"Unnecessary visit to hospital"

Received an appointment request for reviewing my Freestyle libre pod, the letter specifically stated Grantham hospital as location. Booked the morning off work to attend, when I arrived the receptionists seemed confused where I should be (online system wasn’t working). After a few minutes was told which waiting area; while waiting for my appointment and after being booked in a nurse came and spoke to me saying there has been confusion as it’s a telephone consultation. The letter specifically stated the hospital as the location, and more infuriatingly I’d wasted a holiday to attend something I didn’t need to attend. 

As I’ve recently started a new role so my holidays are limited and having to use a holiday unnecessarily is very frustrating and annoying, plus the receptionist could have clarified this at the time of arrival rather than me wasting another 25 minutes of my time. Completely unacceptable and incredibly frustrating. 

We hear how much it costs the NHS in wasted time and missed appointments but this instance just makes a mockery of the whole system; a simple booking undone by poor communication. When I did speak with the consultant they initially said they couldn’t see my notes from my recent blood tests at the local surgery, which the consultant put down to the surgery being in another county/district; When I said the surgery was in Lincolnshire the consultant then found the notes. I know consultants have hundreds of patients but surely having the relevant information before meeting the patient is basic principles (please correct me if I’m wrong).

I know how stretched the NHS is but this whole process has left me feeling disillusioned and frustrated for such a basic appointment, not impressed and far from happy.