"Treatment Centre"

My husband is currently undergoing treatment for macular degeneration in the ophthalmology department in the treatment centre. The treatment centre (formally known as the surgicentre) now overseen by East and North Herts NHS Trust. Perhaps it should be more "overseen" because contacting the ophtalmology department is a nightmare. They have the same recorded message every time you phone and so far I have phoned several times a day for several days. Even if we were in a queue it would be better as you know you would eventually speak to someone, but the message tells you of high amount of calls and to call back later. Not even a voicemail system. How on earth are you supposed to let them know if you can't attend an appointment if you can't get through to speak to someone, and if you can't notify them you can't attend and don't turn up they will then mark you down as did not attend and penalise you. Short of coming over to the hospital in person what else can we do. On telephoning the main hospital switchboard I was advised that there is always a problem with the treatment centre not answering and I was put through to P.A.L.S. Guess what they didn't answer either.