"You are only as good as your weakest link."

Anything else?

Consultant was/is fantastic - no issues here ( this is for nephrology as opposed to urology) What surprises me though every time I come to outpatients at Airedale is the disrespect that is shown to patients. Staff talk to patients without any thought of privacy, revealing personal patient details to others in waiting areas without any thought. Elderly people are treated like bits of meat. Nurses don't bother to close doors to ensure privacy. No body smiles. Staff always seem really disappointed to see patients, particularly when they take a moment to stop gossiping to each other. Dignity appears not to be a priority and the whole experience of being in outpatients is impersonal and like being in a sausage machine. I am kind of resigned to it and just get on with it each time I visit. Treating people with respect and kindness doesn't cost a penny and it is the minimum that your staff should afford to patients. With regards to improvements that could cost money, try running your appointments on time. In all the years that I have come to your hospital it amazes me that an appointment that is booked months in advance, without fail, will always be running late. I have rarely seen this with private sector appointments. It displays a monumental mismanagement where either not enough time is given for an appointment or nobody has bothered to ask how much time is required for an appointment. There really is no excuse for it. I bet if your staff were paid only by clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, these issues would disappear overnight.......now there's a thought. So, as good as the consultant is, it is always without fail an unpleasant experience visiting outpatients and living with the illness itself is made that much worse because of it! On the plus side - I am alive!