"Organised Chaos? Is this good for Patients?"

Long waiting lists unless referred by GP on urgent basis. Waiting for hours not good for elderly frail and sick patients. Partner had to rush to car park to avoid a ticket for exceeding maximum permitted time !! As a patient I was not involved in any decisions relating to my care. I have no idea what the name of the different drops they put in my eyes and they really stung my eyes and caused a lot of pain. The bright lights they shine in your eye blind you. I was told to look towards doctor`s left ear then right ear etc - never mind the ears I could not see anything but the bright white light which hurt my eyes and was blinding me. I did not understand what the results were nor what was wrong with me as nothing was properly explained to me. Maybe because they consider all elderly frail vulnerable and sick patients are stupid or won`t complain? Apart from the long waits, when you are actually seen everything seems so rushed. This begs the question: are there enough experienced Doctors in relation to the number of patients being seen?? At the end of the session I received nothing to confirm I had attended, what tests or assessments were carried out (diagnosis) and what the prognosis was. I left with a question mark over my head. I think there needs to be more communication with patients in a friendly caring and dignified manner and not to make patients feel patronised. Also the Quality Care Commission needs to carry out more regular audits and send out questionnaires to patients treated since the last inspection to get a proper patients perspective. As a patient I do not know what the Doctor has written on my record without having to resort to formally requesting my medical records via the Data Protection Act. For the purpose of transparency, ease for the patient and Doctor accountability every patient should be given a short summary letter at the end of each visit as a mini record of their treatment, diagnosis and prognosis so the patient can keep this as a record and correct any errors or misrepresentations which may have been made. There needs to be more transparency and accountability patients need to be treated according to their individual needs. Why not have appointments spread out into the evening and weekends?