Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 25/04/2024 20:44

What is the really dodgy area that needs a cage on the door?

DuchesseNemours · 25/04/2024 20:42

Absolutely 100% without a doubt, get the earlier bus.

You'd be mad not to.

Teacupsandrollups · 25/04/2024 20:42

There’s no way a bus will have a guaranteed journey time which is accurate to the minute, op!
What’s the problem with getting there 10 minutes or so early?
Sit in the waiting room and read a book, they won’t leave you on the doorstep.

Silkymum · 25/04/2024 20:41

Early bus. 19 minutes is not that early for an appointment, and buses almost never run completely to time. It's unfortunate it's in an area you don't feel comfortable in, but unless you want to risk the appointment being cancelled I would get the earlier bus. Can you afford a taxi instead?

Edenmum2 · 25/04/2024 20:41

I wouldn't even consider getting the later bus, I've never known a bus to be on time and for 20 mins how is it worth the risk? You've been waiting 6 months

Sugarcoatedalmonds · 25/04/2024 20:40

Get there early.

pearlevu · 25/04/2024 20:38

Tbh I'd be using the 15:01 as the back up bus to the one before it. Can you walk/travel from a couple of bus stops before to kill time?

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 25/04/2024 20:37

Even the 3.01 arrival would be cutting it too fine for me. I'd go earlier. Traffic and public transport = too unpredictable, and part of being on time is anticipating that risk of something going wrong.

hottchocolatte · 25/04/2024 20:36

OTOH you could call them and explain and ask if they're willing to confirm they'll still see you.

hottchocolatte · 25/04/2024 20:35

Presumably the bus isn't going to door you at reception or in the waiting room at 3:21? It's going to drop you at the bus stop and you'll then need to make your way in so it's going to be at least 3:25 I'm guessing and then that's assuming you're there on time...

qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 25/04/2024 20:32

I'd be getting an earlier bus to arrive earlier than 15:01, so that arriving at 15:01 was my worst case.

You don't want to risk being late. Take a flask and wait it out.

Arriving after the appointment time is really not sensible.

TheCoffeeNebula · 25/04/2024 20:31

Earlier bus, and if it'll make you feel more comfortable, don't take any more cash or flashy belongings than you'd be able to tolerate handing over. Not because I think you'll be mugged, but because I think you'll be less anxious hanging around on the street if you're not worried about expensive belongings.

But I really hate it when places don't have somewhere for you to wait. I've seen a couple of different counsellors who had no waiting room, but who nevertheless expected you to be there ready and waiting to buzz on the doorbell at your appointment time — one of them in a residential area, one in a business estate. Not so bad if you drive there and can park up nearby and wait in your car, but if you get public transport (or a lift off someone, which I did) you have to either run a high likelihood of being late, or plan to hang around in the cold or the rain or the wasps (did I mention the wasps' nest?) until your appointment time.

NoWordForFluffy · 25/04/2024 20:31

CrushingOnRubies · 25/04/2024 20:27

Hmmm
I'd definitely be getting the 1501 bus and contemplating the 1441 bus tbh. Hospitals can be big and distance from the bus stop especially if you don't know where you're going.

I'd get the 14.41. I'd rather be where I need to be and waiting than miss the appt due to a late bus!

Cantrushart · 25/04/2024 20:31

I would probably aim to be about 20 min early anyway, especially using public transport.

Datafan55 · 25/04/2024 20:30

You normally have to check in for NHS appts about ten minutes early. I'd go as early as I could bear, just in case.

MyRobotFriend · 25/04/2024 20:29

Early bus. Buses are ALWAYS late, you'll be lucky to get there on time even on the 3.01.

CrushingOnRubies · 25/04/2024 20:27

Hmmm
I'd definitely be getting the 1501 bus and contemplating the 1441 bus tbh. Hospitals can be big and distance from the bus stop especially if you don't know where you're going.

OutOfTheHouse · 25/04/2024 20:25

And if this is a health facility they will surely have a waiting area, otherwise all the people waiting and those there to accompany patients will be all stood in the street.

Boomer84 · 25/04/2024 20:24

Really??? Of course get the early bus 🙄

Peonies12 · 25/04/2024 20:24

Definitely early bus, not worth the risk. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere in the UK I’ve felt unsafe, just walk around the block until your appointment

MrsTerryPratchett · 25/04/2024 20:23

3.01pm no question at all. Then you have a 'spare bus' just in case.

Headphones, sunglasses, fuck off expression.

Notmyuser · 25/04/2024 20:23

Obviously you can’t turn up late, because you are aware the bus might be late, and nobody should have to wait for you (and you shouldn’t waste people’s time) just because you didn’t want to wait outside.

There really isn’t anywhere I’d feel unsafe for 20 minutes in broad daylight tbh, regardless of how “not nice” the area is, however if you feel unsafe, ask to be let in early.

Can you get off the bus nearby (to a coffee shop) and then get a taxi to the door?

hoarahloux · 25/04/2024 20:22

Get the earlier bus, buzz to be let in and bring a book.

BlondeFool · 25/04/2024 20:21

Early bus, cuppa and book.

Dacadactyl · 25/04/2024 20:21

Early bus for sure. It'll be sods law and the later bus wont show up, or there'll be a mad traffic incident and roadworks everywhere.

Swipe left for the next trending thread