"Telephone Appointment"

I had a telephone appointment scheduled recently for 11 am. I had to wait nearly 4 weeks for this appointment. I took annual leave to ensure I would have peace and quiet to take the call as my work is very busy.

My phone didn't ring and did not alert me, after 10 minutes of waiting I checked my call log and it showed 3 blocked calls from a private number. I called DGRI where I was put through to Orthopaedics answer phone service and explained my phone won't accept private numbers and asked if the consultant could use the Health board landline system.

Around 90 minutes later I saw that 2 further calls were made, again from a private number and were automatically blocked. All the while I was trying to disable the spam call blocker on my phone which is factory setting. I did not set this up. After 2 pm I called the appointment centre and advised them and they said they would email the consultant. 

The appointment centre called me on their 0800 number and said the Consultant had said there's nothing they can do about it and that I had to change my phone settings. I replied that it is now changed and I am now receiving spam calls from foreign shores! I was then asked if I want another appointment, I said yes of course, I am desperate to have the results of my two MRI scans and to find out what on earth is wrong with my spine, legs and balance etc. The next available phone appointment wasn't for a further 5 weeks.

I think this is unfair and I feel that I am being punished, I get that the Consultant is very busy and not getting through would have been as frustrating for them as it was for me to not get my call. But quite simply all they needed to do was to use the NHS 0800 number.

I called back to the appointment centre later this morning and asked if the Consultant would perhaps email my results to me. I was advised they do not do this as it has to be in person. I am now feeling more stressed and anxious to be kept in suspense for another month or so. Also I have new symptoms which I had hoped to report.