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I was dreading the appointment as it was back in the opthalmology department of the large hospital – well, not that large, just 725 beds. The John Radcliffe has 1,133 and Manchester Royal Infirmary, has more than 1,700 beds.
There, I, and many others, had spent hopeless hours, several years ago, watching the information cards and the delay times on them increasing - waiting time 35 minutes, 50 minutes and so on. I don't much object to waiting if I'm travelling under my own steam, but I don't like keeping my chauffeur waiting.
It had been such a relief to go to the smaller hospitals – parking was easy, waiting times were negligible, fewer people. However, I was pleasantly surprised today. The waiting rooms were crowded with people . . . . waiting, but everyone had a seat and things were proceeding in an orderly fashion.
It was all conducted very efficiently. My main complaint would be the assumption that I needed to be treated like a small child, with questions being asked rather too loudly and a hand guiding my head rather too insistently towards whichever machine was the next to be monitoring my eyes.
It's a pity the benches have to be chained to prevent theft!
There and back in under two hours! Well done, FPH.
I'm glad the appointment went well and was efficient. It must have been a bit annoying for them to talk like that. I suppose it's a habit of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a habit, and an assumption that older people must necessarily be a bit hard of hearing and slow!
DeleteI remember the last time I had my pupils dilated, I caught the bus home and wandered about waiting for my sight to be normal again, it took hours!
ReplyDeleteThis time I got a headache, but that might have been because of the bright sunshine and having to squint against it going home. It's a small price to pay . . .
DeleteThat sounds very efficient indeed. I'm glad it was a good experience (apart from the actual dilation which is never much fun). xx
ReplyDeleteIt was just good to be in and out so quickly.
DeleteStinging eyedrops sound wonderful. At least it is over and done with, until the next time, with minimum fuss.
ReplyDeleteActually, they weren't that bad, and they weren't coloured, either.
DeleteA relief to hear about a good hospital experience. It still can happen. I hope your eyes are doing OK now.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
Yes, the NHS works well when it can. The eye thing is just a routine annual trip - so far!
DeleteI hope that all is now well?
ReplyDeleteThank you. There may be a follow-up appointment if anything is found. Bit vague - 'you may hear . . . ' Oh, joy.
DeleteHi Janice - yes one goes off to medical appointments with patience to the fore - well I do .... glad all was well. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSet aside the whole day, just in case. It was a pleasure to discover I didn't need to!
DeleteGood luck with the results. You never know how long these appointments are going to take, sometimes I've been from home and back in 2 hours, sometimes it has been 8. And sometimes I have been glad to be handled like an old person!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Appointments are a bit of a lottery.
ReplyDeleteSo far have managed to avoid much health care experience beyond the occasional trip to a GP and those more or less stopped with hysterectomy in my 30s. Nice to read that efficiencies have been made in systems employed to deal with every larger populations and ever fewer (it seems) healthcare resources.
ReplyDeleteWell done on the steering clear. I avoid medics like the plague and am fortunate, so far, to be able to. I thank my parents for good genes ;-)
DeleteI had quite a long wait when I went for my first appointment at the new eye clinic back in June. I'm very bad at waiting for whatever reason but it particularly stresses me out if it's for a medical appointment.
ReplyDeleteHaving one's pupils dilated isn't much fun but being treated like a child would have me fuming!
I'm glad to hear your appointment went well, otherwise! xxx
I think they just see the patient and make assumptions. Inside, I'm still 21, or 35, or 42 . . .
DeleteSome doctors (and helpers) have little in the way of bedside manners. I've had three ophthalmologists who were guilty of that. One other who was not great but not quite as bad. And two who were a delight. (I've had cataract surgery twice and a detached retina lasered back together, plus retirements/replacements, so unfortunately I've met quite a few)
ReplyDeleteI think eye examinations by their nature lend themselves to scheduling many patients at once - those with drops in, waiting to dilate; those already dilated, waiting for an exam. The assistant can do the drops. It's like an assembly line. The waiting room looks full, but it's an efficient process! I'm glad you got through yours relatively quickly and hope your results are good.
Jenny, you poor soul, what a lot to put up with. You're right about the scheduling of patients, of course.
DeleteSo pleased the the appointment went well.
ReplyDeleteWell done to FPH.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan.
ReplyDeleteGood to see that these people are not forgotten and that their tireless work has been recognised. shame about the chain though.
ReplyDeleteWithout the lesser seen and recognised workers, the world would grind to a halt.
ReplyDelete