February 20, 2023

On acknowledging pain

My eyes skipped down the NHS letter, searching for a date.

Your referral has been triaged for priority read a sentence on page one, before continuing overleaf.

Long letter, no appointment. Why?

The usual explanation: waiting lists, specialist department demand (we're half the population; is gynaecology really that specialist?)

And a paragraph I'd never seen before: We understand the impacts of waiting for an appointment... many of you are anxious and in pain, and we are truly sorry.

A simple acknowledgment. An apology. A glimpse of the humans on the other end.

It has helped.