"Robbed of dignity, at a tragic time in my life"

Dental Hospital receptionist left feeling robbed of my dignity, hurt, ignored, patronised and treated with such disdain during one of the most vulnerable & trying points in my life.

I have been a carer for both my parents, one of whom died a traumatic death from cancer a few months ago and the other currently slipping away, again from cancer I simply do not get time to manage my own health, I also have a severe phobia from bad dental experience as a child. I've been in agony with my teeth almost 24/7 for weeks now and it's impacting my ability to provide my mother's care. She collapsed due to a blood clot on her lungs recently. I visited the nearby dental hospital for advice on accessing care as a busy carer with a severe phobia.

I walked to the desk, the 2 receptionists didn't acknowledge my presence for some time, until I told one lady I was seeking advice, she looked at the time and said "bit late isn't it" shaking her head at me. I reiterated that I just wanted some quick advice, perhaps a leaflet. She ignored me and after a pause walked away from the desk, returning with a green form, which she slammed on the desk in front of me without explanation, she then said "you've got no chance, it's ten to five", never explaining the form. I eventually spoke to a medical staff member I saw in the reception area who very briefly explained things to me, that's all i needed and wanted - simple info and the basic level of respect most civilised people extend to each other every day.

As a phobic patient it took me a lot to push myself through that door, and I was treated so poorly I left totally frustrated, desperate and carrying a newfound sense of hopeless, the total lack of compassion displayed by this woman had such an impact that I began to feel emotionally overwhelmed, I'm struggling with major depression and anxiety due to the pressure of nursing my parents through their deaths alone, and this person's callous, caustic, unprofessional and confrontational demeanor really crushed me emotionally at my weakest point, I'm ashamed to admit it but I couldn not even find words to stand up for myself, I was truly crushed and I left her with tears in my eyes.

I meet lots of inspirational, dedicated, genuinely humane medical staff as a carer, even caterers, cleaners whose compassion towards other human beings restores one's faith in people. It's very rare that one encounters such an uncompassionate, rude, crass and unpleasant individual as I did at the Liverpool University Dental Hospital, but when you cross their paths at a time in your life when you're feeling so vulnerable, weak and fragile.... I have to say, her toxic, malevolent attitude I think is far more destructive than perhaps she would ever imagine.