"No faith in the preassessment department"

My elderly father is booked in for a total hip replacement so has a preassessment booked for two weeks before his surgery.

I couldn't attend because I would be out of the country.

I tried to speak to someone from the preassessment department to ease my mind and alert them to some necessary information which my father may forget to give them.

I rang on the Thursday and was told by the hospital's main reception no one was available, as they had seen the person leave who I would need to speak to, so the helpful member of staff gave me a direct line number to ring the next day.

On the Friday I got an answer machine telling me no one was available but leave details and they would get back.

No one got back.

I rang again on the Monday and explained my situation. Was told a preassessment nurse would get back to me. This was at 11am.

After waiting in until 15.30, I decided to ring again.

If you haven't guessed, I got the answer machine again.

Left another message pleading for someone to ring me back as I did not want to leave the country without speaking to someone. Nothing.