Atmospheric music that hits the wrong note in the hospital | Letters
If you think it’s bad to listen to Carly Rae Jepsen in a hospital waiting room (sweating with anxiety I waited for the doctor’s verdict. Then the radio started playing Call Me Maybe…, March 13), then try being wheeled in for an abortion to the sound of – I’m not kidding – Barry White. A moment so surreal that I often think I must have imagined it. But I know it happened because it was before they gave me the meds. Everything went smoothly, as you can imagine.
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Eight years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska, I was about to go down to have a cataract removed. I was asked what music I would like. The Buena Vista social club, I answered. Less than sixty seconds later I was drifting into those warm tones before I had time to be amazed that first, the specialist knew about it, and second, that they had it on hand. I like to think that my improved eyesight is partly due to that relaxing music.
Flora Grabowska
Crovie, Aberdeenshire
My husband had a similar experience about five years ago while waiting in a hospital to pick up a prescription. The canned music was playing I want to be drugged by the Ramones.
Katie McKenna
Sacramento, California, USA
My husband once went to an appointment where the radio was playing in the waiting room The medicines aren’t working.
Margaretha Coupe
Longnor, Staffordshire
My vasectomy was performed in the run-up to Christmas to the sounds of Ding Dong Merrily on High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Hallelujah Chorus.
Johannes Gray
York
I agree: the default position for patients should be silence. Our practice does indeed run local radio stations, complete with advertising and DJ stuff. But not as bad as a café we visited where the local radio was also playing in the background: a phone call about sexually transmitted diseases.
Roger Davis
Dilton MarshWiltshire
When our practice started playing a pop music station, I was told this was to ensure privacy – that is not the case. For this patient, at least, loud music is neither soothing nor reassuring.
Marie Paterson
Nuneaton, Warwickshire