"Many people don't realise how lucky we are to..."

I had not intended to write a review as I was seeking information about staff as I wanted to write to my doctor and get their specific address - my doctor was very kind and so helpful to me recently and arranged within two days for me to be seen in Orthotics.

However, when I saw some of the reviews I was appalled how lacking in respect and gratitude some persons' reviews were about the staff at the hospital.

Why have they such little patience and lack of understanding of the work load of all persons nowadays in the NHS - I have been attending Western Eye for several years now and have always been treated most conscientiously by a very dedicated team of professional doctors and nurses and auxiliaries.

I know it is very hard at times especially if one is not well to have to wait for a couple of hours or more and I may on a bad day grumble a bit myself but where in the world could one go except to the National Health Service where one could get such help not in a few days, or a week, or a month but in a few hours???

What I really like very much also is that this hospital is that it is more like the old cottage hospitals which were like large integrated families - As Schumacher rightly said, 'small is beautiful' and this department proves that maxim exceptionally.

The major problem I have experienced in this hospital is not with the Emergency Clinic but in having my appointments in the glaucoma clinic cancelled, which is most likely to be a result of administrative problems, and being unable to book another one - due to the delay in securing a recent appointment thanks to the kindness of my doctor in the Emergency Clinic I learnt my glaucoma had advance considerably - this could have been detected and treated over six months ago had my appointment in the clinic in March not been cancelled as again was the one in May and despite expecting one in July when I rang the appointments office I was told I would not be able to get an appointment until December - something is radically wrong somewhere but I doubt if it is with the medical staff and this is something I must investigate at another time with the hospital administration.

As far as the Emergency Clinic is concerned I would give them 20 out of 10