Here we go again: Terms of endearment are wrong

In the American South, "Honey" or "Hun" is a form of address often used by women, even to people they hardly know. In Australia "Love" is similarly used. In Britain the terms vary with the locality but "Love" and "Dearie" are common. North of Watford, one also hears poultry terms such as "M'Duck" and "Hen" when other women are addressed. But that is all wrong in Britain now. Apparently, a friendly gesture has become "offensive"!

"Nurses will be banned from calling the elderly 'dearie' or 'love' to avoid offending them under controversial new rules. Fresh guidance outlining how they should treat patients 'courteously and with respect', to be unveiled next week, says many elderly people find such terms patronising.

But critics lambasted the advice, saying the use of familiar terms could cheer up bedridden pensioners, and was far less important than ensuring nurses help patients eat their food or do not leave them lying in soiled bedclothes....

The NMC's guidance goes on to give other advice which seems so obvious it is shocking it needs to be pointed out at all. It says nurses should 'communicate with older people by not only talking with them, but listening to what they say', and points out: 'Eye contact is very important in establishing a link with an older person. Healthcare providers should never look at their watch when talking to people.' ...

However, the council accepts that in some parts of the country, such as Yorkshire or Lancashire, it may be normal to use the term 'love' - and is not considered at all patronising...

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