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"Left waiting while doctors were chating/laughing"

About: Royal Free Hospital

My father had a high fever with stomach problem and we went to Royal free at 7pm Sunday 27th July. It wasn't busy at the A&E. A doctor examed my father and asked us to take a urine sample and wait outside. By about 8pm, we had the urine sample ready and waiting outisde the GP treatment room 2. I know there is one person inside the room with the doctor. After the doctor finished with the patient, we waited another 20 minutes. I knocked on the door, open it, and saw the doctor having a quite relaxed conversation on the phone. Seemingly after the doctor finished the call, the doctor started to chat with another doctor for about 10 minutes, with occasional bursts of laughs. Another 15 minutes went by, no sign of calling. Evenntually the second doctor came out, and I indicated to the first doctor that the urine sample is ready. The doctor said we will be called in a minute. The member of staff in the next room went into the doctor's room with a dozen of alcohol questionaire. I could hear again a very relax conversation with more laughs. My father was feeling really unwell. I opened the door again asking the doctor that if the urine sample could be checked while we were waiting. Once again I was told that we would be called very soon. Finally, about 9.10pm, we were called in, quickly check the urine sample, concluded that my father had food poisoning, gave us the pain killer, some advices and we left about 9.20pm. all my prior experience at royal free is good, and this experience is very disappointing. it makes me feel that a patient with high fever was left waiting for a very long period unnecessarily, and the doctor rather having some laughs with colleagues in the office. not sure if the hospital will see this review. if yes, i hope the hospital can investgate it.

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Responses

Response from Royal Free Hospital 9 years ago
Royal Free Hospital
Submitted on 01/08/2014 at 17:53
Published on nhs.uk on 02/08/2014 at 04:00


Thank you for feedback, we are sorry that you did not have a good experience at the Royal Free. We will pass your feedback on to the A&E department.

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