Elderly people in hospital - luvvy, dearie and darling!

Luvvy, deary and darling are just some of the names my 88 year old father was called during his recent stay in hospital.

I've no complaints about the standard of care he received. It was reasonable - not perfect, but OK. I understand that the ward was busy and understaffed and that the staff were doing their best.

But what's all this name-calling? My dad, as I've mentioned on here before, was a rear gunner during WW2. He's a serious man who shows respect to others and expects it back from them. Especially from people a couple of generations younger than himself.

Would it really be such a strain on the resources of the NHS if nursing and care staff were to call patients 'Mr Smith' (or whatever), instead of 'Freddy, love' - at least until they'd been acquainted for a while? Or if they could go easy on the 'luvvies' and 'darlings', or the 'Ooh, we are ready for a shave, aren't we, Freddy?', or 'Is it the waterworks again, me dear?'

Maybe some elderly people don't mind being addressed that way. Maybe some like it. My father doesn't. Would a little respect cost so very much?

Sorry for the prolonged absence...

My father is currently ill up in Yorkshire and I am spending a lot of time with him, and on the M1 somewhere between there and home. In fact have only been at home for 3 days in total in the last 2 weeks. The laptop I have up there does not have a good internet connection (don't get me on to all of that!) so posting on my blog is impossible.

That's my excuses made. Hope to resume normal service soon, but am not sure when. Meanwhile, preparations are afoot for an exciting library event with my writing colleague Ann Evans. We will both be launching (again!) our new children's books, with help from young readers who will bring some of the scenes alive.

More soon. I will also be saying things about care of the elderly in hospital, at home, etc. (Bad language alert...)