I had an appointment to see the consultant today

Letter and everything. So I make the horrible drive to hospital, which luckily went more smoothly than I expected - the ongoing roadworks hadn't created any tailbacks. Unluckily the car park was bizarrely, insanely full. I drove around in circles for a full 20 minutes, with only one space becoming available in that time - I thought I had it in the bag, but an unseen car popped out from behind the exiting car and reversed straight in! In that moment I experienced true road rage. I even considered honking but resisted. Finally, I just got so fed up and stressed about being late, I parked in an illegal spot - safe and out of the way, I hasten to add. But definitely not a legal parking spot.

After all that, there was no appointment ;_; The receptionist (who thankfully was both kind and competent - whoever employed her obviously didn't understand about medical receptionists) told me it was 'cos I'd been seen at the beginning of October and my appointment had been cancelled. Well, thanks for letting me know, unknown-person-who-cancelled-it. I got her to check my colonoscopy appointment while I was there, because I had a nightmare vision of doing the prepping tomorrow and then turning up to find out I wasn't booked in for one - but I am booked in.

Honestly, I'm surprised all large organisations don't grind to a halt, they are so riddled with bureaucratic errors.

Or: typical NHS :-/ Typical bloody nightmare car park, too. I'm fine with driving; it's the parking I can't stand.

Thanks! I'm both dreading and looking forward to the colonoscopy. Dreading it 'cos last time I had one I had a bad experience with it. Looking forward to it because I hope it provides some answers and a pathway for treatment.

LOL Shouldn't your post read ' I thought I had an appointment to see the consultant today' :D
Joking aside, I know it is frustrating. A few of us turned up at an IBD clinic a few weeks back as part of an awareness event armed with balloons and information leaflets only to be told when we got there that all IBD clinics had been cancelled for the day, would of been nice if someone had told us!!
re parking-you will get there, just takes time and practice although have to admit where I am I just about never have to parallel park and am now so out of practice that I don't think I could do it even if the space was 2 times longer than the car:) Quite happy to drive into a 'normal' space but anything else and I will find somewhere else to park.
Good luck with the colonoscopy.

Thanks folks :p

@Vixen - Ah, that's about as annoying as my experience >_<. Somebody has to cancel these things inside the computer system. It would be nice if they thought to themselves as they did do, 'now who will be affected by this and who should I let know?', but that would probably scupper their tea break, so they don't bother.

I don't think I will ever get really used to parking. My dad swings into bays at a speed which would terrify me if I tried to do the same thing. Don't feel happy with gauging distance from other cars. If it's quiet I can always get out to have a look, but very few car parks are that quiet; there's usually cars waiting to get past you.

Don't even mention parallel parking. Like you I rarely have any need to do it, so when I do actually have to do it, it's a bit hair-raising <_<.

£10??

I was thinking they were more like £100... Will without a doubt get some, then. Thanks for that, stripey!