Walk-in waiting woes

I have recently, due to health reasons had cause to visit the walk in day centre at St Mary's hospital a place that I would not normally visit on a voluntary basis but because I was unable to access my doctors surgery I contacted 111 and I was informed that they (111) would forward my medical details to the walk in centre.

I arrived at St Mary's at around midday where my details were checked and I was shortly thereafter called for my initial assessment, I was reliably informed that the normal waiting time is 3 hours with nothing more to do that day I decided to wait until my name was called to see the doctor or nurse for my much needed treatment.

After one hour and as I had not had a drink or eaten for some considerable time I enquired as to where I could obtain such refreshments, with a blank look and a reply of we only have a water machine I decided to return to my chair and wait.

At the hour hour obligatory waiting time I asked the reception as I had been waiting the full three hours how much and how far was my name from the top of the list to which I received the same blank look and was informed that there was still people in front of me, so again I returned to the waiting chair, hungry, deflated and totally at a loss as to how much longer I needed to wait.

As the fourth hour struck I again with a certain amount of anticipation asked the receptionist how much longer it will be before I am seen, to which I received the usual blank look and what had become the customary answer there is still people in front of you, I looked around the waiting room and noticed that not one person was waiting before my arrival some 4 hours previously.

At that point I decided that enough was enough and without receiving any medical care drove home hungry, deflated and totally at a loss, here endeth my experience of a day I would sooner forget.

Martin Clark Lashly Meadow, Hambledon