I had a chuckle when reading that Worthing and Southlands NHS Trust is looking to improve its rating.

Recently I needed hospital treatment and my GP made arrangements for an appointment at an NHS hospital.

As the date of the appointment was a long way off, I arranged an earlier one privately.

Being a responsible person, I rang Worthing/Southlands appointment department to cancel the original date so someone else could have it.

Two weeks later I received a letter from the day surgery admissions asking me to contact them to agree a date and time for my appointment with the NHS hospital.

I rang them to confirm I no longer required an appointment and was told everyone was being contacted in the same way to agree a date and time.

Much as I appreciate the goodwill behind this appointment process, is it not a drain on resources, time and money?

Perhaps they should consider a system that allows departments to communicate with each other.

This is not the first time I have been involved in lack of inter-departmental communication within NHS hospitals. Having spent some 30-plus years working for BT, I know communications is a wonderful thing if used correctly.

-Dave Stone, Lancing