"Waiting facilities"

Very recently, I had a routine operation at the Arthur South DPU.

The staff, from first contact with receptionists through to nurses, surgeons and anaesthetists were all courteous, helpful and gave useful information throughout.

However, I had to wait for one and a half hours before initial contact with a nurse in a cold area in very uncomfortable chairs. After a brief interview to collect data from me, I had to wait for a further three and a half hours in the same type of chair - low backed and impossible to sit restfully with any comfort. As I have a painful hip and was Nil By Mouth this experience was very difficult. 

My suggestion is that the chairs that are used for this. Very lengthy waiting could be much more comfortable for patients if they were the high-backed type that are used in the waiting areas for clinics, where waiting is usually less than half an hour. At least then one could sit back and rest a little before surgery.