12 February 2026

A month ago, I mentioned briefly a conversation I had with the dentist’s receptionist. I was trying to make an appointment. She began the conversation in a patronising way. ‘What are we wanting today?’ she said. To which I replied, ‘There’s just one of me today!’

I am sorry to say that his way of speaking is not uncommon and it isn’t just dental receptionists who are guilty of speaking like this. It has been widely observed in the medical world. It’s called elderspeak and doctors are some of the worst culprits.

In an article entitled, ‘Spin Doctors’, Philip Hensher tells his own story. He was suffering from an infected ulcer which had gone into the bone. The consultant summarised his treatment. ‘We’re just going to take a kind of little nibble at the toe.’ he said.

Hensher replied. ‘Could you explain the distinction in surgical terms between ‘a kind of little nibble’ and partial amputation?’ The consultant was disconcerted. But why was he talking to a well-educated adult as if he was a nine year old child?

‘Students of linguistics … generally regard it as a linguistic power play, putting capable people in a position of subordination and removing choice.’ says Hensher. Why would you choose to do that? If you loved your patients, you would not put them down nor in their place! This is self-agrandisement.

Jesus was refreshingly honest and straightforward with people. ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk!’ Be open, be honest, be humane. Exercise a ministry of compassion. Stand in the shoes of another and see things from their perspective. Follow the advice of Burns and see yersel as ithers see you!