"Charles Dent Metabolic Unit - an excellent service"

Anything else?

I have been visiting the CDMU on an outpatient basis for approximately four years, for a chronic metabolic condition. There is no option to choose this department on the drop down menu!

It has a wonderful team of consultants, dieticians, and I have also seen a fab neuropsychologist, supported by an efficient admin team and HCA's.

The OPD is clean and following a refurbishment and redecoration is a pleasant area. I rarely have to wait longer than 10 mins for my appointment and that is usually due to the consultant arriving slightly late for clinic (!)

The staff are kind and supportive and work well together as a team to provide a specialist, high quality service which is life changing for many patients who attend, on a number of levels.

The pharmacy team is very helpful in explaining side effects of medication and in making sure you are completely clear on everything before you leave.

The appointments team is extremely efficient, even when you have to phone and rearrange.

The only constructive comment I would make relates to visitors sitting in on the clinics. I do realise that in a specialist service with an international reputation there will be visitors, but currently the system is that when you arrive in the consulting room there are up to three people sitting there and at that point, in front of them, you are asked if you mind if they stay through your appointment. As even one extra person feels to me like an unwelcome audience, I always say no as politely as I can and they then have to leave, which is rather awkward all round.

If this question was asked at reception, or when the HCA does your obs, and the message is relayed back to the consultant at that point, this situation could be managed more diplomatically, as it is important to consider that in these circumstances, many patients may currently feel unable to say no, even though they would like to.

Thank you.