Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Stellajane]

Is this the most ludicrous system for making an appointment or what?

I received a phone call telling me they'd made an appointment for me at clinic on 16 September - I said I couldn't do that date.  They then said OK we'll have to ring you back - which they did - on two occasions while I was out, leaving no message, and when I tried to call them back the number was blocked.

Today received a new appointment in the post - for this Friday. Fortunately I can do it but the likelihood is if I was working I wouldn't be able to.

Is this really an efficient way of running a booking service?  What's wrong with having a conversation with your diary in front of you? How much money do they waste in phonecalls and postage with this bonkers system???

[babyjane]

sounds odd.  At our surgery if you want an appointment you either ring up and put your phone on loudspeaker whilst you wait in the queue to be answered, by which time all the popular doctors are booked up.  Otherwise you go onto the website at 8am and choose from the appointments listed there.

[babyjane]

Ah, I see.  I always get my hospital appointment sent by letter and if it isn't suilable I ring up and they change it but it usually is ok. 

[Ju Ju]

That does sound daft.i usually get letters, but occasionally they ring to see if I manage a date at short notice.

[CLKD]

I could save the NHS money in all directions 

A letter to the Minister of Health? and local MP!

[Joyce]

Usually letters I get. I got so fed up with our local hospital though. They can't give repeat appointments when you're leaving. They send them out. By the time my last appointment came round, they cancelled with a letter giving me one for a year later. When I phoned to ask why a year, I was told lack of staff. When it came around again, they cancelled again. I told them to forget it! It was for Meno clinic & I decided to just stick with GP.

[Scampi]

I had to use the 'choose and book' system to get an appointment to see a rheumatologist.  The hospital I wanted to attend had no appointments available through the on-line system (waiting time too long), but as I am prepared to wait longer (I know what's wrong with me and what I need - I just need to see the specialist to get the ball rolling) I clicked the 'contact me to arrange an appointment' option.  The impression the website gives is that you will be contacted with an appointment date at your chosen clinic when one becomes available (so when they release the next lot for booking), and it worked like that when I used the same system to book a gynae appointment .... I got a letter in the post informing me of my appointment at a completely different clinic!  Same HA, but totally different site!  I chose the hospital I did as it's easy to get to, has a HUGE car park, and is on the way to work.  The clinic they've sent me to is much more out of the way and has very limited parking (not got time to use public transport - it would add around 2 hours each way to the visit) - so much for 'choice'!

[Katejo]

Is this the most ludicrous system for making an appointment or what?

I received a phone call telling me they'd made an appointment for me at clinic on 16 September - I said I couldn't do that date.  They then said OK we'll have to ring you back - which they did - on two occasions while I was out, leaving no message, and when I tried to call them back the number was blocked.

Today received a new appointment in the post - for this Friday. Fortunately I can do it but the likelihood is if I was working I wouldn't be able to.

Is this really an efficient way of running a booking service?  What's wrong with having a conversation with your diary in front of you? How much money do they waste in phonecalls and postage with this bonkers system???

Earlier this year I got a letter which said 'unfortunately  your appt on Wed 24th  at 3pm has been cancelled.  It is now at Wed 24th  at 3pm!'   Morr recently they have used an online booking which appears to allow a choice of dates and times. In practice only 1 hospital has any slots to offer.

[Pennyfarthing]

My hubby got 3 separate letters all arriving on the same day from hospital telling him his appointment was confirmed and giving him directions.  They must waste a fortune on incompetence.