Share review of North Middlesex Hospital

North Middlesex Hospital 2025-09-12 Person 1 5 0

-100 stars for the North Mid radiology department I received a text telling me the date and time of an appointment this week. But that's all - nothing at all about where the appointment is or what type of appointment is meant to happen. I know that multiple places, tests or clinics are possible from previous extremely painful experience with radiology. During the pandemic I had multiple extremely stressful, frustrating appointments because the radiology department is completely incapable re communication. Some appointments then (for the same issue as now, I think) involved fasting from both food and drink for 6 hours before the appointment - but the texts never included that vital information!!!!! I turned up for multiple appointments only to find that it was impossible to complete because the department was not ready, in spite of having given me the time and date. I also had to return several times to complete appointments because they wrongly sent me home too early without having finished what the tests were supposed to have accomplished! Waiting for hours multiple times in the hospital during covid was terrifyingly unnecessary and only due to their complete and utter incompetence. During the pandemic I regularly spent a minimum of 30 minutes on the phone trying to get basic information - but every time I phoned any phone number written on their letters was pointless because all and any phone numbers were always wrong. Surely someone could be capable of writing a correct phone number for their own department on their own letters?!? Apparently not! So my heart sank to rock bottom when I received their text this week - which as per a few years ago did not bother to include absolutely essential information about where to go or whether to fast or not. I assume that any of a number of tests are possible re this issue - but have absolutely no idea from their 'information' which one they might be referring to this time. I know, from excessively extensive painful and stressful experience that trying to phone up to get information can be almost impossible. I might have hoped, naively that things might have improved during the last few years. But no, - in fact they reached a new low today as I lost an hour of my life phoning continually to try and get the essential information. But only 1 person, apparently from radiology, answered only 1 of multiple calls and said that she would put me through to x-ray - which I know is completely irrelevant for me. I never did reach x-ray but did get sent back, many times, inexplicably, to the switchboard who could also never put me through to anyone whatsoever. I also never reached radiology because all and any phone calls rang out or went to the switchboard. So I have officially given up hope of anything helpful from radiology and plan to cancel the appointment unless I receive a letter with essential information beforehand, which I can't believe will be possible. I can see why the NHS is struggling so much with funds because their sheer incompetence boggles the mind and must be part of the problem! Their text tells you how much money is lost if a patient doesn't turn up - but how are patients supposed to arrive at a place with no instructions of where to go or whether they are allowed to eat and drink that day! Absolutely completely unnecessarily abysmal 'service'. I imagine that some staff are presumably capable and good at their job - but sadly I can't recall that ever happening at the North Mid! - I've only ever received good service in their Costa Coffee - but obviously that doesn't help me medically speaking!