"Cclinical experience satisfactory...."

What could be improved

First impressions of the hospital are that it has an extremely large amount of circulation space i.e a spacious entrance/reception area, wide corridors, numerous subsidiary reception desks. I was amazed to find that when I reported for my day surgery on February 18th I was shown in to half of a modest sized room, the other half being closed off with a sliding shutter door.(for no apparent reason) There were six patients plus the nurse squeezed into a small space, with no room or space for additional chairs for anyone accompanying the patient. One patient in the full hearing of everyone, admitted to having Alzheimers, and his wife had to be called in and stand alongside him to assist him with filling in some forms. Because of the congestion, the nurse had to use a small portable table on which to write her notes as she moved from patient to patient, continually having to squeeze the table round everyone. Questions as to one's medical history, age etc were given in full ear-shot of the other patients. On return from my operation I was cleaned up in full view of everyone. The surgeon then appeared and added to the congestiion by briefing me post-op, while having to stand (as there were no spare seats) in front of me (and evryone else).

The ridiculously small space allocated for all this compared with the enormous allocation of of circulation space throughout the hospital seemed to suggest that someone has got their priorities wrong.