Things can only get better?

So last Tuesday my GP tells me that I need to go to hospital for them to wield a scalpel in my face and hack away at my eyelid.

"The government have introduced a new online booking system, it's called choose and book. It will allow you choose which hospital to get treatment at, see waiting times and easily book your appointment online"

They have to register me on the system and give me an ID number and password. This will take a week. They can't just phone the hospital themselves and get it sorted.

So today my wife picks the letter up from the GP surgery and calls me to let me know the details. Bristol Eye Hospital has 'too long a waiting list' so I'm told that I must choose one of the other local hospitals - no big deal as they're easier to get to anyway.

Log in and see the rather long waiting times of 35 days, 48 days and 69 days in various hospitals. However, I can't book online.... what's the point of waiting for a week? I have to call my 'local central bookings number'.

Call them and sit on hold for five minutes before getting through to someone. Give over a huge number of personal details to verify who I am and five minutes into the call am told that actually, they don't handle bookings for that department and I have to contact the RUH direct. She gives me the number and also transfers me.

So what was the point of that number?

Sit in another queue for five minutes before being getting through. Give over all my personal details again. Asked if it is OK to hold for a bit as they have to call the department to check something. Kept on hold for six minutes.

She apologises and said that she had actually 'misunderstood' something (so didn't have to be put on hold after all). I'm given an appointment for the middle of February before I'm asked two 'diversity questions' - marital status (wtf?) and ethnic origin.

So..... in short..... what the hell is the point of this new swanky online booking system? Why did I have to wait seven days when you can't book online anyway?

(And it's not just that I was unlucky - my colleague had to book an appointment a month or two ago for a gammy bollock and had the same issues)