"Cancelled appointment without notice"

Just over a week ago, my dad received a phone call from Manchester Eye Hospital with an appointment for this afternoon. This followed a previous appointment, where the scan taken was blurred. He was expecting a look inside his eye, probably followed by laser treatment to clear his vision.

I agreed to drive him there, (dad sitting in the far corner of the back seat) although we do not live in the same household, because I did not want someone in their 80’s to use public transport, which is how he usually goes to appointments.

Dad arrived for his appointment and was told that the appointment was cancelled yesterday. He had not received either a phone call or text message telling him this.

Although his records were not available, the staff looked on the computer, and repeated the tests carried out previously. They explained briefly how the laser works, as my dad is nervous about treatments. However, they confirmed that the laser was not operational at the moment.

Questions:

1. Why was the appointment, only made a week ago, cancelled, and why was my dad not told? Was it because the laser wasn’t working, or something else?

2. With the current COVID-19 situation, why was my dad put at risk? Travel, passing other people in the hospital, seeing staff unnecessarily.

I am extremely unhappy that an elderly vulnerable adult was put in this situation.