I attended Ward 21 as an outpatient on 18th April 2016 for a first appointment for cataracts
My initial assessment was interrupted by a member of staff for no particular reason and this was followed by the nurse leaving me in the corridor to discuss the lack of HCA to escort me to another floor as if I wasn’t there. Surely this should have been discussed before we started out.
Later on, my pre- admission assessment was also interrupted by another nurse and the competency and training needs of a co-worker was discussed during the checks as if I didn’t exist.
Because I was herded back and forth between two different levels there was confusion and a lack of continuity when, after I had waited a further hour, a nurse started the initial checks all over again . Fortunately I am sufficiently compos mentis that I was able to point out that this had already been done.
I was then left for another wait to see a doctor whose name I was never given before being left to wait again to be herded back to the ward for another wait for further tests. I was never given any indication of waiting times at each and spent nearly 3 hours there in total.
I came away from the visit feeling I’m just a number to these people. Unfortunately, I have to go back to that awful place and I dread it. This was nothing like any previous experience of have had of the NHS and I wouldn’t go back if I could go somewhere else.
Note that from GP referral to treatment I will wait about 23 weeks not anywhere near the 17 published, by these waiting times both eyes will take about 8 months and I wasn’t given any choice in further appointments as it states on the website.
"appointment 18th April 2016"
About: The Royal Victoria Infirmary The Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4LP
Posted via nhs.uk
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