"Doctor wouldn't give me information about my mother"

My mother is in AMU ward 18. I called from London to see whether she was ok and when she could go home. A doctor was present but was busy so I left my number for him to call me back (at his suggestion) - which he did, very quickly in fact - but what was the point? I felt that he hid behind "patient confidentiality", and wouldn't even tell me if she was comfortable or had been eating ok. This simple non confidential information is important to relatives when someone is in hospital.

I feel that my conversation with this doctor was worse than useless. What was the point of calling me back when he wouldn't say anything about the condition of my mother? I've a good mind to make a formal complaint.