"Serious failure to communicate"

My Father-in-law was taken to ARI and via arrangement through GP, he was taken straight to Ward 101 initial assessment. I am the only contact and hold power of attorney for my FIL who has dementia (Very obvious) and does not know how to use a telephone now, and I expected to have some form of communication from the staff to let me know which ward he was to be taken to.

But....on not hearing from them, I tried calling and was given 2 different numbers....both of which rang out until the call disconnected due to the ring out... I tried these numbers repeatedly throughout the day. Eventually after redialling for approx 6 hours, I was able to get through and was informed that my FIL was taken to ward 105 and was given a number to dial...I rang the number and again.....it rang out....for the first hour of redialling, the phone number either completely rang out or was engaged. At my last attempt the phone rang for approx 6 mins before a staff member very impatiently answered and advised they could not find the name of my FIL in the ward and transferred me to reception!

Reception advised me that he was indeed admitted to ward 105 and transferred me back! I was told the line was engaged and at this point out of frustration I said thank you and just hung up. After 3 hours I tried again and did get through after waiting for someone to answer the Ward phone for 5 mins, again by a very obviously bothered worker. I was rather sternly told that there was another number to call in order to speak directly to the patients...and was offered that number...This number also rings out.

On day 3 of not being able to get through to the ward, I decide to ring the first number given on ward 105 and although it connects, the person who has been picking up the phone has been immediately hanging it up! What in the world?  I am shocked at this unprofessional behaviour in a Hospital of all places....And still I have not been contacted by anyone of the staff to let me know what is happening with my FIL.

It actually makes me fearful of ever having to be admitted, myself.....Afraid that my family will not know for days where I am if I am unable to call on my own, never mind that my poor FIL, having very obvious Dementia who is always scared and confused and verbally unable to communicate this will have no idea what is going on and where his family is.

I should also mention that I am listed as his next of kin for contact. And this is not the first time we have had these issues with this Hospital. What a shame that it seems the NHS staff are so overworked and understaffed, I'm certain that the domino effect has taken over and it's us as families and patients along with the staff at the hospital who suffer in the end.