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Share ideas for making waiting rooms in hospitals and GP surgeries less onerous

Marianne72

Lately, I've spent a large amount of time in hospital and GP waiting rooms - this is to do with ageing also putting on weight. I ought to pay for a season ticket for my own chair Slight smile. The main difficulties I have with waiting are bustle, sounds, boredom, too many people I don't know, the waste of time. How could waiting rooms be made positive or useful? These are my ideas but please share yours - the more outlandish the better:

1. muscle stimulating devices attached to each chair, to 'exercise' arms and legs

2. community jigsaw puzzle for visitors to help complete

3. ditto knitting or crocheting squares for charity blankets 

4. a points system [like supermarkets] allowing you to upgrade waiting times, get a prize - pack of vitamin B or D, or hospital lottery ticket

Parents

  • A serious suggestion would be to make things as simple as possible. 

    I remember when I went for an ENT appointment, the letter said to go to main outpatients' reception. But if you follow the sign to "outpaitents", you are met with a corridor containing Reception A, Reception B, Reception C, Reception D and at the end, Reception E. Turn right at the end and carry on and you will find Reception F. Good luck guessing which one you need!

    And there was the time I had an orthopaedic appointment, which was booked on a computer through "Choose & Book". When I returned home from the appointment, there was a first class letter on the floor informing me that I had an appointment four hours ago. At that appointment, they kept getting my hopes up in a delayed clinic by shouting people's names [hallelujah! its my turn!], only to find that they were just moving you to a different waiting room.

Reply

  • A serious suggestion would be to make things as simple as possible. 

    I remember when I went for an ENT appointment, the letter said to go to main outpatients' reception. But if you follow the sign to "outpaitents", you are met with a corridor containing Reception A, Reception B, Reception C, Reception D and at the end, Reception E. Turn right at the end and carry on and you will find Reception F. Good luck guessing which one you need!

    And there was the time I had an orthopaedic appointment, which was booked on a computer through "Choose & Book". When I returned home from the appointment, there was a first class letter on the floor informing me that I had an appointment four hours ago. At that appointment, they kept getting my hopes up in a delayed clinic by shouting people's names [hallelujah! its my turn!], only to find that they were just moving you to a different waiting room.

Children
  • in reply to mp500

    Yes! Why do they make hospitals so confusing? How do people navigate it without help? I find it so frustrating and  overwhelming going to a new hospital or department and trying to navigate it. It surely isn't that difficult to have a simple layout and clear signage.

    I also hate when they call your name just to move you to a new waiting room. Or when they call you for preliminary tests and it seems like things are moving quickly but then you have a ridiculous wait for your actual appointment.