"Communication delays"

I've previously commented on inefficient admin and now have a further example.

Seen by maxillo-facial consultant 28 February- it's now a month later and still awaiting the promised letter to my GP, copy to me. On the 15th March

I phoned to be told that it normally takes a month, because "the typing pool is very busy," but my letter had in fact been signed by the consultant the previous day. One would therefore expect to receive said letter by the 19th, allowing for the weekend and bulk mailing timescales. More than a week later still no letter.

Comments:

1. If it usually takes a month that suggests a month is used as a process standard, rather than a management tool. Having managed departments, I know how easily people can think that and therefore actively delay actioning work.

2. It's a long time in the commercial world since I've heard of a typing pool and one assumes the hospital still operates that system because it thinks it's more efficient- that is not borne out in practice. My letter could easily have been completed at the time by the consultant or attendant nurse (who didn't seem to have anything else to do in my case). It could have been done, using a standard letter format and just filling in the boxes- it didn't need to be a finely crafted literary masterpiece. Accuracy is affected by delay

3. I cannot see how it can take so long to get letters, once signed, into the post. That, surely, is a simple, low cost process, which needs re-engineering to make it efficient.