Recently, I found myself in a healthcare appointment, helping, advocating, and listening for one of my family.
Details aren’t so important.
I was in front of a female Clinician — a Doctor.
Not a Consultant, but what we used to call an Associate Specialist; someone who’s now called a Specialty Doctor, I think.
I was there, as a third wheel, as the second listening person behind the first listening person who was there with the patient. And so, I found myself in the extraordinary position of being able to really watch the conversation and not have to interject too often. Probably just there as a pair of safety eyes and ears.
The clinician was astonishing.
She was kind, empathic, warm, hugely knowledgeable, and massively reassuring.
But there came a point in the consultation where she had to be firm. There came a point where she had to get a point across that was being disputed; one that both the patient and the first listening person were not quite on board with.
I watched how she did that. It was amazing.
She used her kindness as a strength — as an authority — so that she was able to get a point across which was entirely correct and valid, even though it was slightly unpalatable.
It’s a skill developed over years and years, but one that should be taught to every single person who works in healthcare, and probably every single person who ever parents a child.
We don’t always — or even so often — have to say yes.
But we do have to be kind.
Blog Post Number - 4427
Colin Campbell, Chris Barrow, and an intrepid group of dentists will be cycling across the plains of Tanzania from Kilimanjaro in early February 2026. If you would like to support the charity, Bridge to Aid, and this extraordinary challenge, please click here.
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