"Outpatient"

I had surgery on my eyelids earlier this year (2025). We made follow-up appointments as well as an appointment to assess cataracts this month.

First as an older Australian with some mobility issues I chose to travel by Uber and ring the hospital to see if they were able to help with a wheelchair.

After some confusion and re-directs on the phone, I was told a Wardsman with a wheelchair would come to help.

A Wardsman did appear but no wheelchair and he asked me why I couldn't walk, that they was sent to show me where I had to go and took - I thought - a surprisingly hostile and unhelpful attitude.

Eventually they said they had better things to do and walked off.

Furious, I started to walk on my own. Very slowly. This was 1:30 in the afternoon and it was 30°.

Towards the top of the small hill, a man asked if I was OK and ultimately went to fetch a wheelchair.

Meanwhile the Wardsman appeared with a chair and the first thing they said was it wasn't their job to push me around all day. 

The other fellow - Frank - turned up to rescue me and he helped me with a chair into the Outpatients, getting me to the correct reception. The nurses took over and Frank left, with my thanks.

Next I was given some tests and then taken to another building to have some kind of scanner test.

Then I had a consultation about my eyelids (they want to do another operation to improve their results) and then I was told they could make an appointment to have my cataracts assessed sometime early next year.

I asked "what about now? Isn't THIS appointment to assess my cataracts?"

With mutual politeness they went to work and I was given an appointment to assess cataracts but this coming December. An improvement on March or April next year.

I was given a document to fill in at home, someone found a wheelchair sans footrests and the male nurse drove me back to the pickup area for cars.

To top off the day, my Uber home was not the usual $22 but was $56 due to demand and surge pricing.