Pensioner receives letter from hospital saying her father who died 40 years ago needs - Talk Britain

Sweetpea · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 18:04

When the letter arrived from the hospital saying a date had been set for Frederick Allen's appointment, it came as something of a shock.

Not because, like many patients, he had waited so long he had almost given up hope of ever being seen. But because he has, in fact, been dead for 40 years.

So it was with incredulous eyes that his 71 year old daughter Margaret McKinney read and re-read the official missive from the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, which has some of the longest waiting times in the country.

"When I opened the letter I had to read it three times because I just couldn't believe it," she said yesterday.

Pensioner receives letter from hospital saying her father who died 40 years ago needs check-up | the Daily Mail

A bit of a cock-up for sure.

#2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 20:04

Well it would probably have made me laugh after such a long time. It wouldn't have occurred to me to contact the national press. At least it was only a clerical error.

Sweetpea · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 20:12

It reminds me. About three months after my partner died, I got a letter from the CSA. I filled it completely in. When it came to his employment, it asked was he self-employed, employed or unemployed. I answered 'no'. Several more pages in, it asked you to put in a little box, anything else you may need to tell them. I told them he was deceased.

#4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 08:39

I'd have just put not applicable to all the rest of it. These official forms are a pain in the wotsit when there are only options which do not apply to your actual situation.

poppy · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 09:30

maybe they had just found cure for whatever he had

sara · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 14:59

I know the waiting lists are long but that is ridiculous.

shillelagh · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 00:46

I had a phone call last week for my mum!!!

When i said i dont need one, woman said oh but you did have an alarm from the council, yes but when she died i cancelled it! She couldnt apologise enough!!!

Mind you my dad died in Feb 1986 - 15 years later got a phone call can sam come and do my roof - its leaking!!!