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What I liked

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What could be improved

My glaucoma has been handled by Scarborough Hospital over the last 20 years. Initially the treatment (including surgery on both eyes) was excellent, and it (along with nightly eye drops) has kept the glaucoma under control. However, the appointmemts system for outpatients is appalling. I used to sit in the crowded waiting area for a couple of hours after my appointment time as if I'd got nothing better to do. The cost to the nation of lost working time was immense!

But my main issue is with cancelled appointments. Almost every appointment I've had has been postponed, usually several times. My latest is on its fourth change. So instead of seeing the consultant at 9 months, it becomes 10, 11 or 12 months. The whole appointments system at Scarborough needs a radical review. Unfortunately for many of us, choice of hospital is not an option due to travel issues. So I hope that as the hospital Trust sets about its improvements it looks at planning its outpatients' process in a more user-friendly way. After all, there are going to more outpatients as the years go by.

Anything else?

The hospital really needs to address its travel plans. There is always an assumption that patients are from Scarborough, but an increasing number are from other towns (Whitby, Malton, Filey, etc) and from the rural areas. For those of us that can travel by bus there should be a recognition that (a) buses exist and should therefore be publicised and supported, and (b) appointments should be mutually planned to take advantage of public transport times (after all, public transport users are helping to reduce road casualties, reducing polution and helping save the planet.) NHS staff should be encouraged to use the bus as well, which could reduce the pressure on car parking spaces for those who don't have a choice but touse the car.