to be fuming (NHS appointment related)

[MESSING2]

Received a letter confirming an appointment for DD at a specialist clinic. We can't make the date (early next year) as we're on holiday, so called the central bookings number given to reschedule. Told that there are currently no earlier appointments as far as she can see (she calls over her colleague to look at the database or whatever it is and check this for her) but says I can try to speak to the clinic directly as they may have some availability.

She puts me through to another number, so I explain the situation again and am put through somewhere else because apparently they aren't the people I need to speak to. Get put through to someone else, and explain the situation again. Conversation goes as follow:

NHS Lady: Did you just speak to my colleague?
Me: Yes, possibly - I have just spoken to a few people.
NHS Lady: Didn't my colleague just tell you that there are no available appointments before the one you were given?
Me: Yes, but..
NHS Lady: Well, there are no appointments, as she said to you before. I checked for her and there's nothing.
Me: OK, but your colleague said I could try asking the clinic directly.
NHS Lady: No - that doesn't work. All the bookings are done through us.
Me: Oh, right. Thanks anyway. Bye.

She was really quite abrupt and unpleasant in her tone, and it felt like I was being told off for being pushy/not understanding what they were saying. There was no apology or anything.

Is there any point making a complaint? Or do I just suck it up. I appreciate they are busy/stressed and have to deal with a load of crap every day. But this isn't really on, is it?

manchester I got an apology from the clinical staff. I suppose technically I got an apology from the admin lady, who after all was the one at fault, but it was very grudging and really only happened at all because I stood there and smiled politely and asked 'could you just explain to me what happened?' and then looked her in the eye until she mumbled one.

"Point is you did get an appointment but are going on holiday early next year which quite frankly is not really their problem. I'm sure they would love to be going skiing, visiting relatives or off to the caribbean for a sun soaked adventure but I'm sure their wages won't allow it, if they could even get the time off from a job that is probably draining the life out of them as it is."

Norfolkandchance - I don't understand your point. As it happens, I have a pretty crap, low-paid job myself, and I can assure you my holiday will not involve sunning myself on a Caribbean island. Does that give me the right to be rude to people, or does that only apply to NHS workers?

I totally understand that me not being able to make the apt is not their problem. Fair enough that they didn't have any earlier cancellations, completely understandable. But them putting me through to the clinic, to then be passed on to someone else, then back to them again where they proceeded to tell me off for having the audacity to do what they told me in the first place is what riled me.

I'm not going to complain. Bigger fish to fry, and all that.