"Felt patronised!"

Anything else?

On Friday 14th June I visited the Haematology dept. to have some annual, and unusual, blood tests done. Because they are unusual (and expensive) I had checked with the Bio-Chem department where they would be sent to ask if they were ok about it. Having got the green light I went ahead and as I handed my docket in at reception saying "These are a bit unusual". the receptionist said (without looking at it) (and in quite a patronising manner) "Nothing is unusual here, dear". However, guess what, she couldn't find the right codes for them and had to call for assistance. In the end it took at least 4 people to get anywhere, only one of whom could be bothered to listen to me, and who eventually found them, at my suggestion, on the records of the previous tests I'd had done. Then we come to the person who actually took the blood. The receptionist had handed my paperwork to her and told me to follow her as she would sort it out. But when I did follow her and try to speak to her she quite harshly said "I'm dealing with another patient" (though that wasn't obvious). In fact I found this person totally humourless too and when I asked how many phials she had done as it didn't seem much, she just pursed her lips and said "As many as were necessary". I felt that I was treated like a child throughout, with nothing to contribute except my blood (eventually). Patients should be listened to at the very least. They often know a great deal more than the professionals about their particular condition and deserve to be treated with respect.