"First out patient appointment after cancer..."

I was very apprehensive about attending my first appointment with a breast cancer specialist Obviously I was very fearful and have to say that my first impression was very poor. There was a long queue outside outpatients and the doors were shut. When they opened them, although there were 3 desks, only one was manned. This meant that anyone with an appointment at 8.30am was inevitably going to be late. Preparations for the clinics were underway but not completed. When I saw my specialist they told me that they had arrived early so that they could spend longer with me to allay my fears but, because the department was closed, had been unable to do so. First impressions count and it seems wrong to let people with medical conditions stand for long periods in a corridor. Treat your patients with consideration and not as livestock. I have been treated better when taking my pets to the vet. I have to say that my consultant was excellent and caring and the breast care nurse also very helpful.