"AI Phone line and left with no appointment"

I suffer with Glaucoma and have drops everyday in my eyes and have to have regular injections which I have never had any issues with getting appointments for in the past.

I called to make my regular appointment and was told there is a new telephone number to call. I called the new number and listened to the new message saying that this is an AI assisted telephone line, and which hospital do I need?

I repeatedly said St Richards and it wouldn't accept this each time. I ended up calling St Richards Hospital and they told me to try saying Southlands Hospital. I tried this and got through to try and book an appointment.

I was then told there were no appointments available as they are trying to clear a backlog from 2023!

My questions are: 1. Why have you introduced this new AI phoneline which doesn't seem to work? and 2. How has there suddenly been a back log when I have never had any problems making an appointment in the past?

I am now 7 month without my injections and no appointment.