Siblings needing the same appointments- any way to co-ordinate?

[Snap8TheCat]

Both ds 1 & 2 have been referred for the same thing (podiatry) and the hospital we have to go to is a little bit of a trek. With getting appointments after school and at times we can make, it’s looking a bit hectic.

Is there any point in asking if the appointments can be linked and done one after the other? Or is there no point even asking?

[Doilooklikeatourist]

Tell them you need appointments at the same time

[Snap8TheCat]

We’ve only had letters so far giving initial appointments- do I tell the reception before we leave that appointment or wait for next letter to arrive and try and change it?

[Doilooklikeatourist]

I’d tell them ASAP
Ring them up , and try and get the appointments one after the other
If it helps you. It helps the hospital in the long term

[Snap8TheCat]

Thank you, I’ll call them Monday.

Has anyone got experience of dealing with this? Would be good to hear if it actually works in practice.

[Anotherdayanotherdollar]

Where I work we'd ask the secretary to book a double appt for the two kids?

[Snap8TheCat]

Is that a hospital anotherday ?

Thank you.

[Elend]

I work in an outpatients clinic and we cant book 2 initial appointments back to back as they keep 3 specific times every day for new patient slots. Follow up or review appointments however, are a different story and we will work with the patient to get a requested time where possible - you may just have to wait a bit longer for the appointments if you specifically need 2 together and also after school. Every clinic is different, so theres no harm in asking!

[Snap8TheCat]

Thanks elend good to know.

I already have their first appointments and that’s when it dawned on me what a logistical nightmare it was going to be. I’ll give them a call tomorrow and see what they advised doing. It can’t be unusual can it?

[StrangeAndUnusual]

Yes of course. My 3 all need the same yearly appointment and the hospital have a note on their file to book them consecutively - the paed just sees them all together during that triple slot.