"Good care, great staff but very long wait for..."

What I liked

I was admitted into A&E following a seizure, I was brought in by ambulance and placed in a side room. I was esorted by a nurse who took my observations and was seen by a doctor and a consultant within the alloted 4 hours. Although it is a pain waiting for so long it is completely underatandable for a busy hospital and I know perfectly well that the staff are busy with priority patients far more worse off than myself. Being a student myself on A&E a few years back I find it very irritating that people complain of the time to wait when there are people who have had severe accidents, heart attacks, strokes etc who require immediate attention. I was transfered to MAU, where the ward and staff were very pleasant, unfortuantely I didnt get a great nights sleep, but again I am a light sleeper and would expect nothing less from a busy acute ward. I have nothing bad to say about the paramedics, nurses and doctors I have seen in A&E, MAU and neurology outpatients and am happy with the care I have received.

What could be improved

My only grievance is with the time I have waited for appointments ect and the administration.

I had my seizure early Jan and received an MRI mid Feb (I made this appointment myself after hearing nothing for 2 weeks- I spoke to nearly every receptionist in the hospital before one lady told me that I was due to have one but it hadnt been booked- did I want to book it?- erm yes please!) I also contacted neurology services (again after talking to several receptionists) to ask when my appointment with the neurologist may be as I would need to arrange the time off work, the receptionist was very shocked and informed me that I had only been on the list 2 weeks & that it could take 17 weeks! I eventually saw my neurologist mid April who told me he was diagnosing epilepsy and sending me for an EEG which was the following week , I am still waiting for these results and it is now the end of May.

I appreciate that it takes time but I waited 14 weeks for a diagnosis and to start medication and 20 weeks later I am still waiting for results. Thankfully I have had no futher seizures but I am sick of phoning receptionists chasing things up, I like to be informed about my tests, even if they are no abnormal findings I would like to know.