Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Review

I had an outpatient appointment today..never having been there,I was surprised at the size of the complex..it reminded me of Gatwick..the parking was atrocious...badly designed car parks, where one has to reverse back onto the main lane when there's no space...got "lucky"in the third car park. In the huge hall, one has to sign in with a barcode into a machine,I couldn't change my GP but maybe I was too thick.. Staff was nice & helpful, consultant was running half hour late,he didn't introduce himself, so I don't actually know who I saw & he knew nothing about me, had no files or info, so we had to piece everything together..how can the NHS be so disjointed? Shouldn't the GP send everything to the specialist, is it my job to bring x-rays or scans (which he asked if I had)? What about e-mails? We got there in the end but I have to go back which is a 3-4 hour round trip for me..! Finally I had to wait 50 minutes+ staring at a screen.. like ur waiting for the gate to come up at the airport..for the phlebotomist whom it took less than a minute to take my blood..! I feel weary& annoyed after that experience. If it was hard for me, I'd hate to think what some elderly people make of it, it's so impersonal and automated, like one lady said to me 'you're just a number', it's not nice, hospitals should aim for the opposite in my humble opinion...less ticket machines, more people! Rant over & out

My nan recently came in by ambulance, and ended up in ICU and was in hospital for 2 weeks due to encephalitis, most scary experience but from start to finish the staff were amazing, every single one of them! Especially Louise in ICU who comforted us, answered all our questions whilst my nan was on life support, and looked after her, and the rest of the lovely ladies and men that looked after her afterwards, she is now home and resting and I have an op here Monday, thank you for the staff for everything you do and done! Amazing.