"Bad telephone manner"

Anything else?

I called the hospital on 28th June to enquire what the average waiting time was for a hernia operation after seeing a consultant. I was put through to the general surgery department...the first extension I was put through to was not taking calls at that time (about 2.55pm), unless urgent. I went back to the switchboard who put through to another line. I was met with indifferent, confrontational, evasive answers..Such as' How long is a piece of string'!! Keeping my cool in the face of such arrogant inflammatory language, I inquired further and was eventually told that the Government had set a target of 18 weeks from seeing a consultant. ..but not how the Hospital was performing against this target for this type of operation. It was clear that I could not have any meaningful discussion with this lady and ended the call.