"Incompetent"

My GP asked me to have a glucose tolerance test and provided a list of places where this could be done, by appointment.

My preferred option of those offered was Fanshawe Clinic so I phoned on Thursday to request an appointment. The person who answered the phone to me told me that no appointment was necessary and to just turn up and walk in.

Around 9am today, I walked in only to be asked by the receptionist if I had an appointment.

When I said I'd been told it wasn't necessary, they fetched a colleague who informed me that they could only do this test by appointment and then only for pregnant patients (I'm not).

They advised that I would need to contact one of the hospitals on the list and make an appointment for the test.

This sort of incompetence is inexcusable.

Fortunately, I didn't have to take time off work to go for this test but many will have to.

Why are staff advising that no appointment is necessary if it is?

Why are callers not being told that only pregnant patients will be tested at this location?

This is exactly the attitude - that patients don't have busy lives and should simply accept whatever garbage is thrown at them - that leads to such widespread disillusion with the NHS.