Concerned relatives turn up at hospital after switchboard down for more that 24 hours

https://twitter.com/WhitHealth/status/590392507973947392

The Whittington has been slammed after the fact their phone lines were for 36 hours.

Concerned relatives are said to have turned up to the Archway hospital en masse to find out how their loved ones are doing, because they have no other way of getting in touch.

The switchboard went off line on Monday and is still out of action now.

One witness said it wasn’t until 12noon today that an announcement was made on the Whittington’s website - although the hospital claim it was yesterday - while their first proactive Tweet was this morning.

Brian Potter, who is on the committee of governors at the Magdala Avenue hospital, said: “It’s disgraceful.

“How can you be incommunicado when you are a hospital?

“Whatever they have to do to get the message out there, they should do - they shouldn’t be hiding it.

“Stress at that sort of level can do harm to relatives and loved one.

“Anyone who did travel up there should be reimbursed for their costs.”

A spokesman for Whittington Health, which run the hospital, said: “An external fault has caused problems with the phone lines at the hospital.

“The fault is with our telecommunications company and we are working closely with them to urgently resolve the problem.

“We fully appreciate the inconvenience this has caused our patients and visitors.

“A number of alternative ways are available for patients, visitors and carers to contact the organisation. We are keeping the public updated on the situation through our website and social media.”