"Putting the patient last"

I had an appointment at the North Devon District Hospital for the breathing (respirtatory) clinic.  I live 20 miles from the hospital, and it is 40 minutes drive each way.  15 minutes before the appointment I got a call on my mobile to say that my appointment had been cancelled, and that I would get another one in due course.  No explanation (I know emergencies happen), no apology.  The cost of 40 miles drive and the time didnt seem to matter. The fact that it was an inconvenient appointment and I had had to change other things, in order to go was of course unknown to the hospital, but letters out the blue giving a time and date will often be inconvenient.

 This appointment was important to me because 6 months ago I had my breath tested at the hospital by a nurse who said I would get an appointment with the consultant 'soon'.  I had never heard anything and nor had my GP until I got this appointment out of the blue.  I've still got the cough I was asking about 11 months (and longer) ago.  I suppose I haven't got cancer because if I had, I'd be dead by now, and I know that there are others more ill than me. But I wish the NHS would put itself in the position of its customers, who are trying to deal with life without any effective way of dealing with their health issues and concerns.