"Today I drove from Medway to Ashford ..."

What could be improved

Today I drove from Medway to Ashford in a howling gale for my appointment for a blood test at 16.57. I have the written appointment in front of me. I arrived at 16.35 to be informed that the clinic closed at 16.30 so I was out of luck. Other people turned up after me clutching appointments to be told the same thing - including people sent from other departments within the hospital. The aiitude of the staff was 'tough' - not our problem.

Making appointments when the clinic is open is a trivial exercise that even the NHS management can surely master. This is incompetent and one day it will cause a disaster. The unprofessional attitude of the staff is disappointing.