Scroll down or click to read: 1️⃣ Definition 2️⃣ How to make it harder to minimise your concerns
1️⃣ Definition
Minimisation makes out that your facts, feelings and/or concerns are unimportant. It is used if your concerns or events cannot be denied.
1️⃣.1️⃣ Minimisation, sometimes called trivialisation reduces your:
▶️ facts,
▶️ feelings
▶️ and/or concerns
It is a behaviour that is deliberately used to make your concerns appear unimportant.
1️⃣.2️⃣ This behaviour is used to downplay the impact of
▶️ withholding information,
▶️ bad behaviour
▶️ and/or poor treatment
▶️ and/or a wrong diagnosis.
It is wide spread when investigating complaints within the healthcare setting. It doesn’t solve the problem. It doesn’t make the complaint disappear away. All it does is:
▶️ Buy them time
Until they can come up with a variety of excuses that are just a rehashing of ‘the Outcome would have been the same‘ or ‘we didn’t follow NICE guidelines or local and national polices as they are only guidelines.‘
When your trust in healthcare providers has already been eroded. To downplay your valid concerns feels like a further betrayal. Which leads to a further loss of trust.
2️⃣ How to make it harder to minimisation your concerns?
▶️ You do not have to accept this behaviour. So the first step is to immediately bring this behaviour to their attention.
▶️ I suggest you do this after taking a couple of deep breaths
and without going on the defensive. remind them that they although you are confident they really didn’t mean to downplay your complaint. They are offending you by not taking your concerns seriously.
▶️ Then take the time to slowly and concisely explain why it is so important that they address all of your concerns. By al means be polite but do not defer to them because they are professionals.
That is why it is important:
▶️ To check the accuracy of your healthcare records. Via a Subject Access Request.
▶️ Then, if necessary, Amend your Medical Records.
▶️ Request all communication is in a written format ie email.
▶️ If a face to face meeting is unavoidable. Before the meeting, put in a written request to record the meeting. If this is refused, take your own meeting minutes and email them to the meeting chair as soon a possible after the meeting has ended. This way, you have a receipt of your recollection of the discussion of the meeting. Plus it is time and date ‘stamped’.
▶️ Record all telephone conversations, using a phone app recorder or piece of hardware. It is not illegal to use record phone calls but I would urge you to let the person know you are recording the conversation.
▶️ If they refuse or recording a telephone call makes you feel uncomfortable, then either record your answers or questions. Or take minutes of the call and email them to the organisation as soon as possible after the end of the telephone call.
As the more factual and evidence base your information is, the harder it will be for them to minimise the events. Not impossible, but definitely harder.
