"Major problems in booking a Neurology appointment"

This review concerns my attempts to book a Neurology appointment at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. I have yet to visit the clinic so cannot judge the quality of care etc in the hospital itself.

The appointments system appears to be a mess. On July 31st I booked an appointment using the e-referral service. I specifically chose Chelsea and Westminster Hospital because the care was rated as good and it had one of the shortest waiting times (at 11 weeks) of most of the hospitals north of the Thames. My appointment was booked for October 17th. A few days ago, on September 20th, the appointment disappeared from the e-referral site and on ringing the hospital I was told that my appointment had been cancelled. I was given no advance notice of the cancellation. I was then told that the next available appointment would be on 12th December, which I said would breach my 18 week waiting time limit. I was earnestly informed that an earlier appointment would be found for me if possible since the hospital itself did not like patients breaching the 18 week period. However, on checking my e-referral page tonight I notice that my appointment has been pushed back again until December 19th, which is obviously an even longer breach.

All of which is quite ironic really, considering that I specifically selected Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for its high care standards and short waiting times! I am waiting to hear back from the hospital as to why my appointment has been cancelled yet again.