and other patients and staff.
Most are so polite; some even ask how our day is.
The best patient I’ve spoken to was a foreign lady.
Me: “Hi. Can I speak to [Patient], please?”
Patient: “Speaking.”
Me: “Hi. It’s [My Name] calling from [Hospital] appointment centre.”
Patient: “Oh, hi! How are you?”
Me: “I’m good, thanks, and you? You have an appointment, and we just need to check. You have no symptoms of the recent outbreak?”
Patient: “No, no, love.”
Me: “Great. Unfortunately, you do have to attend your scan on your own…”
Patient: “That’s fine. I’ll just leave him at home.”
Me: *Laughs* “Okay, we just wanted to check.”
Patient: “No problem. You have a wonderful day, [My Name]!”
Me: “You, too! We’ll see you then!”
This was the best call I ever made.
However, some pregnant women don’t like being told what to do. One tried to bend the rules by asking if her husband could attend in full Personal Protective Equipment!
She wasn’t happy to hear no.
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