"Closed Reception Desk on weekends"

I recently had an appointment at a weekend clinic at Forth Valley Hospital. I arrived at the relevant department 10 minutes before my appointment. A member of staff was mopping the floor in the corridor and helpfully explained that here’s no receptionist on weekends, and I should take a seat in the waiting area.

I sat down and began to wait with a handful of other patients. After a short while a member of staff came out to tell us things were running a little late, which is perfectly understandable in healthcare. Then a little later another member of staff came in to the waiting room and asked if anyone had an appointment. Everyone in the waiting room put their hands up and someone was selected seemingly at random to be taken through for their appointment. This happened a few times, with new patients arriving and then getting chosen at random and taken for appointments before some of us who had been there for longer.

I understand that appointment times in healthcare will sometimes need to run late as staff deal with emergencies and unexpected events, however the ad hoc way that patients were selected for their appointments on this occasion did make me anxious. I had left my baby  with my husband for what I hoped would be just a few hours as stated on my appointment leaflet, but as at least two patients with later appointments than me were taken in before me I became increasingly stressed about when I would be taken. I told a member of staff that I was anxious about getting back to my baby as I am still breastfeeding. The member of staff was considerate and helpfully said they’d see if I could be seen soon - however after this there was one more instance of a patient (who had just arrived, and who had an appointment a full hour and a quarter after mine) being taken in. 

I’d like to emphasise how professional, caring, kind and supportive staff were once my appointment began - but wanted to share this experience in case anything can be done about how patient appointment times are handled in weekend clinics when receptionists are not present to manage who is present for appointments.