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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this text is rude?

50 replies

Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:11

How much does it cost to put a please or thank you in a text?

"Mintyy, we are expecting you at the x department at x hospital on x date at x time. Not attending costs the NHS £160 approx. If you cannot attend call 12345678"

RUDE!!

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 16/09/2015 10:12
Hmm
PermetsTu · 16/09/2015 10:14

I don't think you'd get a please or thank you in a letter either.

It's the brevity that makes it seem rude, not the content.

MuttonDressedAsGoose · 16/09/2015 10:14

It's a bit brusque, but not rude.

Perhaps they've learned that "please" leads to a less effective response rate.

Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:15

Why not put a please in the letter though? Confused myself.

OP posts:
StarlingMurmuration · 16/09/2015 10:15

Usually hospital appts have long waiting lists and sometimes you have to fight to get seen. So they probably think you should be saying please and thank you!

IssyStark · 16/09/2015 10:15

I think it is fine for a text. Texts are short and to the point. Not everyone has smart phones and can deal with long text messages. Given the dept and hospital name are in there, I'm really not too bothered at the lack of please or thanks.

That said, it is obviously annoying some people so if they want to make their nudge policy work, then adding a Thanks at the end is probably going to be more successful.

pinkyredrose · 16/09/2015 10:15

I don't think you know what rude means.

ProfessorPickles · 16/09/2015 10:16

Aren't they computer generated messages that get sent out to everyone?
It's only a reminder!
It isn't someone individually messaging you where a please or thank you might be expected but still it's fine.
YABU

PermetsTu · 16/09/2015 10:16

You could suggest it on a comment form though? Perhaps write your own proforma.

Dear Much Loved Patient,

We await your attendance at x hospital at x time with barely contained joy and anticipation.

Hugs, cuddles and snuggles

Mr Smith
Clinical Lead

PS S.W.A.L.K

Hope all's well. Smile

Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:17

Starling - you have made me laugh. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:18

If it is a computer generated message, why can't it have been programmed to say "Please call ..." ?

OP posts:
PleaseLetThisNameChangeWork · 16/09/2015 10:19

I used to love getting those texts - brilliantly helpful reminders when your appointments have been booked months in advance. My hospital has stopped sending them, it's a PITA. I can see that a 'please' before the 'call 12345678' would soften it, but maybe they have a character limit?

Mrsmorton · 16/09/2015 10:19

Texts come from an automated system. Would you feel happier if it said:

My dear Minty, we would like to invite you to a hospital appointment which is free at the point of service and which you almost certainly want as you have been referred to us by your also free at the point of service GP. Please would you attend s it's an awful waste of resources if you don't. Thanks ever so.

It's not a tinder match, it's a medical appointment. YABU. Bet fewer than five patients a day use the words please or thank you in the department.

Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:22

There is absolutely no need for sarcasm.

What do we say to our children? Please is a very important little word.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:23

Yes, maybe there is a character limit.

OP posts:
RiceBurner · 16/09/2015 10:24

Not rude IMO, just business-like and to the point.

Rude is when patients do not turn up on time/at all and waste NHS money/time. (And this seems to happen quite a lot.)

It's already nice of them to send you an SMS, as I assume you already knew of the appt and this was just to remind you?

So YABU.

Mrsmorton · 16/09/2015 10:25

Quiet day chez mintyy?

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 16/09/2015 10:27

Thankyou would be appropriate at the end I completely agree Mintyy.
I wouldn't get my paper nhs pants in a twist about it but manners cost nothing.

AnonymousBird · 16/09/2015 10:28

These messages are very carefully constructed - there is a whole industry of advisers out there who come up with very precisely worded message (not just for NHS!) to elicit the desired response, ie. this exact wording will have been proven to ensure a higher %age of people turning up. I know someone who has done this as part of their job..... You can bet your bottom dollar that adding PLEASE takes away the impact and makes people think ah, there never mind if I don't go.

LurkingHusband · 16/09/2015 10:29

Texts can be up to 160 characters. The sample you posted had 159 characters. What text would you have dropped for courtesy.

LovelyFriend · 16/09/2015 10:31

not rude. direct and purposeful, but not rude.

Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:33

How do you know how many characters the text contained LurkingHusband? How many characters in the name of the department and name of the hospital?

OP posts:
ElizabethLemon · 16/09/2015 10:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

specialsubject · 16/09/2015 10:34

there is a character limit on texts.

blame those that don't turn up, because there are loads of them. And don't tell me that every single one was run down by a bus and had their phone squashed so they couldn't cancel.

Original poster
Mintyy · 16/09/2015 10:34

Yes, lovely quiet day here. My day off and dh is out at work (for once) whole house to myself, 1 cat, 1 guinea pig. Marvellous.

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