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AIBU?

Was I U with dr receptionist

151 replies

Namechangemum100 · 18/06/2018 19:33

Genuinely interested to see if my response was unreasonable...

Called Dr to make appointment for Ds to have his 12 week immunisations. He had his 8 week set last week but was crying too much in the surgery for me to book the second appointment as there was a wait.

Called today to be told there was absolutely no appointments, and he would have to wait until he was 14 weeks for the next appointment.

I pointed out to the receptionist that as the schedule is set for 8-12-16 weeks, they should find a space for him as I know they offer appointments on the day if you call up, therefore find it very hard to believe there is absolutely nothing for him. She told me that it was fine for him to wait until 14 weeks as sometimes vaccinations are delayed when a child is I'll.

Aibu in thinking that

A) everyone and his mother tells us how important vaccinations are, and therefore delaying his by 2 weeks is not acceptable unless for health reasons

B) if the government set out a schedule of 8-12-16 week vaccinations, then appointments should be given as a priority to small babies

C) delaying for a non medical reason and leaving a baby exposed is not acceptable

D) surely there is a reason why they stagger them in 4 week intervals and therefore leaving it 6 weeks may affect effectiveness.

She did eventually manage to find me an appointment (as I knew she would, it's always the way with our surgery) but it has left me feeling very frustrated when we have the fear of God put into us about vaccinations and how important they are, yet I'm being flippantly told that my son can have his delayed without a medical reason.

OP posts:
CluedoAddict · 18/06/2018 19:50

Two weeks difference would make no difference whatsoever. Poor receptionist can't give you an appointment if they don't have any.

glueandstick · 18/06/2018 19:58

My child’s were repeatedly cancelled so the second set were done at 6 months. And I had to point out that at that time the rotovirus shouldn’t be given. Personally I can’t see how critical they are if they think that is acceptable. As long as they are done at some point.

Dobbythesockelf · 18/06/2018 19:59

But if there are no appointments they can't exactly magic one up for you. If you are really bothered speak to your HV but there's not much the receptionist could have done. These things happen and I really doubt it will make any difference at all.

tillytown · 18/06/2018 19:59

Ywbu, and you know it.

Pascall · 18/06/2018 20:02

Yabu

CremeBrulee · 18/06/2018 20:02

You were a dick. Call back and apologise.

Myotherusernameisbest · 18/06/2018 20:03

2 weeks wouldn't have made any difference. So yes you were a bit unreasonable. she did tell you it would be fine to wait.

Don't worry about it though. I'm sure the receptionist has dealt with many a worried mum on more than one occasion.

squadronleader87 · 18/06/2018 20:03

There’s no issue with immunisations being done slightly off schedule. Our 12wk ones were late due to the bad weather in March, I checked with the doctor and they said it’s fine.

Di11y · 18/06/2018 20:04

The 4 week gap is to give time for the body to respond before the next lot, so min 4 weeks but longer is ok.

LivingMyBestLife · 18/06/2018 20:04

Sorry OP but I think you went a bit over the top there too!

Sleephead1 · 18/06/2018 20:04

I'm a receptionist we aren't allowed to just add appointment a if they are none then we have nothing to book into and do fi d this frustrating aswell as you do. I think she was just trying to reassure you by saying that they can be later if children are ill as this does happen fairly regularly. If you believe there was appointment a and she was lying to you ( I have no idea why she would be doing this as it's much easier to be able to give a appointment then it is to have a upset patient/ complaint ect) then speak to the practice manager about this. Calls are recorded so they will trace it.

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 18/06/2018 20:05

Whether you were unreasonable or not depends on how you spoke to her.

Aspieparent · 18/06/2018 20:05

Yabu makes no difference. Our eldest had to have is 8 weeks ones done at 14 weeks due to being very ill.

MollyDaydream · 18/06/2018 20:05

It's usually a particular vaccination clinic rather than any old appointment.

Really, 2 weeks will make zero difference. DD had hers at 11 weeks, 14 weeks and 16 weeks as that was when appointments were available.

TyneTeas · 18/06/2018 20:05

When did he have it last week?

(Just trying to establish how long you left it between not making an appointment when you were there and calling today?)

MollyDaydream · 18/06/2018 20:06

Or maybe it was 11, 16 and 19!

Fitzsimmons · 18/06/2018 20:06

Services round here are so over stretched that my daughter only had her 8 week one done on time, the rest were late. If I recall correctly the four weeks between the dose is a minimum wait time, not a maximum?

Coolaschmoola · 18/06/2018 20:07

Babies cry. YWBU to use that as an excuse not to make the appointment same day before you left.

Your child had his injections last week- YWBU to wait until today to call. You should have called when you got home if you wouldn't wait.

You played a part in this - love how you refusing to wait, then waiting to call is the receptionist's fault!

Wolfiefan · 18/06/2018 20:07

Why didn't you call when you got home and he was calmer?
If there are no appointments what would you like her to do exactly? Confused

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 18/06/2018 20:08

Babies cry. YWBU to use that as an excuse not to make the appointment same day before you left.

Er, no, she wasn't unreasonable to not make a queue and waiting room full of people listen to a baby crying. Booking an appointment takes a minute on the phone.

LockedOutOfMN · 18/06/2018 20:09

YWU and I think you know it.

Gottokondo · 18/06/2018 20:10

Do you feel that she should have cancelled someone elses appointment for you? Would yoube ok with your future appointments cancelled because of someone elses vaccinations?

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mathanxiety · 18/06/2018 20:10

YABU.

One of mine missed one set of vaccinations altogether - by months. The doctor's office realised he was behind when I took him in after he had given himself an electric shock playing with an exposed outlet.

Not a good day for either of us. But the doctor assured me the vac schedule was more flexible than it looks.

LoopyLou1981 · 18/06/2018 20:10

She was right. 2 weeks wouldn’t make any difference.
Maybe apologise when you go in for the appointment. They have a hard enough job as it is without people trying to make it worse for no valid reason.

Namechangemum100 · 18/06/2018 20:10

It was the end of last week, so I have tried to make the appointment as soon as possible. I have 2 under 2 so today was the first chance I had.

For context, I wasn't rude to the receptionist, just trying to get an appointment at 12 week which is what I thought had to happen.

It would seem that I have been overly worried and was unreasonable, I suppose I just assumed that as they are supposed to be at 8-12-16 weeks, that there was a solid reason for this spacing which is why I was so surprised that they were so casually being delayed.

OP posts:
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