"There's no privacy in the clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital"

I was recently referred to a consultant at the hospital. At my oupatients appointment, i was shocked to see that there was no privacy for patients to discuss their problems with the doctor.

We all waited in the waiting room, when I was called i was taken into a larger room, 3 desks lined up to the right and a doctor sat at each, the consultant, registrar and senior house officer. On the left hand side was a nurse who was weighing patients, taking heights then working out their BMI as well as taking their blood pressure. Then there was another nurse hovering round listening in to conversations.

I was surprised to see that i was expected to have my weight, height, BMI and blood pressure disclosed to fellow patients. I was then also expected to discuss the details of my problem with the doctor in front of 2 other doctors, 2 nurses and 2 other patients, as well as the odd clerical staff that might walk in.

So much for patient confidentiality. I heard every little detail of the other 2 patients medical history, diagnosis and treatment plans. Not out of choice, it was hard not to hear. I'm sure they heard all about mine too!

We deserve some privacy when being treated by doctors. I don't want joe bloggs sat next to me on the bus to know what my medical problem is. Nurses have disciplinary action taken against them for breaching confidentiality, so how can it be allowed on such a large scale?