"Appalling service"

I had two appointments in two days. Day one: I was given a video consultation, which I accepted. At the given time I entered the virtual waiting room and waited for about 20 minutes, only to receive a phone call from the consultant rather than taking part in the video consultation. Began by telling me that they were working remotely and so couldn’t access the video system but worst of all, because of being remote ( I took this to mean working from home), they didn’t have my notes or any information about why I had been referred so could I describe what was wrong with me.  

Day two: I had to attend an eye clinic for an eye check. This clinic used to have about 100 or more chairs in the waiting area, since Covid it has been emptied. When I arrived there were 8 chairs and 20 people waiting to be seen. Only a few had someone with them, most were on their own. As new people arrived and checked in they were told to go and sit in the cafeteria at the entrance to OPD. I was one of many patients who ended up standing waiting to see someone for an hour and twenty minutes. 

Two things bother me, if a consultant is supposed to be doing a job, why aren't they at work in a professional manner and if patients are ok to be sitting next to each other in the cafeteria outside the eye clinic, why can’t they sit together inside the clinic where they should be. 

This is my local hospital and I am ashamed at how bad it looks on a daily basis to those who are being treated so poorly, whilst being told that they are the most important thing to the hospital.