I arrived for my first urology appointment at Clinic C ahead of my appointment time, 10 minutes early with a full bladder as directed in my referral letter.
The clinic waiting room was very busy and after waiting for 30 minutes beyond my appointment time my partner enquired at reception the wait to be seen. I was becoming extremely uncomfortable and needing to empty my bladder. Unfortunately we had mistaken my appointment for 10am which was actually 10.30am. I was not informed of our mistake when checking in.
I was ensured that the consultant would be seeing me next and the receptionist apologised that clinic was already running 30 minutes late. A nurse then called my name and repeated the same information, I asked again at this point was I getting an ultrasound or examination as I was becoming desperate to use the toilet, they were not sure and would check for me. We were called another 10 minutes later for my consultation. This was now 11am.
I queried again ultrasound or examination I was very desperate to visit the toilet as we were not gotten back to earlier. I was told I could use the toilet after all and to wait in reception after as they would call someone else through. I felt humiliated as by the time I reached the toilets I had a slight accident.
On using the patient toilets I found out of the two toilets, the first contained no hand soap or hand towels and then second alarmingly unclean. I alerted the receptionist of the problem.
We were called back through and asked why I was referred. I repeated the same information as I had been giving my GP for the last few months. I was told to expect a long wait for ultrasound (spring time) and even longer for cystoscopy. I was prescribed prophylactic antibiotics and told to make an appointment for 4 months time. The consultant was unaware despite looking up laboratory results on Trak Care my culture and screening history.
During the consultation the consultant urologist took a personal phone call to their daughter regarding a school test. They did not excuse themselves and leave the consulting room nor did they apologise for taking a personal call.
As a fellow health care professional I left my consultation feeling embarrassed and disheartened.
Since my appointment 2 weeks ago I have gratefully received a referral for ultrasound (booked for tomorrow) and cystoscopy in December.
"Urology referral"
About: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary / Urology (Bladder and Urinary problems) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Urology (Bladder and Urinary problems) AB25 2ZN
Posted by jellybelly (as ),
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