"Visit to Endoscopy department in day centre"

given an appointment time (very early afternoon) and we arrived 15 mins beforehand. had to fast and had fasted for 25 hours! there is a banner in reception that says if you have not been seen within 30 mins contact reception.

Contacted reception after an hour and was told the staff were working through the list and aware.

finally get called in after an hour and a half for checks as to name, address, DOB, medical history and allergies etc - details which you should already have in records, referral and from reception desk!! then told to wait back in main waiting room - was told it would be another 40 mins - another hour and half later finally called through.

Spouse was asked to wait outside but told they would be kept updated as to when procedure over and in recovery.

Another hour later still in additional waiting area and not had procedure, spouse not told and left waiting outside.

Finally had procedure 4 hours later than appointment.

ended up being last appointment of the day, everyone had gone home and department locked up for the night.

Once finally in and having procedure service was OK - nothing special.

ended up being starved for 29 hours and when you psych yourself up to having an endoscopy to be left waiting and worrying for 4 hours is unsatisfactory to say the least. We were told we were very lucky it had not been cancelled - lucky!!

The referral was marked as urgent, priority - its a shame the staff took no notice of this and didn't keep anyone updated as to waiting times or even apologise for having kept people waiting.