Hospital telephone appointments are so frustrating

[Grownyourownway]

I have a few chronic health issues and have regular appointments with my consultants.

Since Covid times these appointments (especially follow ups) are often telephone calls and I find them so bloody frustrating. They are never on time, often much later or early then scheduled and several times I’ve had no call at all despite waiting by my phone for ages.

I have a follow up appointment with my gastroenterologist today. The appointment was at 11.30. It is now 12.15 and I’m sat here waiting and waiting but as yet, nothing. I know that her secretary doesn’t work on a Friday so no use ringing her but I don’t want to call the hospital incase I’m then engaged and she does call which would of course be Sod’s Law.

And if she doesn’t call it will be weeks before I get another appointment and I really need to consult with her. My six month follow up was supposed to be months ago.

Not sure what to do as I’ve got to leave for work soon and don’t relish the idea of discussing my gut health issues in front of my employers or the general public. I appreciate doctors are busy people but so too are the patients.

I get a letter telling date and approx temp if it is not convenient asked to ring for an alternative. I would ask for the first early morning appointment on any date, avoids build up delays.

Our adult sons have telephone appointments with haematology but aren’t given a time and are just informed that they will be called during, for instance, 2pm and 5pm. They’ve asked for more specific times, or as specific as can be, or give times when they wouldn’t be available and been told that it’s not possible.

One of them had an appointment recently and couldn’t answer his phone when the consultant called so she called me and asked if I knew why he wasn’t answering (because he was teaching) and would I like to take speak to her on his behalf. WTF?

Yea they are dreadful. We have terrible phone signal here and no land line. We don't need a land line because our phones work on WiFi and we use things things like face time or WhatsApp amor teams.

You never know when they will call. You can't get a feel for what happening. You can't properly prepare.

I had an issue with the GP surgery calling when I was teaching and she said you missed the call and we only try once now. I even said I was teaching until 3pm . She called a 2.45pm. It took 45 minutes to get through to the surgery.

Yes, terrible. I am a teacher and have to arrange cover for my class. If they don't call on time I have to go back to class and miss the appointment.