Why I don't trust the medical profession

Back from the hospital. All is well. And I am furious.

The nurse I usually see was away. However, in the notes, she had written that we had discussed the possibility of me being discharged today if all was ok. Her colleague, a doctor, did not agree with her, quite clearly. She put a lot of pressure on me, saying, "Well, we can do that, but it's not ideal. What about if we phone you occasionally, if you really don't want to come back?" Why would they do that? What is the point other than to cover their backs? Nurse told me that most recurrences happen between check-ups, necessitating patients to come back between check-ups. Am I really so stupid that I wouldn't bother contacting the hospital if I was worried? Thanks, doctor, for your faith in me.

And while we're on the subject, thanks, too, for the dignity you afforded me when I was getting dressed after your very rough examination. Generally, I would have thought that it would have been respectful to have allowed patients to put their clothes back on with some degree of privacy. Having a nurse stripping off the paper sheet from the couch and preparing it for the next patient while you washed your hands at the end of the bed, leaving me to hop around between you in a space of less than the length, and about half the width of the couch is NOT respectful and afforded me no dignity.

Oh, and by the way, if a patient says they would contact your department rather than their GP's surgery if they feared a recurrence because they feel more confident in your department's judgement, an adequate response is NOT, "Well why don't you just change your GP practice?" That is what an urban doctor would say I suppose. It's not quite so easy in rural locations, you know.

Finally, if you're a nurse and a wee slip of a girl, telling a patient, "I know how you feel" when they say they find the whole process distressing, is NOT the answer. You don't know how we feel. You've never experienced this so you can't. You may empathise - though I doubt it - but please don't patronise us.

And, for anyone reading this, yes, I am very, very, very cross indeed.