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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be 1 minute late?

137 replies

liladough · 25/04/2024 20:13

What would you do?

I have an appointment tomorrow at a healthcare facility. It’s an NHS appointment but at a private contractor. I have waited 6 months for this appointment.

I have to get the bus there, it’s an hour long journey (just one bus). The appointment is at 3:20.

I can either get the bus that gets there at 3:01, or get the bus that gets there at 3:21. I don’t want to be waiting outside for twenty minutes as it’s a really dodgy area, they have a cage on their door and you have to buzz up, just for context. There’s no where within a 5 minute walk I can go to get a coffee. Judging by their reviews I would have to wait quite a while to get seen anyway. So if I have to wait 30 minutes to be seen, that’s nearly an hour of waiting in there which would quite frankly do my head in.

On the other side, what if I get the bus that gets there at 3:21? Can I risk that the bus would actually get there for that time and not say 15-20 minutes late? What if I get there at 3:21 and they say sorry you’re late, we can’t see you, try again in 6 months.

YABU = 3:01 Bus
YANBU = 3:21 Bus

OP posts:
CammyChameleon · 25/04/2024 23:39

Could you ring the place, tell them your concerns and check if they'll let you in early just to sit in the waiting room? Just to set your mind at ease?

I've never rung up to check, but have been allowed to sit around in waiting rooms for medical appointments that I needed to "buzz" into the building for.

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:39

liladough · 25/04/2024 23:32

Read up because they definitely did when someone accused me of making up this location…

Show quote history

Quote the exact post. (Where someone asked you to reveal the exact location.)

Mnetcurious · 25/04/2024 23:35

Not worth the risk that the bus won’t be late! Get the earlier one.
(Said as someone who errs on the side of late as I hate being too early but some things are too important to risk).

OutOfTheHouse · 25/04/2024 23:33

liladough · 25/04/2024 23:32

Read up because they definitely did when someone accused me of making up this location…

Show quote history

No they didn’t.

No one asked you to say exactly where it is.

OutOfTheHouse · 25/04/2024 23:32

The reviews of people saying they waited is fairly meaningless. You can’t rely on that as they might be running to time, or early.

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:32

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:30

Ummm, I am pretty sure no-one has asked you to. Confused What a bizarre retort!

Show quote history

Read up because they definitely did when someone accused me of making up this location…

OP posts:
SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:30

liladough · 25/04/2024 23:30

You’re right, I’m not going to reveal the location when I have stated the exact time and day I will be there

Show quote history

Ummm, I am pretty sure no-one has asked you to. Confused What a bizarre retort!

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:30

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:03

I know right. And it's looking like the OP is not going to come back to tell us anything, or explain anything to us. Wink

I also wanted to say, I went with my friend for her to get her covid booster on Tuesday ... The appointment was 2:15pm and we got there at 1.55pm. Wanted to get there in plenty of time. As an NHS worker said above - do try to get there a bit earlier if you can.

There was nobody waiting, as a couple of people hadn't turned up (not sure if they were late, or not coming!) So we went straight in and out before 2:00pm. It's always a good idea to go early - at least 10 or 15 minutes early. Not too early - like an hour - but 15 minutes early yeah ...

Show quote history

You’re right, I’m not going to reveal the location when I have stated the exact time and day I will be there

OP posts:
SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:29

liladough · 25/04/2024 23:25

Oh and for people saying about busss turning up on time I totally get that - we do have an app in my area to live track buses so I’d be able to see if buses were on track to get to my bus stop in time

Its not that I can’t be bothered to wait outside, its just genuinely an unsafe area for a lone female to be walking in. I know someone personally that was robbed walking down that road.

Surely they have a waiting area INSIDE? It's not Covid times now. People are not made to wait outside!

LauderSyme · 25/04/2024 23:29

You were being unreasonable but I see you have come to your senses!

I have a similar issue with my dentist but the buses to it are only once every hour. Now when I book appointments I do it with the bus timetable in mind.

