HOW I agree with Shirley Webb (SA, March 28) regarding the inefficiency of the admin staff at the Great Western Hospital.

Following surgery I wrote (SA, February 10) expressing praise for the surgical, nursing and auxiliary staff for the treatment I received. This praise still stands but alas I cannot say the same for the admin staff at that hospital.

I have several examples of this. The first was that on January 21 I saw my surgical consultant to discuss my forthcoming surgery. His last words before I left were “see you in seven days’ time”. Imagine my surprise when the following day I received a letter which had been two days in the post saying that my operation had been postponed for two weeks. The consultant had obviously not been informed of this.

I then received two letters making me appointments with two different departments at opposite ends of the hospital and both were for the same time and date. No cooperation between departments here.

The third incident was the most bizarre of the lot. I received a letter from the Urology Department regretting that my appointment for March 29, 2011 has had to be cancelled but a new date had been fixed. This was for (wait for it), January 1, 1999!

I immediately phoned to say that I was sorry for being 11 years late! I was then told that a new appointment would be arranged but there was not the slightest hint of an apology.

A gold star for the surgical and medical staff at the Great Western Hospital, but a very black mark for the administration which, as Mrs Webb makes clear, leaves a lot to be desired.

R W SELWAY Burden Close Stratton St Margaret Swindon