"111 would not give me an appointment at BDH..."

Thank you for this message.

Unfortunately the information received by Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust from NHS Choices is not checked out of hours, and therefore your message was not picked up until this morning.

I am sorry if you were expecting a more immediate response.

You are correct that we ask patients to phone 111 to book an appointment rather than turn up and I fully appreciate the message you were given conflicted with these arrangements.

At the time you called 111, there was regrettably a short-term issue with the system whereby 111 staff were unable to directly book into appointment slots at Birmingham Dental Hospital.

This meant that period they had to advise patients to attend the hospital in person instead of offering an appointment.

I understand the problem has now been resolved.

I am sorry for the apparent mixed messages you were given and hope you now understand why you were asked to attend the hospital rather than being given an appointment.

I do hope you have now been seen at the hospital and clinical staff were able to help address the dental problem you were experiencing.

Alison Last

Associate Director of Patient Experience

Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust