"Respiratory Medicine Outpatients & ward 20 -..."

I was referred to a doctor following an abnormal chest x-ray with my first appointment Friday 17th January. What a lovely, lovely man. He created wonderful rapport & had me laughing within seconds. This doctor is not stuffy & actively listens rather than just going through the motions. He has great eye contact & a genuine smile. I felt at ease with him & by the end of the consultation felt that I could put my trust in him. The clinic was running late but apparently this is the norm due to the official time allowed for each patient. 10 minutes is not long enough for a new patient and it is unrealistic to expect any doctor to take a brief medical history, perform a physical examination, review the data that has prompted the referral, and review any data from this appointment such as CT, ECG, lung-function tests, etc. in this timescale. Just under 5 hours is a long time for a first clinic appointment but as everything was being covered so thoroughly I had no issue with that and did not hear others complaining either. All the staff I came into contact with that day were polite and helpful. My one big complaint is the lack of anywhere to get a hot drink after 3.30 pm when the café closes for the day. My current tickly throat is only relieved by drinking something hot and I was very grateful that one of the clinic nurses very kindly got me a cup of hot water to stop me coughing so much. 20th January I saw the doctor again on ward 20 as he performed my bronchoscopy. He again displayed excellent interpersonal skills. Watching him with his team I felt they liked & respected him & the whole atmosphere was therefore calming. The entire team who looked after me that afternoon (too many to mention) deserve praise for their efficiency, their caring attitude, their patience, and their overall professionalism when dealing with this very frightened patient. I ask many questions and the doctor has been very good at explaining everything so far. I think that we shall see more of each other in the months to come and I have confidence that he will do his best for me.