"Trauma and Orthopaedics Outpatients"

Today's visit was another frustrating visit to this department! I have to say I was very impressed on my first visit. But the last two have been very unpleasant experiences. In May our appointment was two and a half hours late and today we were kept waiting for three hours. After waiting for two and a half hours we asked at the reception desk how much longer it would be only to find out the person who had checked us in after having an X-ray hadn't done it. They were apparantly there on work experience! Many of the patients were complaining that they had been waiting in excess of two hours. Our wait was three hours. What I find really disappointing is when you go to the receptionist in the trauma and ortho clinic (12 area b) to check in or ask a question you stand there waiting to be acknowledged, it's like you are invisible, when they finally look up your presence is clearly a nuisance.I accept clinics may run late with emergencies etc but it would really help if an explanation, apology or an indication of how late clinics are running could be given. I would like to finish on a positive note when we finally get to see the consultant on all three occasions they have been excellent.