"Appointment at the Opthalmology Department at..."

From previously experiencing many negative aspects when attending your hospital, I feel I must draw your attention to the incredible turn around I experienced yesterday when attending for an Ophthalmology appointment in the Purple Zone.(not listed in your Department list following)

I am an 80 year-old widower, with mobility issues, but normally drive to the Lister. Over the previous months, parking my car, even with a blue Disabled Badge, has become nearly impossible. On several occasions I have been forced to leave without attending the specialist clinics of various departments. The stress this causes is very real and has upset me on many of these occasions.

On the 19th June 2018 I was conveyed by a driver of the North -

Herts Community Volunteer Service NHCVS to an 11:20 appointment at the Outpatients Eye Clinic. This was for an assessment on a cataract in my right eye.

After comparing many other clinical appointments at the Lister, to my experience yesterday, I was overwhelmed. Hence this feedback to express my gratitude. A local printed form for feedback was handed to me at the Ophthalmology clinic, but time was not available to complete, as It needed to be posted in a box at reception. Why did it not have an e-Mail link?

In outline:

I arrived at the main entrance to the Purple Zone at approximately 11:10 where I then ‘Checked In’ at Reception and was told to take a seat by the main entrance. Within two minutes, a nurse called my name and I was escorted to her place of work for a standard eye test from reading charts etc.

Her colleague checked my identity against my file whilst the original nurse completed the various visual tests then recorded the results of on a dedicated form. Both were very efficient, yet quite ‘light hearted’ in their demure.

In other words, very pleasant to be with.

With their tests and documentation completed, I was then escorted by the second nurse to a second waiting area, which was previously out of sight, but containing approximately 20 other patients. In consequence I was prepared for a long wait to see the appropriate duty clinician.

Surprisingly, within two minutes, my name was called and I was escorted to the clinician, (Dr) who had his name on the door but did not introduce himself. He then performed various procedures on both eyes, with drops and ocular instruments, before telling me he would recommend an operation to remove the cataract in my right eye and this should be done within approximately 4 weeks. Fantastic outcome for me.