Address hospital patients on their own terms

SIR – Three cheers for Mr Justice Hayden, who has pronounced that elderly people should not be referred to by their first names in hospitals because it is “infantilising” (report, March 16)

The response from the charity director of Age UK sounds sympathetic but unfortunately misses the basic point. All patients (not just the elderly) feel somewhat vulnerable on entering hospital. On being asked whether or not they wish to be addressed by their first name, the vast majority are bound to agree to this, because they believe that is the answer which the staff want to hear, and they suspect (quite reasonably) that they might be labelled as potentially awkward customers if they give any other answer.

This imbalance in the staff/patient relationship can very easily be corrected. On admission to hospital, this question should quite simply not be asked of any patient. There ought to be a presumption that every adult patient is addressed by title, unless he or she makes an unprompted request to be addressed more informally. At a stroke, this would make elderly patients feel more comfortable, and would also set a welcome standard of courtesy for everyone else. Judith M Tanner

Porthcawl, Glamorgan

SIR – I do not mind being called by my first name or my title, so long as I have been asked my preference first.

What I do object to is people using terms of endearment – calling me my love, sweetheart or dear, for example – which I find thoroughly patronising and demeaning. The platitude “Oh, bless” when responding to a question is equally awful, and “take care” on departure positively cringeworthy.

All of these examples can sadly be found throughout the NHS and elsewhere. Liz Derbyshire

Wroughton, Wiltshire

SIR – I had to spend a few days in hospital recently, and even though I am old (a pre-war baby) I was happy to be called by my first name.

I even told them that I preferred Les to Leslie; it made me feel as if I were among friends. Les Sharp

Hersham, Surrey