"I felt as if I was in a cattle market at..."

Anything else?

I have been a patient for 23 years and the way that clinics are organised is abysmal. The waiting room was so full it was impossible to sit down. Every time I have attended over the last few years I have seen someone different, who obviously hasn't bothered to look at my notes. It is a bit like queuing at Tesco checkout and being given somewhat less personal attention. I waited almost two hours to see a registrar attached to another consultant who asked me questions that she should have known the answer to if she had even briefly read about my last visit. Someone else whom I assume was a student was also in my consultation even though I wasn't asked if I minded. I was sent for a blood test. The person did not use a tourniquet and was argumentative when I said which was the best vein. I then went for X ray of neck and shoulder but was then told that they were not doing neck. This was supposed to be followed by a steroid injection in my shoulder. However, there was no one there when I came out of x ray, everyone had gone home. The only person left was the one who took the blood. He was unhelpful, said I would be sent an appointment. I asked how as no one would know that I did not have the procedure carried out. As far as the doctor knew I had proceeded from x ray to day clinic for injection. He was totally unconcerned. I travel 25 miles to this hospital and it seems like a total waste of time. I just sat outside and cried. I have been in such a lot of pain lately and I felt totally let down. When appointments were either with ones own consultant or registrars I felt that I received better treatment. The closest I have come to this is attending a free clinic in Greece about 30 years ago, but then I was at least treated in the end.