"Appointment? Why bother giving a time?/"

Anything else?

I recently took my 94 year old, wheelchair bound mother for an appointment to the Eye Clinic. The appointment time was 3.20pm. This is just a time someone, somewhere has plucked out a fantasy. We were there about 2.35 having used patient transport (The wheelchair makes it necessary). 10 minutes later we were called for the initial eye test. I thought great, this looks promising, Wrong!!! We then sat there until 4.50pm. We were with the consultant until about 5.10pm. Of course, when we came out the receptionists had gone home so it fell to the nurses to contact patient transport, which being nurses they did very efficiently. This arrived about 5.45 and my mum got back to her Care Home at about 6.30pm.

To me it seems like there is no concept of how to treat the elderly. It's cruel to make a 94 year old woman sit in a wheelchair for up to 5 hours.

Guess what? Her next appointment has just come through: 3.20pm again. This time if nothing has happened by 4.00pm I'm asking for patient transport to come and take her home while she still has a little energy and dignity.

Don't get me wrong, the nurses are great. It just seems the work load and organization are just plain abysmal!