Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson and GLA member Lynne Featherstone has called for urgent action to sort out problems at an outpatients clinic at the North Middlesex hospital.Ms Featherstone, who made a visit last week at the request of local patients, has called for an end to the appalling situation of crowds of ill and elderly patients waiting to be seen.

Ms Featherstone found that the clinic waiting room has roughly 40 seats, and has been told that as many as 160 patients can be waiting for treatment and are forced to stand. At the Wednesday morning anti-coagulant clinic, most patients are waiting for blood tests, and many are elderly or have heart problems.

During the visit, Ms Featherstone says the room was stuffy and overcrowded and there was no system for queuing.The clinic claims it is aware of the problem, and is looking for solutions such as making facilities available in pharmacies and doctors surgeries to reduce the problem, as well as altering times. Ms Featherstone is requesting a meeting with hospital bosses to discuss the issue.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“There are clearly really serious problems at the North Mid. Whilst the hospital has acknowledged the problem and is thinking about how to reduce the load, the time frame is far too long. An urgent solution is needed to reduce the overcrowding in the waiting room.

Lib Dem Enfield and Haringey GLA spokesperson, Cllr Wayne Hoban, adds:

“We can’t have people being treated in this way any longer. At the very least, patients should be able to sit down and have a prior queuing system, and this should be introduced as a matter of urgency.”