"My son's tummy"

My wife and I took my 7 year old son, to Sheffield Childrens Hospital this morning to see the gastro-enterologist.

To start with the positive, all the staff were lovely and welcoming. The consultant engaged with our son about the difficulties he had and then talked to my wife and I about possible reasons and also a plan to take it forward. We all felt included at the right times and we will have a follow up appointment to review the situation, referral to dietician and a couple of tests which were explained well. So we felt well looked after our anxieties were taken on board and met with the appropriate informed reassurance.

We did not have long to wait for the consultant which was really good. But the queuing system to get booked in and make another appointment was poor. One hard pressed staff trying to deal with it, whenever there was a little problem with a patient details, a large queue resulted which with young children, buggies and parents was not good. Some people joined the queue by mistake waited and then had to go off somewhere else.

Suggestions:

More than one terminal and booking in staff or could possibly be dealt with by some filtering process ( a woman did go up and down the queue belatedly trying to offer assistance). Also the signage could have been better and simpler, the areas are colour coded but the signs re which clinic was where, were not prominent enough.

But it was a good experience overall and most importantly good care! !