"Frustration all the way."

My wife and I have spent six and a half hours over two days, on the telephone trying to cancel an appointment at the Chorley Fracture Clinic. we have been faced with wrong numbers, waiting for an hour or so when number one in the queue (with no advancement before the line went dead), automated answerphone and no human answering at any time. Six and a half hours of waiting with the `phone to our ears you may remember.

Is it any wonder that patients simply do not turn up for

appointments on the day? They probably spent hours doing the mannered thing and not being able to contact the department and eventually giving up.

Two weeks ago, my wife had to attend the fracture clinic with an appointment just after 9 a.m.. She was eventually called in at 11 a.m. for a three minute consultation. Efficient or not?

The department either needs more staff perhaps on a switchboard, or a much simpler communication system because at the moment, it is in no way fit for purpose.