"Amazing staff but lost me 6 hours!"

I had to visit the uclh urgently this morning as a very bad case of tonsillitis and dangerously high fever left me almost unable to breathe. Having read past reviews, I was afraid I would be asked to go home as my case would not count as emergency but after a 15min wait, the nurse called me in at around 8.40. She asked me all the usual questions and took my temperature and informed me that I would have to do a blood test as well as be given fluids and antibiotics intravenously as my tonsils were so swollen I couldn't swallow. I was also allowed to have my friend with me, which was a great relief.

So far so good... then I was asked to wait in the corridor for what felt like 25 mins. I could see there was a lot of staff coming and going but they didn't really seem busy at the time, as indeed we saw a few hours later, most injured patients did not start arriving until around 11.30. After this long pause I was asked to step into a 'room' (the type that has a curtain instead of a door) and put on the patient's robe. Then I was left to wait shivering for 40 mins until finally the nurse arrived to take my blood and put me on IV. It must have been another hour until the vials emptied meanwhile I was visited by a student trainee doctor, the main doctor and a second nurse. All of them were really nice and kind and made me feel like they really care and that I am really being looked after. They asked many questions but also answered my questions too. A while after the vials emptied I was asked to dress and move to the corridor were I was left to wait for my blood test results.

So I waited and waited and waited with no further communication until I finally was given the OK and was allowed to leave. Having to pick up the prescription from the uclh hospital was yet another time consuming affair so all in all I left the building at 13.15. I felt the unit was very clean and there was plenty of staff at hand and those who treated me were all really nice, knowledgeable and caring people. I'd really want to be able to give the highest score but the fact that I had to lose 6 hours (!) for something like that -a common uclh problem if we are to judge by other reviews as well- doesn't allow me to do it.

Please uclh, try to work on being quicker, then you will be the best hospital in -at least- the UK.