"Reception and telephone calls"

On a number of occasions now I had tried to call the hospital in my lunch break from work (being 1-2pm as I work full time) and each time the phone has rung out as if nobody is there to answer the main reception/switch board telephones, I would have thought there would at least be an opportunity to leave a message. On two other occasions (being at different times of days) that I managed to get through to the switch board, after being transferred to the department and there's was no answer and my line was cut off. Surely in this instance I should have been put back into the switch board to leave a message or to ask when is a better time to call again.

Some staff in the dermatology department was rude and unhelpful on my last visit. There was a sign informing patients upon arrival that there was to be a 60min delay on appointment times. When I signed in I asked if this time still applied or if there had been any change. (Parking is extortionate prices so i would have possibly moved my car. Also, I had taken time out of work during the day and needed to keep my employer informed) I was answered with a sarcastic 'well yes, that's what the sign says' and a shrug of the shoulders. Finally, patient confidentiality was an issue. Not only were there patients details in sight on the reception but staff were discussing patients loud enough for the entire waiting room to hear.

Overall, very poor communication with patients and general public trying to sort out their appointments as well as internally between departments.