"Unreasonable waits and Poor Communication"

Attended the Respiratory Support and Sleep Centre Clinic in order to obtain a simple 'yes or no' diagnosis of sleep apnoea (so I could then go ahead with an unrelated surgery at another hospital). Have taken two different tests now (which were arranged and completed within 6 weeks (which I believe is a reasonable waiting time for a busy hospital) however I have now been waiting for 4 months now for any kind of consultation with a doctor, nor have I received any results or feedback from the tests.

The test machine data was processed promptly and sent up to the consultant, however it has now been on his desk for 6 weeks and I've received nothing. No receptionists have been helpful (they're either 'not at their desks', or covering for holiday leave or they don't pick up the phone. I've been waiting "first in line" in a phone queue for 43 mins and nobody answered. I have received one voice message on my phone in 4 months, promising me a consultant's letter within 3 days "as it's on the top ready to go" yet 12 days later there's still no letter received. I've had to cancel 2 surgery dates whilst I've been waiting during this 16wks and in the meantime my body is dying all around me. 4 different people have promised to "put a note on my file" saying "there is a time crunch", "Patient waiting for surgery", "Priority" and two secretaries have promised to "chase up" the consultant to sort this out....still nothing.

I've been a devout supporter of the NHS all my life and have experienced decent care from 4 other hospitals, however Papworth certainly isn't one of them (at least not from the RSSC department). NO I would NOT recommend this clinic as no one knows what each other is doing, and although the 'lower echelon' staff are pleasant and prompt, I'm afraid the consultants are sadly lacking in every way in my experience. There is no backlog of patients as an excuse; the hospital provides the rare and expensive test machines within three weeks, yet you then have to wait over 6 weeks for any medical member of staff to even get round to looking at it, let alone dictate a letter to be sent out. Meanwhile NOBODY answers any phones or replies to any messages. Just awful.