"Good medical treatment but long outpatient waiting times at Moorfields (Tooting)"

I have just finished treatment at Moorfields in Tooting for a blocked tear duct. I should first like to record that the medical treatment itself under Mr Uddin and his team was first class and I appreciate what they have done for me.

It is a shame that the organisation of the outpatients has soured the experience. My treatment has required several visits to the outpatients department. On each occasion I waited for 2 or 3 hours after my appointment time before I saw a doctor.

Yesterday, I waited 3 hrs 10 minutes after my 9.45 am appointment. On checking with the reception, I was told that 13 patients had been booked in before 9.45. As outpatients start at 9.00 am, it is clear that the system has long waits deliberately built into it.

This brings overcrowding to the unit, frustration to the patients, pressure on the staff (who do their best) and Doctors who have to face fed up rather than appreciative patients.

I am also concerned that these delays are being deliberately hidden as all patients see a nurse within half an hour. I hope that waiting time statistics are not based on seeing nurses as 'medical staff' as I could determine no medical purpose in seeing the nurse and feel that the resource put into these nurse consultations could be better spent on more doctors and perhaps a better manager who could organise a more efficient unit rather than hiding waiting times.