"Absolute joke to even get an appointment sorted..."

OK so I have been referred to the Somerfield (although unsure why - I think it may be haematology). I was sent an appointment but would be unable to make it so I tried phoning them - this is where my fun started............

I tried phoning the number(s) for outpatients on the letter I had received to try to rearrange. After trying around 8 or 9 times over a 2-3 hour period and continually receiving the "Cannot answer your call due to high call volumes" message, I left a message. The message also states if you have not been contacted within 2 hours, then phone and leave another message. I thought this was a bit much so left it until the next day in the hope they would return my call, as after all, I didn't want to badger them, as they were obviously busy.

All that day - nothing. Next morning - nothing. So I tried again. This time determined to get through I left a message straight away, but continued to redial continuously for around 30 minutes. No joy so I left it for the requisite 2 hours and phoned again, still answerphone, left another message and re-dialled for another half an hour. 2 hours later, left another message.

Next day, nothing. Phoned and phoned all morning, left 2 more messages, finally phone was answered by a curt member of staff who (when I mentioned it had only taken me 3 days to get through and had left lots of messages merely stated "Well I was on my lunch, we do have to have a lunch break you know!" - Nice attitude.

I told the member of staff that I was unable to make the appointment and they said a new one would be sent out to me, which I received on my return from a week away with work - lo and behold, I cannot make this appointment either, as it's a week later, at almost the same time, on a day I said I couldn't do.

So......back to the phones, I was ready to leave a message to be not called back several times before leaving more messages to be not called back yet again............Alas.........

.........This morning I am unable to leave a message, because the "recipient's mailbox is full".

Wow.

So now, I have an appointment I can't make, with a letter that says I may be charged if I don't turn up for it, I cannot speak to anyone about it, and I cannot leave a message in the vain hope that someone will return my call.

Would I recommend anyone use the services of the Somerfield? Well, I have no idea what their actual hospital services are like, but based on the fact that I can't even get through to them to sort out an appointment, and assuming their hospital is run as inefficiently as their telephones, then I would say No, I would not recommend this hospital.

Edit: In order to submit this review, I have had to choose the date I visited this hospital, which clearly I haven't, and the department - outpatients - is not on the list.