I had an appointment on 20th January at 10.15 at Clifton Park Hospital about a problem toe with Mr ....... After a half hour wait, I was ushered into the consulting room by a person who muttered that he was standing in for Mr ......., I think. I only really heard the latters name. He did not give his own name. From then on, the appointment was conducted in a very hurried manner, as if he wished it over with as soon as possible. I had little time to interact and no encouragement to ask questions. When the possibility of surgery was mentioned, he suggested that I could decide at a later date and get back to him if I wanted to go ahead. I had presumed that I would get back to Mr ....... and, anyway, I did not know his name. I cannot question his competence, but the fact that he removed the dressing from my toe, put it on his desk and then stuck the same dressing back later did not seem to me best practice. He also answered a personal phone call on his mobile, which I thought most unprofessional. Finally, he turned to work on his computer, leaving me wondering if the appointment had finished or not. I asked him and he said it had and indicated the way out. His cavalier and dismissive attitude left me feeling insulted and angry. The was my first visit to a consultant. I hope it is not the norm.