August again. Time for a change of job. Fortunately for me, after a recent interview I was offered exactly the job I wanted, which I gratefully accepted. After the interview, a woman from medical staffing took copies of my documents. A few days later I received a written job offer through the post.

A week later I was telephoned by the same woman in medical staffing, and she offered me the post again. She seemed a little surprised when I asked if this was the same job as the week before. She then asked me if I could send all my documents to her, as she would need copies of them. After establishing that she already had copies, she asked if I had returned all the forms she had sent me in the post, and I reassured her that I had.

The next day she called again to ask if I had sent the forms back. Again, she seemed surprised when I asked if these were the same forms we had discussed the day before. They were, and she had forgotten about our conversation.

Last week, I contacted the consultant's secretary to get a copy of the rota. It hasn't been written yet.

 I then received all the paperwork for my induction.

Today, I received a telephone call from a medical staffing department at a different hospital in the trust trying to establish if I have the correct criminal records paperwork. I reassured them that I do, and that I had given a copy to the original woman in medical staffing, and I asked why they were interested. It turns out I am due to start in their hospital tomorrow—didn't I know?

Two hours later I received a call from the original woman in medical staffing, telling me that I'm due to start work at the other hospital—and please ignore the induction paperwork that I've been sent.

On the plus side, for the first time in four years of working for the NHS, I've actually been sent a contract for the job before I start it. It's wrong, of course. 

Iain Varley, senior house officer in oral and maxillofacial surgery ([email protected])

York Hospital, York