"Poor utilisation of staff and departments"

Macclesfield District General Hospital

CQC overall rating

Requires improvement

4 October 2019

See the report

I have just entered the hosp[ital site to leave a comment and was met with the CQC rating, which is very appropriate!

I was recently at outpatients - very efficient and smooth running. My appointment was late afternoon. Following this appointment I was required to have a blood test and an xray. I walked down the corridor only to find phlebotomy closed at 4.30p.m, the time I arrived was 4.50p.m!!!! This was to me incredulous - a hospital service, vital to outpatient care closes at 4.30 when OP department was probably running on to 6.30p.m and beyond. It isn't the failure of staff here but the inefficiency of management who are clearly not fit for purpose. I had my xray without a problem. This meant that to get these bloods done I would now have to take up a whole morning, driving a thirty six mile round trip and a wait at the hospital. I here you say - use your GP services - they are not there to take up the hospital slack, neither do they have available appointments at the drop of a hat. In my case I can wait a while, but what of others? Those perhaps with a follow up appointment in a few weeks, unable to get an appointment at their own surgery, they, have to make the journey again - old or young, to complete their care before being seen again. Your management needs a shake up, you clearly have good staff ( read other reviews) but the utilization of those staff requires good, innovative management, which seems to be lacking.