"Dont go to outpatients absolutley appaling patient..."

What I liked

The Theatre staff were efficient, knowlegable and effective

What could be improved

- The Scott suite out patients area used for general surgery consultations is cramped and always overcrowded. There is an need to call in fewer patients or space intervals better.

- Appalling lack of privacy in out patients - patients herded into rows of tiny examination rooms to wait your turn - improvement - where you can hear every word your consultant says to the patient prior to you who you have been sat next to in the main waiting room!

-Appalling lack of dignity as the tiny examination room where you are expected to undress in front of consultants and conduct your consultation whilst still on the exam bed as there are no tables / chairs and consultants have to stand- improvement -call in fewer patients at once and use seperate examination / consultation rooms.

-Surgical Day Unit is like a cattle station you are admitted to one ward - walk to theathre in a other part of the hospital and wheeled to yet anotrher ward to recover on a theatre trolley (no bed) and your belongings are supposed to follow! - improvement - provide one ward for patients to be treated / recover - beds are not provided unless absolutley neccessary

- better communication between wards / teams to save patients having to constantly repeat the same information when there is a move to another ward / shift change over.

Anything else?

I had an excellent experience under a different consultant last year but everything has changed I am advised due to cut backs - absolutley appaling service provision, lack of care, lack of dignity, lack of communication I would reccomend you ask your GP to be reffered to Woodlands in Darlington if you need general surgery.