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:28

To answer more questions
Yes I am an adult. I’m 20. My mum said to get the 3:21 bus whilst I thought 3:01 would better, hence asking for advice

Re, the nhs worker who hates people being 5 minutes late. I’ve read the reviews for this place where people state they wait after their appointment time to be seen so I thought getting their 20 minutes early was a bit overkill

OP posts:
BingoMarieHeeler · 25/04/2024 23:28

20 min wait is nothing. Bet we’ve all spent way longer than that on MN today 😄

mitogoshi · 25/04/2024 23:27

Arriving 19 minutes early is fine, by the time you have walked into reception registered etc that's 5 minutes to start with and buses are often late. If anything I'd take an earlier one

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:25

Oh and for people saying about busss turning up on time I totally get that - we do have an app in my area to live track buses so I’d be able to see if buses were on track to get to my bus stop in time

Its not that I can’t be bothered to wait outside, its just genuinely an unsafe area for a lone female to be walking in. I know someone personally that was robbed walking down that road.

OP posts:
saraclara · 25/04/2024 23:25

Twenty minutes early is my normal.

I thought this was going to be a question where the earlier bus would get you there an hour or more early.

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:25

TimeInBlue · 25/04/2024 23:22

I can’t believe this is even a serious question.
Who doesn’t get to medical appointments early anyway? As my DSs’ Scout leader used to say ‘if you’re on time, you’re late’.

Well your DS's Scout leader was wrong. Confused If you're on time you're on time. What other false things did this leader tell the Scouts?!

This has jarred me a bit, because in a job I used to be in some years ago, I would be in at 5 minutes to 9am (the time I started,) and my manager always had to say 'what time do you call this, part timer?' He had been there since 8.45am, and classed me as being 5 minutes early as being late! My BUS got me there for 8.55pm. The buses were only every half hour. If I got the earlier one, I would have been there for 8.25am when my start time (and the office start time) was 9am!

TimeInBlue · 25/04/2024 23:22

I can’t believe this is even a serious question.
Who doesn’t get to medical appointments early anyway? As my DSs’ Scout leader used to say ‘if you’re on time, you’re late’.

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:21

Looks like I’ll be getting the early bus then! Btw it’s not a hospital it’s a really small clinic, like dentist size. I’ve gone past it on the bus before so know where it is - bus stops just outside it

OP posts:
Blanketpolicy · 25/04/2024 23:20

for a hospital/consultant appointment I would get an earlier bus than the 3:01 one

SoozyWoozy5 · 25/04/2024 23:18

FFS. Just get the earlier one!

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:15

mondaytosunday · 25/04/2024 23:06

Get the earlier bus. I had similar (not dodgy area though) and was five minutes late and the area nurse had left. It was about her six months wait as I went to bottom of the pile. Won't they let you in to wait inside?

Whilst I think that everyone should try to get to an appointment early, that's a bit mad. You were just 5 minutes late, and the person you were seeing was gone, and you had a 6 month wait to see her again? An hour late I would have got. But 5 minutes?! Confused I would have thought it would have taken her that long to sort herself out to leave/get her coat on/get her bag etc...

That's actually bonkers! Sometimes people are late because traffic jams and public transport delays. Most people will try and fit you in if possible. Obviously if you are repeatedly late that's different, but if it's one time, most people will try to accommodate you. Our GP Practice says, 'if you are more than 10 minutes late there is no guarantee you will be seen.' But in most cases they will try to squeeze people in.

Delphiniumandlupins · 25/04/2024 23:15

Round here bus timetables are not accurate. I definitely would not rely on one scheduled to arrive later than my appointment. I might get the earlier bus and get off a stop before (or after) and walk, if that's an option for you, rather than standing at the door.

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 25/04/2024 23:14

Get the earlier bus. It could end up being late or you could get stuck in traffic. Buzz up to the appointment when you get there and go in early. Saves faffing.

MultiplaLight · 25/04/2024 23:11

No wonder people are late for appointments regularly if they think like this.

Get there with time to spare so that you aren't stressed. It would serve you right if they won't see you.

pambeesleyhalpert · 25/04/2024 23:09

Also yes they always run late but if you turn up 10 mins late they won't see you so I'd deff play it safe.

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