"Why Have a Telephone?"

I have lost count of the times I have waited longer than 20 minutes for my call to be answered. I am paying for the call because I am put on hold by the switchboard.

I then get the message to hold on or call back at a less busy time.

I have tried at different times of the day ans still don't get an answer.

I have tried every day for the last four days to contact the surgery.So, when I actually went to the surgery, I watched the receptionists and clerical staff very closely.

As usual all was running late and for 40 minutes hardly anyone used the phones!

Obviously the ringer is switched off and to my knowledge there is not a separate room for a telephone receptionist! We are told that missed appointments are costly yet I cannot get through to cancel an appointment that was sent to me without consultation as to whether I was available.

I sometimes cannot get out of the house so if I cannot get to the surgery to cancel an appointment and they will not answer the telephone, what am I supposed to do! Extremely frustrating.