"Choose and book - Waste of Time?"

I have two experiences of choose and book, neither of them positive.

In one, I was referred to Choose and Book by my GP but after waiting an interminable time for the pages to load, I was informed that none of the three hospitals I had been allocated actually uses choose and book. Warwick hospital claims they do, when contacted by phone, but the website says otherwise.

In another case, my 85 year old father received a 4 page letter from his GP referring him for a visual assessment. Of course, he could not make head or tail of the instructions, even if he had been able to read the small type.

I attempted to make an appointment for him. The main choose and book number informed me that the hospital oes not participate in the Choose and Book scheme, the direct number - manned from 8am - 8pm is unmanned, and when I reached the department by phoning through the hospital switchboard, I was informed that there was no staff member able to make an appointment until the following week.

Choose and Book.