31 i would not have bothered to wait to be told i'm now no: 30,, how long did you wait untill it was your
turn,,? 
Not sure how long I waited - normally I time the call but I didn't on this occasion. I stuck the hands-free phone in my pocket, left it on loud speaker, "enjoyed" (?) the music and ignored the "thank you for your patience" and wandered around the garden.
But I did eventually get through (5,4,3,2,1)... to be told; "No, we cannot deal with an appointment booking for this."
I explained I had been directed to phone outpatients and a referral had been made and marked "urgent" - so I was not expecting an 8 week delay before another "initial" appointment date could be offered... the wait had been 12 months already as well as an appointment with a consultant two and a half hours away at another hospital to the north..
I was told my call would be transferred to the correct hospital department but I wasn't accepting that one only to find the next phone call would end abruptly after the usual "We are not available at the moment. Please leave your name and number and we will return your call" recorded message.
Instead I asked for the department number and phoned myself... resigned to getting nowhere slowly but...
I was in luck!! I spoke to someone who listened to me - found the right notes - understood why I was phoning - accepted my explanation of the phone-call-trail across the south's hospital departments and out patients and... it went on a bit..
She then agreed - the referral was marked "urgent" and said she would phone back as soon as she could.
The following day the phone call came through - she had raised the referral to the next batch to be assessed and accepted my part in trying to forward this on behalf of one of the teenaged lads that I once taught.
His army application was on hold awaiting the results of some simple but needed treatment... he had worked his socks off with me in his spare time to gain the college qualifications he needed and was getting there. He had trained everyday, run miles, followed a fitness programme and was suddenly up against a brick wall.
He had completed his online application to the army - everything had gone well.... apart from one small medical issue. His life had crashed... but he asked for help and I was going to do my best for him.
The woman at the other end of the phone accepted, understood and supported. I was so grateful that someone was willing to help me help. The lad needs a boost - he has tried so hard to get where he wants to go... his life is on hold until the nhs can fit him in and sort it out... another 18 month wait was causing him to sink and despair after all his hard work to achieve the first step in his goal.
Now I await (or rather he does) a letter with a date for a quick assessment and then, hopefully, a simple but vital operation. I just so hope it goes ahead promptly for him... it'll mean the world to him. He lost his dad when he was 4 years old so carries the world and it's responsibilities on his shoulders - I'd so love to see it go well for him as he cant be faulted for effort and determination.
Mostly, right this minute, I am so grateful for the nhs member of staff who listened, understood and took action to drag us out from the deluge of referrals and accept the GPs second referral and help forward this for us... I had attended the previous hospital appointments with him, seen his consultant and asked her to check again - she did and then "Oh... yes I missed it.. no wonder". I had been back to his GP and between us managed to enlist the GPs support too...
Thank heavens for the individuals who care!
