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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a hospital clinic shouldn't run this late

79 replies

GalaxyInMyPants · 14/08/2014 12:27

Over two hours late. My appt was half eleven but theres a poor woman sat here who's appt was ten o'clock. Loads to be seen before me.

nowhere to get food. Not even a water fountain.

last time I came there was a three hour delay.

I do love the nhs but this is seriously rubbish m

OP posts:
Original poster
GalaxyInMyPants · 14/08/2014 12:29

And no emergencies taking priority. Not that sort of clinic. It's not even in the actual hospital. But a health centre down the road.

OP posts:
Lara2 · 14/08/2014 12:31

I agree - seriously rubbish. But be thankful you aren't my poor sister who had to be at the hospital at 7am for day surgery - she didn't go into theatre until 5pm!!!! A 10 hour wait without being able to eat or drink. Now that's seriously rubbish!

haggisaggis · 14/08/2014 12:32

I had to take ds to the eye clinic last year - appointment was 0800 and he was seen around 1200...although they did prioritise emergencies. They had W.I volunteers bringing round cups of tea to try and keep everyone happy.

WooWooOwl · 14/08/2014 12:33

YANBU.

I've been in that situation before too, and it makes my blood boil! I know they are over stretched and doing their best, but it's just so stressful and horrible to be kept waiting a ridiculous amount of time for medical appointments. Especially when they are at hospitals and you have to keep going out to pay even more for parking that is already expensive and then worry that you're going to be called when you're gone.

I hope you get seen soon Flowers

NorwaySpruce · 14/08/2014 12:33

Well something is causing a delay, even if it isn't an emergency.

It only takes a few people's appointments to go ten minutes over before it all builds up.

It's amazing how once they get into the test room/consulting room, people think time slots don't apply to them, even if they have been sitting outside for half an hour. Grin

Original poster
GalaxyInMyPants · 14/08/2014 12:36

But if it's every time then they need to make the appts longer. Surely?

OP posts:
Original poster
GalaxyInMyPants · 14/08/2014 12:37

Ten o'clock lady just been called in.

OP posts:
Buttercup27 · 14/08/2014 12:41

I had the first appointment at 9 am. When I checked in the receptionist happened to mention the consultant I was booked into see didn't start work until 9.30am and wasn't in the building yet! So they were already half hour late before the first appointment!!!

kali110 · 14/08/2014 12:42

Well if its like the time slots the docs have they only have 10 minutes. If every patient runs over then theres going to be a wait. How can they really sort someone out in that short time?
Id rather wait and still get it free! They're only doing their best.
For that id say yabu, though i feel your pain!
My hospital clinic is first come first serve i was there 4 hours once!

Dwerf · 14/08/2014 12:43

The ENT eye clinic at our local hospital used to be notorious for this. If I had to take one of the kids for a morning appointment, I'd pack a mini-picnic. I think I've spent less time waiting in A&E than ENT.

kali110 · 14/08/2014 12:43

Also think when your out you deserve to treat yourself to something really bad for lunch!

NightFallsFast · 14/08/2014 12:46

Galaxyinmypants if they make the appointments longer then there will be fewer appointments available, so longer waits to get an appointment.

WooWooOwl · 14/08/2014 12:47

They often book too many people into the same appointment time, so that there are no wasted time slots when people don't attend.

I can understand that, but it's terrible service and makes things really difficult for some people.

I wouldn't mind so much if we didn't pay the amount of tax we do, but as a country we should be able to treat people in need of medical help with some decency and respect. It also wouldn't feel so bad if people got good continuity with their health care professionals, and got enough time when in their appointments to talk through everything they want to discuss, but sadly that doesn't always happen.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 14/08/2014 12:48

YANBU
Unfortunately our local hospital has an absolutely huge catchment, it's always insanely busy and always running late.

Fracture clinic is awful, but local minor injuries are so poor.
Over stretched, non very bright nurses, no doctors, no X-rays, everyone uses that A&E or goes to their GP who refers them there too.

