Just to agree re. situation over here, and particularly in my hospital which is the worst I have ever come across.
Quicker it is to write a letter than make a phone call to here :-(

Terry L Marshall B.A.(Law), M.B.Ch.B., F.R.C.Path
Consultant Histopathologist
Rotherham General Hospital, Yorkshire
terry.marshall@rgh-tr.trent.nhs.uk

Having just spent far to long waiting for an answer from a hospital
switchboard and being aware of the lousy response times from my own hospital
I wondered if the same situation applies in the USA.  Do you have to wait
inordinate amounts of time to speak to a human  on your telephone
switchboard (exchanges or whatever you call them)?  In the UK the situation
hasn't improved in 30 years!

Andy Shand