"OUT PATIENT FACILITIES"

I accompanied my partner to his out patient appointment in the Fracture Clinic at Basildon hospital on 29 April '19. Everything seemed out of order: The hot drinks machine in the adjacent A&E Dept was unuseable as the display on the machine stated there were no cups. The toilet in the X-Ray Dept was out of order.

It looked like the ceiling in the X Ray dept had a leak as there was what I can only describe as a funnel of plastic sheeting attached to the ceiling with a plastic pipe at the base of it. One of the automatic doors to the Out Patient Dept had a notice on it that it was temporary out of order but I am sure this particular door has been like it for at least 6 months. The pay phone by the Pharmacy was out of order.

My other concern is poor admin support/communication.

My partner should have been sent an appointment for 4 weeks after his previous appointment but when it did not arrive after 3 weeks he called the hospital and was given an appointment for 3 weeks later, i.e. he waited 6 weeks.

Then when leaving the hospital today he tried to get an appointment for 3 weeks time, he was told "that clinic is not open yet". It's hard to understand the thinking behind this as other hospitals can give appointments for 6 or even 12 months time before you leave the hospital at the end of your consultation.