"A rude employee at my appointment today"

I arrived at the Monklands Hospital today for an appointment in the Urology Dept, an appointment I was extremely anxious about.  I was delighted when I was realised family friends had made an effort to greet me upon my arrival. The took me to the waiting area for an ultrasound for an ongoing issue that was giving me serious concern. They allayed my fears and discussed the process which was helping me remain calm.  I was grateful to have them there reassuring me.

However, this chat was rudely interrupted by a NHS member of staff. They interrupted my friends who were helping me with the anxiety to challenge them both on not wearing a face mask. At no point had I felt uncomfortable that neither had a mask on - nor would I expect them  with recent guidleline changes/advice etc. I was more surprised that the staff member decided to challenge them as they were not wearing their own mask correctly, with their nose exposed throughout. 

They were drawing significant attention to the area we were standing in as they persisted to challenge them both. My friends explained their stance but the staff member refused to leave and continued to make me feel uncomfortable  by having this discussion in the waiting room. I felt this was wholly unnecessary and could have been conducted more professionally with my friends at a later time once out of ear shot of so many patients.

They persisted in challenging my friends  and it became very awkward - almost at a stand off - and as a patient it made me feel tense, uncomfortable and anxious given what I was there for.  They also asked for my friend's managers name as if they were going to take this discussion further, again something I didn't need to be privy to, and I felt was unprofessional and could have been handled more discreetly. I also felt an element of embarrassment for my friends in the manner this staff member was speaking to them in front of a patient. 

They knew I was a patient, as I interjected to advise I was completely comfortable with my friends opting not to wear a mask, but they still asked me who I was, which again I felt was very unprofessional to ask me in a waiting room.

Upon leaving my examination, I went to check on my friend and found them very upset and in tears. No one in the work place should be made to feel this way, especially within the NHS. I hope going forward the conduct and professionalism of the staff improves and more of the employees show that bit of compassion/care that my friends displayed today rather than the unprofessionalism of the member of staff.