My father was admitted with angina bordering on a suspected heart attack by ambulance to the Victoria Infimary A&E at around 12pm.
He noticed that the A&E doctor asked him questions about his symptoms but seemed to be only half-listening to the answers. As a result they had to repeat some questions which he had already answered.
My dad asked if they had been working the night shift and if it had been busy, to try and account for why they were absent-minded. The doctor replied unashamedly: "No, it was just a very late night out last night." It appeared that they did not think that admitting this to a patient in their care was unprofessional at all, and did not seem to realise that my father's trust in them decreased after saying this.
It seems that in our culture it has become acceptable to admit to your patients that you may be less competent as a result of partying/drinking. I hope that this will be passed on to the A&E department so that the younger generation of doctors realise the effect that words have on older patients.
"Tired A&E doctor at Victoria Infirmary"
About: Victoria Infirmary / Accident & Emergency Victoria Infirmary Accident & Emergency G42 9TY
Posted by Relative and Medic (as ),
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