aibu to think that if your a pensioner then turning up to the early blood clinic is selfish

[meddie]

Unless your there for a fasting blood sugar or need a very early morning sample, why was the blood clinic rammed with pensioners at 7:30am who had been there from 7 (to get an early ticket). Thus making people late for work, because when they arrived at 7:30 for the 7:30 clinic there is already 20+ pensioners waiting with their tickets causing waiting times to be over an hour fromthe off.

Is it unreasonable to expect an early morning clinic put on for those who cant go during work hours, to be kept for those who need to get to work

I had the same thought as the OP this morning (although I wouldn't have dared post on MN about it ;))

I'm trying to get a semi-urgent appointment for my DD and I really wanted to be able to get one of the 'commuter' slots tomorrow morning, but they're all full. I don't KNOW for sure, obviously, but I had the uncharitable thought that they were all taken by people who could have gone another time.

For the record, I don't get paid if I don't work, but I still have to pay the childminder. I can't 'make up the time' because I can only work certain hours due to drop off/pick up times. I could take holiday but I have to weigh up each time either child is slightly ill as to whether this is a major enough crisis to take the time or whether I should save it for a future time when they're REALLY ill.

Today was one of those borderline cases where, in an ideal world, I'd have stayed home with her and tried to get an appointment today, but decided it wasn't quite serious enough. But I felt very very stressed about my decision.

So - YANBU OP. I share your pain.

sorry had to go to mums to sort out her shopping. Yeah it was a hospital clinic, wasnt meant to be goady was just a vent out of pure frustration really. Appt was for DD who has anxiety regarding needles so I offered to go with her, this involved getting up at 5am to drive 40 miles to pick her up and take her to this clinic, which we were told was 'especially for working people' got there dead on 7:30 expecting some wait but not 1 hour 30 mins. And yes a lot of them were pensioners ( either that or 40 year olds who have aged really really badly). as I said have no issues if early tests required, but judging from the conversations going on around me that wasnt the case.'

yes I know thats their right, but when there are 5 clinics a week, morning and afternoon and only 2 days were there are early bird clinics, it would be nice if they were left for people who have absolutely no other choice about when they come. my DD was an hour late for work.

Crikey needtowant, that was uncalled for.

Blimey...I can't tell if that post was a joke needto.

And yes a lot of them were pensioners ( either that or 40 year olds who have aged really really badly)

What?
Nasty

a) Lots of pensioners work these days
b) fasting with some conditions is no joke (like my mum the pensioner diabetic with pelvic radiation disease)
c) I find it a bit irritating when anyone takes up and appointment that I wanted but I'm not sure I'd reserve my spleen specifically for pensioners - I would be more irritated around here with wealthy bankers insisting on using my GP when the bastards could pay and go privately. How very dare they

Does it really matter whether it was a pensioner who made you wait or someone under 65?

Frankly anyone who needs the appointment enough to be up and at the hospital by 7am really needs to be there and is welcome to the service.

MiL is elderly and diabetic. If she needs a fasting test it has to be early morning otherwise she will collapse.

just a thought.

It wasn't a joke, her ageism is disgusting. Presuming she has some sort of right to the clinic slots over them because she's younger.

Your disabilism is disgusting.

The clinic was for people who have trouble getting there in normal working hours. She felt, and bizarrely, I'm inclined to believe her, that most people there would not have had trouble getting there in working hours. But carry on flaming her and hoping she has a shit time at work. Nice.

Y'see, this was a thread where the OP posted something lots of us took issue with, politely, and she was reasonable and polite enough in response, and the debate moved on, then suddenly BOOM! Twattishness.
It's so irritating.

Yes I agree. Pensioners, like the disabled should make sure they travel and use resources at non peak times so 'proper people' don't have to bother waiting behind them.

You sound just like my ex who believes the disabled should not be allowed on buses at rush hour. Coincidentally he left my when I became disabled, and I carried on working full time and looking after my tiny baby. But yes, I also became a second class citizen although still working and paying higher rate tax.

Can you see how my ex was being discriminatory and also hateful?

Can you see how your post is based on the same preconceptions?

How am I being prejudiced against the disabled? They were all there because they need to use the clinic, she's making the ageist assumption that because they are old they're not working. My gran worked until she was 75

Systems are set up so that is the case though, concessionary bus passes for both disabled and older people can only be used for free travel at off peak times.

Ignoring later twattishness, can I point you all back a page to re-read limiteperiodonly's post.

I think I love her. I really do.

I've thought it before, but now I'm sure.

Here's another thought. Perhaps if the early bird clinic really was for all those Very Important Young People, they wouldn't let those smelly old ones clog it up. That they do, means clearly it isn't.

Not in London SoulJacker - all day there

Even if all these older people were retired, had no grandchild or spouse responsibilities, were not fasting and had no other medical need for an early test - OP is still BU. Their time is valuable to them as hers is to her and she should respect that.

I never knew that Andrewofg. Is that any concessionary pass or those issued by London authorities. Up here residents of the neighbouring authority get free tram travel but we don't. (The tram runs through both areas)

I agree SoulJacker.

Perhaps the clinic should cease advertising as "an early morning clinic for those who have difficulty attending during work hours" and just say, "early morning clinic," then there would be a change of expectation perhaps.

Needto, for someone who feels so passionately about perceived discrimination, it is bizarre that you would use such a blatantly discriminatory word.

Our local hospitals are open from 7.30am for anyone who needs to go for a blood test. I got to my local one at 7.45 and I don't think there were any OAPs there, but so what if there was? Old people often wake/get up early and I know my DM would always want to turn up early "just incase something goes wrong"

Maybe the OAPs are still working - a lot are- there seem to be a lot of assumptions made. A lot will be volunteering and expected to be on time.

SoulJacker The Freedom Pass covers all transport (with a handful of exceptions) and buses outside London; the age for getting that is being pushed up month by month. But since October 2012 Londoners not yet old enough for Freedom pass but turned 60 can get a 60+ Pass - known as a Boris Card whether you love him or loathe him because he brought it in, a bit like Boris Bikes - which is the same thing without the buses outside London.

And I got mine on Day One and DW has hers and I indulge in a big inward grin every time I use it because they won't dare take it away from anyone who's got it!

Phlebotomist here

I work hospital based and GP based. Hospital is 2 units, one for hospital OPD patients, and one a walk-in service for GP patients. The GP service (at the hospital) is open 7.30am Mon-Fri, with 2 late nights at 6.45pm. We do not specify on the leaflets/website that these early/late timings are for people who work/not for people who don't, but we do advise, if possible to have your test in the afternoon if at all possible as it is less busy. Anyone can come at anytime (except children who are done in the paed opd.

Most 'earlies' are fasting, very few are on their way to work. They usually come on the late evenings.
I don't mind the elderley tbh, they are usually lovely and friendly and patient.
It's the rest that get on my tits

Well I can sort of see the OPs point, it is very frustrating.

But I imagine she doesn't fully appreciate the sheer volume of people needing blood test appointments (or GP appointments for that matter).

If you phone to make an appointment and they say 0730 or 1730 IME older people are much more likely to want the early appointments - they tend to wake early and want to get it 'over and done with'.

I know it's not the case here, or at this time of the year but lots of my older patients don't want appointments when it's dark (early in the morning or later in the afternoon) because they're very vulnerable and don't like being out of the house when it's dark.