"Dont be ill in York, this place is..."

What I liked

The people in A&E were polite and attentive and are not part of the problem here. They are hampered by stupid rules that they are given to work by. I would suggest that the guys on the ground would be the best people to organise things. To paraphrase Churchill, "give them the tools and they can finish the job!"

What could be improved

I had a problem with my eye and the doctor needed a slit lamp to look inside my eye. Unfortunately the powers that be in York do not trust A&E doctors with such expensive equipment. This means patients have to be referred to the eye clinic. Just how cost effective is this? Not only must this cost the NHS more money but there is also a cost to the patient in time taken off work! I got the ditinct impression that my concerns were very low on the agenda

Anything else?

The opthamologise would not come down to A & E to see me as he was busy, this resulted in a referal to the clinic. If the A & A department had had the tools to do the job this 'busy' person need not have even been interrupted. I was visiting York overnight going to Gateshead the next day and was given an appointment for 4.15pm. As you can imagine this suited me down to the ground. When I explained the situation the telephone operator told me I could go to A&E in Gateshead. Fantastic advise from a person who had noiIdea if my eye sight was fit to drive.

On top of this I paid £5 to park my car. The NHS is supposed to be free at the point of use but not in York. If you happen to arrive in a car they will tax you for the privilage of being treated there.

What a pity that good front line people are let down by the people who have set up such a ridiculous system for them to work in. If cost savings are needed at this hsopital, may I suggest that they start with the person or persons who orchestrate such nonsense. If ever there was a classic example of jobsworth this is it.