"The staff in most departments ..."

What I liked

The staff in most departments are usually extremely good and helpful, doing their best in the difficult environment in which they have to work.

What could be improved

The appointments system in general is very badly organised. Everything from the initial phone call to make an appointment (usually taking about 30 minutes to speak to someone if you are lucky) right through to the long wait in a small uncomfortable and crowded room without any indication of how long you will be waiting. In many cases this resembles a cattle pen, it should be remembered by management that these people are ill. I personally have had to sit on the floor in the corridor as the waiting room was so full. Patients dare not leave the room for the toilet or to get refreshments for fear of missing their name being called. When such long waits are the norm rather than the exception, surely something should have been done about it by now. As long waits can be unavoidable then at least let us know roughly what position we are at, how many people are before us etc so that diabetics etc can have something to eat,or go to the toilet etc please stop treating us like cattle...