We hear a lot of complaints about A&E, so when my doctor told me to go to Barnet Hospital for a scan, I was full of prejudice, having heard numerous comments, including “hours waiting in a corridor... no doctors available... seeing people stuck in corridors for weeks”. I was full of all the ghastly possibilities.... and what did I find?

I found the complete opposite. I was greeted in a friendly way, had my details taken, waited a short time, was asked in to have my temperature taken, blood pressure, etc, and then I was invited into a different area, people busy on the phone and with computer screens, but anxious to see that I was comfortably seated. There was a short wait and then a blood test, which was done by an efficient and pleasant person who knew what she was doing.

Another short wait and then a few questions were asked. I was seated comfortably all of the time and watching a very busy team of people answering their phones and dealing with things. Then I was led to another room for the scan and I met a doctor who was pleasant and cheerful. The doctor did the scan of my left leg and told me there was nothing to worry about, which was a big relief (I had imagined an amputation at worst) and then back to another comfortable chair in a busy office to wait for the final verdict by another doctor, who called my name after about ten minutes and told me I could go home.

My score for Barnet Hospital’s A&E is ten out of ten. Thank you.

Larry Ross

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