"Hospital Appointments"

On Wednesday 10th August 2016 I received a phone call from the NHS offering me an appointment at Newark Hospital on Monday 12th September 2016 following a referral from my GP. I informed the caller that I would not be able to attend the appointment as I would be away on holiday, however I was told that a letter would be sent to me confirming the appointment. I did suggest that Kings Mill Hospital might be able to offer an alternative date but was informed that I would have to go on a waiting list. I received my appointment letter today followed the instructions and went online and I will be contacted sometime before the 25th August to arrange another appointment. Why should I have to go through this process at all when I would suggest an alternative date could have been sorted at the original phone call or informed that I would be contacted again before 25th August to offer another appointment. I am well capable of using the online service but I am sure that many other patients may not be. What a waste of time and resources in sending a letter when everything could have been sorted over the phone at the initial contact point on 10th August.