TheRealMaryMillington · 14/08/2014 12:50

They will be running late because some people needed more time.
Perhaps if you need more time you will get it too.

rpitchfo · 14/08/2014 12:54

at my local GP practice the first appointment is at 9. everytime i've been around that time the GP strolls into work at around 9:15 and then set's up. At least 9:30 before the first patient is seen and shes already 3 appointments behind.

nicename · 14/08/2014 12:56

Last time DH had a 9am appointment at hospital he was seen about 3pm. They weren't seeing emergencies, and I have no idea why they were so late.

bonkersLFDT20 · 14/08/2014 12:58

That happened to me Buttercup.
Made me think that the consultant thought their time was oh so much more important than mine. It isn't.

RawCoconutMacaroon · 14/08/2014 12:58

The consultant taking the clinic will almost certainly be covering emergencies elsewhere as part of her/her duties even if you think the clinic itself wouldn't have emergencies.

Not unusual to have the consultant rota start later than the clinic ... Often patients are seen by other nursing and medical staff- some may be seen by the consultant, some won't need to be seen by the consultant on every visit.

Ilovefluffysheep · 14/08/2014 12:59

The clinic I have to go to is like that. Unfortunately because of its speciality it takes people from all over the country. Last time I went it was running over 2 hours late. I was in there around 40 minutes, so I guess if lots of people are in for that length of time it over runs. There was a few people who had travelled a long way who had to leave, as they had booked specific train/buses back.

NellyNoodle1 · 14/08/2014 13:06

That is the one thing that annoys me and I have seem it at my drs and vets (!) I have the first appointment at 9am and then the dr/vet comes dashing in at 9.15am. Then takes another 10/15 minutes sorting themselves out before they call you in. It's no wonder the rest of the day goes tits up is it?

I am very grateful for my treatment and I have to see four different departments - they are fairly good to be honest I never seem to wait long - it is stressful though - so I don't think YABU - especially if you don't feel well.

Just think of the lovely parking charge you'll have when you come out too. I'm up to £8.50 so far this week....

Go and get a nice lunch after.

DinoSnores · 14/08/2014 13:06

buttercup, the consultant was likely doing a ward round elsewhere before your appointment, and then you will have likely have been seen by a nurse for blood pressure/admin stuff first.

If a clinic is running late, it is normally because one patient (or a few) has been particularly difficult. Perhaps they have been sick and so needed more medication, investigations sorted. Perhaps urgent extras have been slotted in. Perhaps someone has needed a lot of discussion regarding their treatment options or their results.

We actually prefer running to time, even if I find it a little unsettling when it happens! Wink But longer appointment times would mean that patients need to wait longer to be reviewed which would be worse ultimately. Clinics regularly run into lunchtimes/evening ward rounds because we want to give the best care to the most number of patients so it is hardly that your doctors will just be sitting there with their feet up drinking cups of tea!

newnameforanewstart · 14/08/2014 13:12

Its often a few things that cause clinics to run late.

  1. Understaffing
  2. Some authorities will still book everyone in a time slots eg. you are all 9-10, 11-12 etc. Then the doctor works down his list.
  3. Over booking of appointments eg 3 appointments booked for every slot (see point 1) plus some people either don't know they have an appointment (missed or lost letter) or are unable to attend.
  4. running over clinic time. Sometimes the booked time is far to short for dealing with the patients needs. Sometimes the patient needs to discuss something 1001 other reasons.
  5. Emergencies - sometimes a consultant can be called to an emergency or someone even at a routine appointment can be taken ill
  6. Early and late booing - some clinics are booked from 9am - 12pm but the doctor may not be due to start until 9:30 and due to finish at 11am - could be they have rounds to make, etc. etc.
  7. The list goes on and on.

Yes it is rubbish if you are sat waiting particularly when there is no refreshment easily available, with small children, not enough seating etc. etc. but the NHS does try is best under very difficult circumstances sometimes. Its not perfect for anyone Doctors, Nurses, medical staff and patients alike I am not saying that is acceptable btw.

Sorry you are having such a long wait op.

FraidyCat · 14/08/2014 13:12

They will be running late because some people needed more time

That explanation doesn't work if they always run late. If the variable amount of time actually needed for appointments was the problem, on average half of all appointments would still be on time.

Lonecatwithkitten · 14/08/2014 13:20

I can't bear lateness in starting clinic. It s a disciplinary offence for my vets to start clinic late.
This morning my clinic 's first appointment was at 8.30, I was there ready to go at 8.10 and finished first clinic bang on time at 10.10.
Sometimes emergencies make me run late I then apologise to every single client who I am late for.