"Attitude towards a carer"

I attended an appointment with my husband today at breast clinic at Wishaw hospital.  The doctor who was seeing my husband was very dismissive towards myself as his carer.  I was told not to speak in relation to questions regarding my husband. He was told that he had to answer the questions and use his memory to answer.  My husband has memory problems and can not always remember things so finds it difficult to answer questions especially as he has complex health issues . As a result my husband did forget some things regarding his health. 

When the Doctor examined him I was asked to point out certain areas for them. After the examination my husband was told that he could get up . As he was trying his hardest to get up he reached out for assistance and the Doctor was quite off with him and told him he needs to get up by himself.  My husband has health issues and when he doesn't have assistance or grab handles he struggles to get himself up from a lying down position. 

I went to give assistance and was told by the Doctor not to help him . I was also told that I shouldn't be helping him at home either as I could hurt myself and as a carer I need to be careful regarding my own health. The way this Doctor kept speaking to me was insulting to myself as a carer . I have been a carer for over 15 years and have never came across someone who has been so insulting to carers .

As a carer I have a better understanding of my husband's needs than someone who has seen him for  5 minutes.  I walked out of the examination room in tears and felt so small because of this Doctor.  I have dealt with medical teams in the NHS for over 15 years as a carer and have never once felt so small and insulted in all that time.  

Carers are carers for a reason and the majority of NHS staff understand the role they play in looking after carees . We can help with communication regarding the the person's health.  We also take on the role of looking after the person after a discharge from hospital.  We are the people who  notice health issues long before professionals etc .

To be treated by  a NHS professional in this way I find totally unprofessional and  I am glad my husband has been discharged from this particular clinic .