"Frustrating!"

Having attended an OCT and FoV assessment earlier in the week I received two phone messages on consecutive days about a 'forthcoming appointment' from the local CHEC centre telling me I need do nothing and they would ring back in 24 hours. Today I managed to answer the phone to an automated message apparently reminding me about a 'forthcoming appointment' and I confirmed that I was the patient by pressing the relevant button. The line was then silent. As I had no idea what forthcoming appointment was supposedly booked I rang Preston. After some time on hold from number 10 in the queue, during which time the 'muzak' was deafeningly loud, I finally got through to someone who was very pleasant and courteous and who explained that the message was intended for me to book an appointment. This has now been achieved - thank you - but confusion and incompetence from the CHEC service is not rare. The phone message when you ring head office starts by apologising for having recently sent out duplicate letters asking people to book an appointment when they have already done so. I received two appointment letters for my recent appointment which was unnecessary, wasteful and doubly expensive in terms of postage. Having to attend two separate appointments for OCT/F0V and then follow-up is also frustrating when High Street opticians manage to complete both in one appointment. The individual practitioners have, with one previous notable exception, all been pleasant (though not always efficient) but the administrative side of the service seems shambolic and frustrating at best.