"Excellent front-line staff, but minimal support..."

I was advised to seek an 'urgent' check for possible glaucoma. I just managed to get to the preliminary appointment, but due to there being no departmental support staff (not just in the Eye Clinic - all out-patients departments have been denuded) and the inability of departments to themselves arrange appointments, I missed the main appointment. Two months later I did see the Consultant, and was again told to await an appointment for treatment. As my eyes could have developed full glaucoma at any time, this was hardly reassuring!

By sheer luck I got through to the Consultant's secretary, and was offered a cancellation, which I hastily took before they returned the slot to the main Reception/Appointments.

The laser operation was very skilfully performed, by a Doctor on their own with no help from any other staff; I'm sure that a person of that ability has better things to do than conduct patients to the right room, prepare the equipment and clean up after them-self!

The Ward Sister who had earlier walked my papers into the out-of-bounds Appointments team must also have had better things to do with their experience and skills than wander corridors dealing with what ought to be routine paperwork, done by co-located admin support staff. Thus far I've seen four nurses, a consultant, two doctors and a sister, and all have been very helpful - or as helpful as they can be working in the conditions imposed upon them. Whoever decided to dismiss the department non-medical staff should be dismissed and replaced by such people, as he/she clearly didn't merit a managerial salary. My impending loss of vision was saved, but no thanks to the NHS "Trust" which runs EDGH.