"The staff are friendly under difficult conditions"

I brought my elderly mother to clinic 11 on Monday 11th June. It was dreadfully busy and all the staff were busy and trying their best but it was chaotic.

Patients were scattered throughout the department without any organisation. So when a patient was called the nurse often had to wait several minutes while an elderly/ disabled or injured person made their way to the other end of the department. It just seemed such a waste of time.

All the clinics were running late.

Our appointment was for 2.10 pm and we didn’t leave until after 4.30 for a 5 to 10 minute consultation.

There were many people there accompanying their friend or relative and many having to take time off from their own work. Not to mention the care worker accompanying an elderly lady who had been waiting for transport since 11.20 and was still there when we left at 4.40.

I realise how over worked the staff are and presumably no one has time to give the logistics of clinics any thought but I suggest it might save time and stress if management did spend some time doing so.

The staff are all friendly and try to be helpful but I think they need more support and the transport needs sorting out but that is probably a different department.

I have no complaint about the frontline staff but management need to help make these busy clinics work efficiently and make the whole experience better for everyone. I’m absolutely dreading our next visit.