GP’s where only private patients get comfy seats
If you’re NHS, you’re told to sit on hard wooden chairs
DOCTORS have been accused of segregation after providing ‘plush’ chairs for private patients while those on the NHS have to make do with bare wooden ones.
There is even a sign that enforces the ‘them and us’ arrangement by directing NHS patients to the hard chairs.
One pensioner was so incensed by the set-up that he complained to staff at The Junction Surgery in Moldgreen, Huddersfield.
Chris Corcoran described it as segregation and said it was ‘ludicrous’. He added that the NHS patients, who are awaiting eye screening, are also facing a blank wall while clients of a doctor offering private skin care had a TV in front of them.
The 66-year-old said the arrangement was so laughable he didn’t think anybody would believe him, so he took a picture of the sign, which 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.’ Mr Corcoran added: ‘There are posh chairs for private patients and plain ones for the rest of us. It’s so blatant and really got up my nose.
‘The posh seats for private patients are in front of a television and a radiator.
‘All we got was a blank wall and a little table made out of plastic and chrome.’
The father of one was so incensed he complained to staff, who he claims were a bit sheepish about the matter. ‘One woman staff member looked embarrassed,’ he said. ‘It really is laughable. What they need to do is make all the seats the same.’
Skyn Doctor is a cosmetic clinic run by Dr Aneesha Ahmad, who is also one of the three GPs at the Junction Surgery. A spokesman for the practice said: ‘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.’