"Poor communication and accessibility"

My husband had a appointment today at the City Hospital. When we arrived, we were informed that clinic 7 was closed for repairs to the roof and we were re-directed to Clinic 1. It seems we should have received a letter or a phone call, which we hadn't.

I am disabled and find it difficult to walk any reasonable distance so accompanying my husband was going to be difficult in any case, but then to find we had to get to another department was a real problem. By sheer luck, a relative had taken us on this occasion, instead of a taxi as was originally planned, so we were able to contact her by mobile phone and she came to our rescue. I really don't know what we would have done if a taxi had dropped us and left.

All this was bad enough but the most annoying thing was yet to come.

When we arrived home, we found TWO IDENTICAL LETTERS in TWO envelopes informing my husband of the change of clinic etc, had been delivered. They were both posted by 2nd class mail just two days earlier. How on earth did the admin. department think we would receive the information in time? Why didn't they telephone instead? And why duplicate the letter, wasting time, paper and postage costs?

I am sorry to have a rant about this as my husband receives very good care from the medical staff, but we are made constantly aware of the lack of resources for the NHS and this type of admin. error makes me very cross.