"Excellent consultation: disappointed..."

What I liked

Outpatients appointment with a consultant (ENT) October 2010

A sympathetic consultant with excellent communication skills who took time even though the clinic was very busy.

They finished with the words, "I'll see you in a few weeks time"

I subsequently received my next appointment. Due to a mix up I was sent two appointments. In seeking clarification of this it became apparent that this appoinment was not with the same consultant. Apparently consultants take the clinics alternatively. I have now to wait over a month longer to be fitted in with my original consultant at my request. I believe that continuity of care is important especially as I had had such a positive consultation in the first instance and have no wish to go over the same ground again.

What could be improved

Providing a follow up appointment with the same consultant. The appointments in this department seem to be allocated on a random basis. Surely you can do better than this!

I only found out by chance. I would have been upset to have found out on the day of my appointment. Obviously consultants cannot be available all the time but it became clear that there didn't seem to be a system of continuity in this department/clinic. I believe that my consultant was expecting to see me again.