Share review of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 2013-02-08 Person 3 5 0

I was seen in the new outpatient department in the basement of Chelsea and Westminster. It's a vast improvement on the other outpatient areas The facilities are good and clean, and it's easy to find your way around. The unit has a coffee shop (doesnt take cards - a minor annoyance), is light and airy, has comfy seating and free wifi Issues I have are: They have a 'gate' system, I think meant to emulate an airport. You check in (via touch screen if preferred) and then sit down in the first waiting area. You then wait for your name to pop up on the screen telling you which 'gate' to go to. I think this is a little fiddly as presumably they could just say immediately 'if you're seeing Doctor X, then go to gate Y'. Once you get to the 'gate', which is just a reception desk you're welcomed by a receptionist and asked to take a seat. The reception isnt particularly good for patient confidentiality, there was a heated discussion between the reception and a patient when I was there which was essentially a public discussion because everyone was so close. At one point, and nurse came and told everyone queing to sit down and move away from the desk 'because of patient confidentiality'......she was right, but shouting at the patients who were just waiting where they were told to wasnt the best way to do it! However, number one issue is that the clinic ran an hour and a half late. To be honest, it could be the nicest place in the world, but I'd never choose to wait there that long!