"Diabetic eye screening out patient clinic"

I've spent a disproportionate amount of time in hospitals during the past two years as a patient and parent of a patient. My experiences and the current situation have left me extremely anxious. Today I visited the above clinic in the capacity of care giver to a friend who suffered a serious stroke previously. The member of staff carrying out the examination (who did not introduce themselves) seemed very aggrieved that the patient wanted me in the room (he is a fall risk due to mobility issues).  

I understand the valid reasons for keeping contact to a minimum and I took a covid test before coming to the hospital. After the initial exam they told us to go to the waiting room. There were two people already there and as there wasn't a third seat I got one from the corridor for my friend. This was entirely my error as in my anxious state, I didn't read the signs explaining that only two people could be in the waiting room and the chairs shouldn't be moved.

Again, I need to reiterate, I made this mistake and take responsibility for it. Before I could even place the chair fully on the floor, I was apprehended by a second clinic staff member who basically said two people only and don't move chairs, fair enough but you can say these things politely. They didn't. That's my opinion. I'm entitled to an opinion, right? Wrong. I said I didn't appreciate being spoken to like a child and anyway the first member of staff could have said wait in the room unless there are already two people doing so. OK, perhaps they don't have time for this, fine. They're trying to get through as many patients as possible etc.

On our return to the examination room however, the examining staff member found the time to attempt to put me in my place. For the second time they wanted to know exactly why I had to be in the room, making my friend feel bad for needing assistance. Then they wanted to know what my issue was, issue being their choice of word. I told them I didn't appreciate the other member of staff's attitude. They disagreed with their colleague having spoken to me in anything but the most polite terms. (The doors must be very thin because they were behind one when their colleague spoke to me). They then said I arrived with an issue because they heard me say "I'm so over hospitals" as we arrived. (their hearing is amazing). They did because I did and I am, seriously over hospitals and people like that in them.

To be very fair which is important, I have received mostly excellent treatment and care as a patient and parent of a patient from the majority of staff at all levels. I feel immense gratitude to the wonderful nurses in another department. They would have dealt with today's situation with humour and common sense. I would have been put in my place without even noticing! This member of staff, I don't even know their position, took over five minutes to talk down to me and only stopped when I suggested they might want to get back to their patient. They were surly, argumentative, aggressive and totally unprofessional because they couldn't handle me being slightly sarcastic. I did say "no heroes here today" after being told to read the posters because I found their approach a little rude. That person actually did the right thing, they said what they had to then shut the door. They didn't feel the need to lecture me like their colleague.  

My friend was distressed by my treatment. I had to tell him the outcome of his appointment because he didn't properly hear and was too intimidated to ask the staff to repeat themselves. They didn't even ask the patient if he understood. The issue today was entirely on them. Totally unprofessional. Of course, because I'm decent, I apologised on the way out for being rude. I wasn't but they thought I was. They declined my apology. That says it all. If you don't like the public, I think you should really find another job. I'm (no pun intended) sick of being spoken down to by people who supposedly care. The NHS is our best asset, the actual heroes in it are numerous but the service has its faults and its bad staff members, such is life. Maybe they were having a bad day but to point to the door in answer to an apology which wasn't even necessary is plain childish. There are signs up (I've read them)! which state that aggressive behaviour towards staff will not be tolerated. Absolutely right so why is it acceptable in reverse?