"Difficulty contacting specialist centre"

I have found there is a consistent and ongoing issue with specialist centre appointments.

It seems to me that Paed's appointments are never booked and sent through and always need to be actively chased and followed up. We have access the paeds service for over 2 years now and there has not been a single occasion where I have received a follow up appointment. Every single time I have to call, email and actively follow up in any way possible to get an appointment. I have found that emails from the paeds are never answered. 

Most recently I have been chasing a gynaecology appointment, I have had several missed calls but each and every time I try to return the call, the phone is never answered. I can call up to 6 or 7 times a day and not once can I get through to someone. 

I am fortunate enough to be able to advocate for mine and my child's health care and continually follow up, but my concern lies with those who do not have health literacy and do not have the knowledge to navigate an apparently broken system. 

The lack of acknowledgement I have seen from the health service for this ongoing issue, let alone attempting to resolve the issue is not only disappointing but I believe it will end up causing serious harm by people not being able to access timely healthcare. I feel it is already difficult to receive quality and timely health care in our remote area, but the apparent lack of staff resourcing in the specialist centre is only exacerbating the issue.