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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that waiting is antenatal dept for two hours is too bloody much?!

36 replies

CheekyChoppers · 20/10/2011 12:12

DH and I have been sat in antenatal at St marys hosp, Manc for two bloody hours waiting to see a midwife after a scan this am!

Their queing system is sh*t... Some people have come and gone before us, and some have waited the same length of time as us. It's driving me bloody bonkers.....

They dare send me to que at the blood room after this and I'll go insane :-/

OP posts:
NinkyNonker · 20/10/2011 12:13

I know it is frustrating (hence me always taking a book, snacks, water etc) but YABU really. Chill, keep your blood pressure down!

valiumredhead · 20/10/2011 12:13

I always waited ages at hospital appts - all hospital appts not just antenatal.

FoxyRevenger · 20/10/2011 12:16

I always waited about two hours at my antenatal clinic.

BUT - people going in ahead of you are probably seeing different consultants; there are often a number of clinics running at the same time in one outpatient area.

Sucks though! Our waiting room used to have blaring TV on...bloody This Morning at full volume....

NinkyNonker · 20/10/2011 12:17

The appointment system may not be transparent, but then it doesnt have to be as there will be so much going on...different consultants etc.

cuteboots · 20/10/2011 12:17

I always remember having to wait for ages. In the end Id have to nip to loo and have a wee and then drink more. The nurse used to say just have a small wee but have you ever tried that???!!

pallymama · 20/10/2011 12:20

I don't want to advocate pestering the staff, but are you sure they've sent your notes through? I spent ages waiting for my scan, watching people go through before me. Turns out the receptionist had picked out my notes, and left them on the desk without checking me in, or sending them through. Honest mistake, and she was so apologetic I nearly started to cry. Bloody hormones!

Starshaped · 20/10/2011 12:21

I feel your pain. Three hours was my record at St Marys and I agree the queuing system seems haphazard at best. They have more than one clinic on at a time though, so patients that are being seen before you might be under a different consultant/set of midwives.

If it's any consolation, the midwives and doctors were brilliant when it actually came to the big day!

StickyGhost · 20/10/2011 12:35

I think this is pretty standard, I was always waiting about that long with antenatal appointments. There's usually several different clinics running at the same time as well for different things, so don't expect much order in being called.

CoffeeDog · 20/10/2011 12:56

We waited 2 hrs 17 minutes for our 12 wk scan... turns out it was twins

DH said he loved the 2 hours of ignorance ;)

pleasethanks · 20/10/2011 12:59

I feel your pain. I turned up at the hospital, full term, for them to try and turn my breach baby. For them to tell me they were very busy and I would have to wait a bit. Nearly 10 hours later they did the procedure. Please note I had not been allowed to eat all day. Good times

DejaWho · 20/10/2011 13:00

I got given looks of utter doom waiting for a scan last week - walked in, gave my name, got called in almost straight away... woman sat opposite me looked like she wanted to throttle me.

I was in for a different clinic than she was (one which usually runs to time), was quarter of an hour early but the previous patient hadn't showed up yet (hideous roadworks outside the hospital no doubt to blame) and the consultant looked in the waiting room, spotted we were early because hubby's the sort who is memorable (freakishly tall) and so nabbed us to keep time being used productively... I felt guilty as hell getting seen straight away!

Having said that, time when you're sat there with the obligingly full bladder runs on its own unique eye-watering timezone anyway!

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 20/10/2011 13:24

Two hours is lightning fast compared to the antenatal clinics at the hospital here - the longest I was ever there was six hours, and that wasn't even with a scan, just "routine appointment" Confused

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 20/10/2011 13:29

I waited 4 hours for a nuchal scan.....that was a nightmare.

Generally most ante-natal appts have been long waits ime, which is why dh used to stay and look after ds1 when I did it when I was expecting ds2.

The same with all my gynae appts. I used to go along, take a book and settle in. Once you've done a few and learned what to expect, it's not so bad because you can prepare.

EdlessAllenPoe · 20/10/2011 13:33

they do have emergencies bumped-in (excuse the pun)

and sometimes the scans take longer as they can't see everything they need to.

porcamiseria · 20/10/2011 13:34

tough shit, its the NHS, take a book

elliejjtiny · 20/10/2011 13:36

I always hated that, especially for scans when you are desperate for the loo. It's fairly normal though and I don't mind being kept waiting if it means that someone before me can have their questions answered without being rushed.

Astronaut79 · 20/10/2011 13:39

Move to Wales Wink

DrMunkenstein · 20/10/2011 13:46

If you have additional testing then yes, you could be a while!

I have thyroid issues, and as such was informed in advance that my dating scan appointment would be two and a half hours including the waiting.

I had the scan after a hour and then saw the endocrinologist after another hour and then haas to queue at the hospital pharmacy.

So you are not being unreasonable to be annoyed, but they were unreasonable to not tell you in advance about the long wait (if you have more than the basic scan).

Congratulations on you pregnancy, by the way, I hope all goes well.

Petesmum · 20/10/2011 13:55

Waiting times are no better in Nottingham I'm afraid. It drives my DH mad so I only take him for scans & not regular clinic appointments. Even then we go armed with his & her kindles, puzzle books and unpack snacks for DH...my DS takes the waiting much better and he's only 8!!

jeee · 20/10/2011 14:01

After DC1, I went to all routine appointments on my own leaving DH with the other children. I took a couple of books, and enjoyed the peace. I used to feel quite resentful if I didn't have a long wait.

QueenOfProcrastination · 20/10/2011 14:09

Four hours at St Mary's was my record, and then had to queue for bloods as they'd lost the previous ones and had no results! Once with a midwife / consultant / scanner there they were all fantastic but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the "queueing system" so see someone after scan. You have my sympathy!

golemmings · 20/10/2011 14:11

It won't be any comfort but I waited an hour for a blood test this morning at the gp. It was only that quick because they bumped me to someone else because the vampire I should have seen was stuck with a patient. I'm very glad not to be the patient who needed an extra hour with the practice nurse.

somethingwillturnup · 20/10/2011 14:17

Or Scotland. My youngest is now 7, but I never waited for that long for any type of ante natal appointment. After the first child I couldn't - I had to take children with me most of the time and wouldn't make them wait hours on end

nailak · 20/10/2011 14:34

this actually factored in my decision to home birth, as they come to you Grin no appts with kids

LoveInAColdGrave · 20/10/2011 14:38

This is pretty normal where I am. It's annoying but you just need to remember to take a book, snack and drink. The thing I find most irritating is that while you wait you have to listen to some godawful local radian station (possibly hospital radio now I come to think about it!) wittering on, which I don't want to block out with headphones in case I miss them calling me in for my appointment.