I contacted Oxfordshire Weight-loss Lifestyle Service in July and after a complicated procedure I eventually got an appointment on 30 Sept at 8.30am. The evening before I debated with myself as to whether to get the 7.15am bus or the 7.45am bus deciding to get the 7.15am bus to ensure I was not late.

I arrived at 8am and found a seat to wait on until the building opened and went back across at 8.25am. The recptionist let me in and offered me a seat and someone from OWLs came in and said the nurse should be on her way but hadn't reached there yet. At approx 8.45am the secretary came in to say she had texted the nurse and didn't think she'd be long. I didn't feel able to read to occupy myself as I felt at any time I might be called in.

At approx 9am the secretary came back and said she was concerned the nurse hadn't returned her call. She said that the appointment would (in effect) have to be shortened because the nurse had a 9.30am appointment and I said I would leave. The secretary offered to make me another appointment and I said I would leave it for the time being. I was quite upset.

At approx 10.30am the nurse rang me on my mobile to say she was very sorry and she had thought her appointments started at 10.30am this morning and she offered to come out and assess me at home. I turned her down. I did ring the previous week to get directions as I thought the appointment was on the 23 Sept and the nurse who spoke to me said no, it was the 30 Sept at 8.30am, with herself.

I remember when I did work for the NHS and even though I was on flexi-time I got into trouble for arriving at work at 8.40am and yet doctors and nurses get away with it.