Nurses warned over 'disrespectful' behaviour

Calling older patients "dearie" or "love" is set to be ruled out as offensive by new guidelines from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Nurses should speak "courteously and respectfully" and use patients' preferred names, the NMC recommends.

But terms of endearment can be used in some areas if they are part of everyday speech - it may appear unusual if they are omitted, the draft guidance says.



Shadow health minister Anne Milton said: "This is ridiculous and does not do justice to nurses' professionalism and understanding of patients' needs.

"We all want to see the very highest standards of care, with patients treated with respect and dignity, but using terms of endearment does not conflict with this.

"I think most people will see guidance such as this as the world having gone mad."