A new low for the British service industry?

I tried to chase up a hospital appointment yesterday afternoon, and after being ping-ponged between the referring clinic and the x-ray department a couple of times, I got to talk to the appropriate staff member.

"I'll just go and check your file."

1 minute passes.

Voices can be heard chatting in background.

5 minutes pass.

Voices continue to chat in background.

8 minutes pass.

I hang up and ring back immediately.

No answer after twenty rings.

I look at my watch: it's 4:50pm.

It seems they have clocked off for the day.