"Pre-Assement Clinic"

I am a 67 year old retired Nurse. I trained at Bradford Royal Infirmary and currently face an uncertain future. I am due to have an sudden hospital admittance (cancer I think). You would think that dignity and compassion was not something you would have to doubt, but the way the nurse treated me today was disgusting. The nurse never once called me by my name, treated me with an off hand tick box approach which was basically horrible and dehumanising. Even though I face an uncertain future this horrible approach should not be allowed to go unreported. I was in tears when I got home, and when I called the unit afterwards I did speak to Staff Nurse who was incredibly kind. At this most difficult time in my life I found myself appalled by the off hand and humiliating behaviour of this person who had seen me prior. As a Nurse I recall the famous saying "you cannot teach compassion". Today I witnessed the truth of this and was appalled and frightened by this most appalling behaviour. I would say the people I saw up to this supposed "qualified" woman were incredible, and that up to her I was treated with dignity. It is sad that these people can just feel they have a right to treat people like shit. Who knows this person might face something similar to what I face, and would hope to be therefore to be treated with the kindness they didn't show to me. St Lukes is a nightmare hospital, and she personified it. Robert Ancliff