"Poor diary management"

I attended an appointment with my elderly father who has dementia at RD&E Heavitree at Dermatology. I had travelled from Portsmouth the day before by train and on the appointment day spent a large amount of money on a return taxi fare from Okehampton.

When we saw the Doctor they apologised but said because the clinic had overbooked procedures my father’s treatment would not happen that day . They did try and persuade the powers that be to fit him in that morning as I had travelled a long distance at substantial cost but this was not possible . I am now waiting for another appointment for dad and hope this does not happen again .

This is poor diary management and surely the day before staff look at the cases and can work out how many procedures can be achieved in the time .  Unfortunately this is the standard that we are resigned to now .