I am more than peeved by the standard response to my telephone calls with regard to enquiries.

I will call the number I require and the usual answer is “Ello”. I then have to ask the question: “Am I speaking with ... whoever?” Usually the answer is in the affirmative.

Five times over the past week, I have made enquiries as such (hospitals included) and had the stock ‘Ello’ as a response.

Such a response appears very unprofessional to me.

When I lived in England, and was a professional, I would tell the caller my name and also ask: “How can I help you?”

The caller would then be directed or put through to whichever person or department was required.

In Malta, it’s like drawing teeth. Buck up.

First impressions are everything.