LETTER: Over two months for hospital appointment for quick clinic procedure

We have become accustomed to long delays at doctors’ surgeries as the local population increases, yet it appears that although the front line is under resourced the admin arm has been expanded in places.

My own case is a prime example; I need an ear to be syringed to extract compacted wax as it impedes my hearing aid.
This has been carried out at the surgery in the past by simply booking an appointment with the nurse and the operation takes just a few minutes.

The audiologist recently told me to have the ear done again before testing the hearing aid. However, reception at the clinic informed me procedure was now centralised and I would be contacted by the secretaries at the control centre with an appointment, having confirmed my mobile number.
No phone call was made but a two-page appointment form arrived in the post inviting me to make contact to select a hospital I wished to attend for treatment and a phone number to call to arrange an appointment.

I anticipated several days’ delay for an appointment, possibly nearer towards the end of April.
But no, not even April. May? Sorry, not til June, but I’ve managed to get you in before July – June 29th ok?

Thank goodness it’s not both ears, or I’d be spending the summer lip reading!

Wally Wells
Chepstow Close
Spalding