"Wasteful admin"

I attended a maxillo -facial clinic in outpatients. The care was fine, but the admin was inefficient, therefore costly to NHS and myself.

I received appointment info by email, text and via at least 5 letters by post. The last letter arrived the day after my appointment. Two letters, received on 24 February, were dated respectively 23 January ( re an earlier cancelled appointment) & 2 February. Both, amusingly and pointlessly, were stamped " sent unsigned to expedite despatch"!

Each letter was slightly different and had different registration forms or no form enclosed.

My original appointment in January was cancelled as the consultant was unwell - these things happen. I was promised a call to rearrange, but after a week of silence I called and was told a letter with a new appointment had been sent. Fortunately I could attend.

however, having spent an hour in a snow blizzard I arrived at the hospital to be told I'd been booked into the wrong clinic. The doctor was apologetic, but there was nothing for it but to accept an appointment for 2 days later. Another trek through bad weather and I was seen after an hour's wait.

None of the forms I had been sent or given to fill in were asked for or looked at. When I offered them,I was told they would be useful for the file.

My conclusion? New communication processes have been grafted onto old ones and extra work/cost generated. I accept that not everyone uses email & text, but surely if a patient provides those contact details there is little need for paper? If letters do have to be sent, make them timely and relevant, rather than mindlessly send irrelevant, out of date letters.

Finally, pay in advance car parking isn't very convenient, when you have no idea how long you'll be.