Madam, - I needed an X-ray recently. My GP suggested St Vincent's, Elm Park, a hospital which I have had cause to appreciate in the past. On telephoning the X-ray department a recorded voice said they do not make appointments over the phone, and that one should either send a fax, write a letter, or attend with a referral letter to make a future appointment.
I applied by fax, and received by post an appointment for three weeks ahead. My concern here is not my own experience - I was fortunate enough to have the X-ray done elsewhere within hours. But surely there are very many people - perhaps elderly - who do not have a fax, or who are in pain, or without a car, and for whom the prospect of a trek to the hospital merely to make an appointment is a daunting one?
What sort of mindset devised an appointments system which precludes telephone or e-mail? Perhaps the person responsible could be persuaded that his or her approach should be to make the system user-friendly for patients, rather than placing ludicrous obstacles in their way. - Yours, etc,
NOEL McDONNELL, Dalkey, Co Dublin.