"Difficulty it getting in contact with the eye dept..."

On the 2nd September I had cataract surgery on my left eye. On the 1st and 2nd October I felt a lot of discomfort in the eye and as I was going away on the 6th I felt I wanted it checked out. I checked the opening time for the eye department and phoned at 8am the phone rang continuously for 30 minutes with no answer. I then checked my post operation advice and found I had an emergency number for the situation I found myself in. I phoned this number and it rang continuously for 30 minutes with no reply. In desperation I went to the eye department and had to move through the antagonism of arriving without a referral or an appointment. I finally saw a doctor later in the day and was diagnosed with chronic dry eye for which I was prescribed drops which alleviate the situation. The doctor I saw told me that I was right to come in as soon as possible. I do strongly feel that no matter how busy the hospital may become phones that are ringing should be answered, especially what are put out as emergency lines.