"Management let a really good hospital down very..."

Anything else?

I took my 87 year old mother in law to the eye department for an 11.40 appointment. The hospital is lovely. Clean, modern, excellent nursing staff and consultant really excellent etc. I still hold tha view but .....

We were not advised of any delay and there was no notice to indicate approximate waiting times. Other patients were showing signs tho of a long wait. One had been there from 9.30. About an hour in, two nurses were kind enough to offer tea and biscuits. No further such facility was offered. After over two hours I asked a nurse to please give us the courtesy of an explanation as to why things were not moving, why the delay. She said she would ask a doctor to speak to all of us. I saw her ask a male doctor but he clearly declined the invitation.

We were seen at 3 50pm - having waited over 4 hours.

The (very nice) doctor advised that a doctor scheduled for the morning clinic had failed to attend. A manager had decided that patients could be left waiting until later. I think some afternoon appointments were cancelled. This poor lady was then left with the frustrated waiting patients. I can only guess at the apparent embarressment of the staff. What made this worse was the fact that the majority of those waiting we're elderly people who went without lunch etc for such a long time.

So, complain? No what is the point. It was clear that the managers would care as little as they did at the time. Sorry for the staff tho!