Private patients given plush seats as NHS ‘riff-raff ’ get hard chairs

A SURGERY has been accused of “segregation” after it was revealed that NHS patients are made to sit on hard chairs while private patients get cushioned seats in the waiting room.

Chris Corcoran, a pensioner from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, made the discovery when he visited The Junction Surgery in Moldgreen.

The 66-year-old photographed a sign at the surgery which details where private clients of dermatology clinic Skyn Doctor and NHS eye screening patients should sit.

“I thought it was laughable at first,” said Mr Corcoran, a retired technician. “I was just looking at the sign and thinking this is ludicrous. I joked about it at first but it really is not funny.

“You get out of the lift and you see the posh seats for private patients in front of a TV and a radiator, while the rest of the patients sit on stark wooden chairs and stare at a blank wall.

“The fact it says the word private patients only is blatant segregation. It is basically suggesting that we don’t want you riff-raff mingling with the private patients. It just really got up my nose.”

Mr Corcoran, who was visiting for the first time, raised his concerns and claims even surgery staff seemed embarrassed when he brought up the sign.

The sign in the waiting room read: “Diabetic eye screening patients: Please take a seat on the wooden seats only. The coloured seats are for Skyn Doctor private patients only and are being used throughout the day. Thank you.”

A surgery spokesman told The Huddersfield Examiner: “All patients are directed to our practice waiting areas. We welcome feedback from our patients so if anyone has any comments about the facilities at the practice, including the seating areas, then they are asked to please talk to a member of staff.”