Missed hospital appointment - what now?

[Gerbera55]

I’ve been referred to a rheumatologist and they have requested I have several tests done. One of these should have been this morning but I completely forgot - a mix of Sundays being unusual for hospital appointments and an unwell baby. I also didn’t get any text reminders for this appointment which is so unusual because I always get them for every other appointment.
What will happen now? I’m really hoping I won’t be taken off the waiting list for the tests.

Call them, explain the mistake and re-book it. Simples.

(Why are grown adults so dependent on getting reminders these days? Wouldn’t even occur to me that I should get a reminder after the initial notice)

Because even grown adults have times when they drop the ball? It’s been a really tough week in my house and the reminder would have stopped a wasted appointment. No, I shouldn’t need the reminder (and I actually normally don’t). However, I do wonder why I didn’t get a reminder for this appointment when I usually do.

Call them and explain. Sunday appointments aren’t unusual anymore - it’s part of a drive to increase medical productivity - my mum had a hip consultation last month on a Sunday and I have a CT scan booked for the end of the month, also on a Sunday.

I actually pointed out when the letter came how helpful a Sunday would be in terms of childcare too which is another reason I’m so frustrated at myself!

That's very harsh on OP @Greybeardy

Yes we used to manage without reminders. But since getting reminders became the norm it's very easy to slip into the mindset that there isn't an appointment because otherwise they would have sent a reminder.

Anyone can forget an appointment, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s not remotely the same as someone who just couldn’t be bothered to go and yet everyone gets lumped in together as a DNA. I hope you get what you need soon.

Why would you need to be reminded? You got the appointment - you add it to your phone calendar and set it to remind the night before, or the morning of. So… did your phone break? Or did you not actually add it to your own calendar?

Doesn’t matter at all if you forgot or just didn’t bother; you’ve wasted an appointment and cost the NHS (taxpayer) money for nothing, and now you’ll take an appointment away from someone else when you rebook.

You've never made a mistake in your life then? How wonderful to be perfect.

I would call asap to rebook as a lot of hospitals have a policy to discharge for missed first appointment

The PP didn't say they were perfect. They have pointed out the consequences of the OP missing their appointment, something that the OP could have avoided by setting a reminder, instead of blaming the NHS for not reminding them.

In a really harsh and unnecessary way. I am sure @Gerbera55 doesn't need to be told off. She feels worse about it than anyone else.

I’ve never missed an NHS appointment, or a school appointment, or even hairdressers… because we all have phones with calendars. Really not that hard and no, being tired with a baby isn’t an excuse. I was a single parent with from when I had 2 year old and a 6 week old. I can still manage a calendar.

The problem is people like OP who don’t bother with that, and expect others to tell them.

What sort of test is it? A blood test might be easier to reschedule quickly than an MRI scan etc

There appears to be some perfect people on this thread, that never make mistakes.
I would contact them in the morning, and apologise for missing the appointment. Explain your baby was ill and you overlooked the appointment until later in the day.
We recently missed a hospital appointment and when I called the staff were fine. No fault of our own - the appointment was only sent by post, and was 7 days after the date of the letter. The letter arrived on the Tuesday afternoon, for an appointment on the Monday morning.
Hopefully they can reschedule you without too much of a wait. Hope baby is better soon too.

I work in a hospital this happens all the time. Please don’t worry just call them and ask them to reschedule you. It will be fine everyone is only human ❤️

It's exactly the same in terms of cost to me, you and other tax payers. It's exactly the same to the person waiting for an appointment for months who could have had that appointment. Bet she wouldn't have missed if it was a private appointment.

Does a comment like that make you feel good about yourself?

Was there something unkind about my post?

I don't use my phone for appointments, I write them on the calendar in the kitchen on the wall and so far, never missed an appointment. I do get text reminders for some of them but not all.

Put reminders in your phone

What was the point of it other than to make OP feel worse than she already does?

That is what I do as well, that way I can see straight away when my upcoming appointments are, and not forget. Saying that, the hospital that I am under calls me the day before to check that I will still be attending.

I was explaining why everyone was 'lumped' into the same category as DNA because the result is the same. I was responding to a completely different poster to the OP.

I wasn't unpleasant. I was factual.

These missed appintments cost the tax payer.
they will probably put you to the back of the list for a new appointment, but it might not be anytime soon bare that in mind.

I called this morning - they were very understanding and have rebooked for a couple of weeks time.

It’s the first time I’ve missed an appointment (for anything) in my life, I’m normally the most organised person. However, this week has thrown us for a loop - baby is on the mend now so hopefully I can get back to my organised self.