| Abstract: | 50 elderly patients attending a general hospital outpatient department were interviewed about various aspects of their attendance. Ninety percent had been brought by transport provided by the hospital. The mean time spent waiting for the doctor was 35 minutes, the mean time spent with the doctor was 17 minutes, and 10% of patients felt they needed more time with their doctor. Twenty four percent of patients had their medications changed, but none received written instruction. Fifty percent of patients had attended their clinic more than five times in the past 12 months. Eighty two percent of patients felt the visit was useful. It is concluded that although several problems were identified, elderly patients were satisfactorily serviced by this outpatient department. |
