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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Text telling me about a hospital appointment

210 replies

TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:13

Received a text yesterday along the lines of "We are expecting you for your appointment at XX hospital at 3pm on the 20th. If you do not attend it will cost the NHS £160. To cancel ring xxxxxxx number'.

The hospital mentioned is one I've been a patient at, but I am not aware of, nor have I received any letter regarding any outpatient appointment.

Even if it is legitimate, I don't know what department it's for! Do I just show up with some spurious text?

Does this sound dodgy to anyone bar myself?

OP posts:
Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:34

Well the appointment is for 3pm on the 19th, so I guess I'll see then. Can't think why unless GP referred me for some untold reason. I was an inpatient in January this year in ICU so maybe it's follow-up from that.
I'll ring them Monday morning and see if they can at least give me an indication of which department it's for.
Odd!

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Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:38

Now I have to figure out how to get to the stupid hospital from here. All very annoying. I've had full bloods done the other week and all came back normal so I don't want to waste my time heading there for no good reason. Jesus, if you actually needed an appointment you can't get one. Grrrrr

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Oddbutnotodd · 16/09/2017 01:39

I have had a text reminder for an appointment before now. Check the number and ring to find where the appointment is. When I go for either a hospital or doctors appointment now there is often a message relayed on the digital screen stating how many patient appointments have been missed. The cost is about £160 per appointment so it sounds legitimate to me. Our trust states the cost of lost appointments - runs into several million a year.

JuicyCake · 16/09/2017 01:39

Strange! It's the mention of money that would alarm me, so I see where you're coming from.
I've had text / email reminders, but there's usually also a letter.
Interesting what others said about badly worded messages, though...

Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:40

Would they book you in for a smear test at a hospital I wonder?

OP posts:
AntiHop · 16/09/2017 01:40

My local hospital sends reminder texts like that.

Oddbutnotodd · 16/09/2017 01:41

Sorry cross posted.

Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:43

In case you haven't seen my update, it's a legitimate number for XX Hospital Outpatients. Totally forgot about the text today or I would have rang them. Now I have to wait until Monday. I'd say it's just a follow-up to being in ICU or something. That or a smear test that they're trying to get me to go to.

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ChaChaChaCh4nges · 16/09/2017 01:47

I've had a text very similar to that. It turned out to be an appointment for DS (and, yes, apparently they had sent a letter telling us about the appointment, but neither DS's dad nor I had received it). We only got to the bottom of it when the hospital wrote threatening to stop treating DS's chronic condition because of the missed appointment.

I was particularly frustrated because the text didn't even refer to DS by name. It just referred to "You", which I took to mean me, so when I called the hospital to enquire, the only looked under my name and of course nothing showed up.

Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:50

There are so many ridiculous systems in place in the NHS Chachacha. It's a mystery to me!

OP posts:
Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:51

I'll cry if it's for a smear test.

OP posts:
Original poster
TiesThatBindMe · 16/09/2017 01:52

Correction: I'll scream and bawl and walk out if it's for a smear test.

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PikachuHeadgear · 16/09/2017 02:03

ICUs do tend to follow up the patients who were with them for any length of time. Check via the hospital switchboard though, just ask to be put through to Outpatient Appointments.

honeysucklejasmine · 16/09/2017 02:09

Yes, I get texts like this all the time, and automated phone calls as well. They don't state the department, just the appointment.

BeatriceBeaudelaire · 16/09/2017 02:14

I get these on the day of every appt I have ...

BeatriceBeaudelaire · 16/09/2017 02:15

Also get EverGreenLife app- your full med history +appts+ repeat scripts ... all on your phone

JWrecks · 16/09/2017 02:31

I've had several of those that were obviously wrong number as I'd never even heard of the place the appointment was for. It was nothing more than - Reminder your appointment at XXX on the 18th. They've got no information whatsoever (understandable), so there was nothing I could do, no possible way of informing anyone of the wrong number. I do hope the intended recipient made it.

RhodaBorrocks · 16/09/2017 02:40

It spunds lehitimate to me, same wording my hospotal uses for texts too, and i work with the lady who sends out texts.

Did you have the same number when you were last there? You mentioned you've moved house and if you've not visited and updated your address then they may have sent the appointment letter to your old address but texted you the reminder on the number they hold for you. The NHS doesn't have joined up systems and the hospital won't know you've moved if you've not updated them, even if you've updated your GP.

If your GP has referred you for anything, apart from that the GP should be letting you know, the appointments staff should pay attention to your address on the referral and update it if needed, but sometimes they rush and just pull up records without checking and add the appointment. I know because I try and train them not to do this! Similarly wards sometimes forget to update details too even though they're meant to check them when you are discharged.

So do ring and ask to be put through to the appointments team. They will be able to look you up and tell you what it's for.

There may actually be a skeleton staff on Saturday - there is at my Trust - so you could try ringing.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 16/09/2017 04:43

Some odd and paranoid replies on this thread. Plenty of hospitals send text reminders. My trust does and it's the exact same wording and mentions how much it costs if you miss your appt. It may have been that your letter got lost in the post or an admin error. Occasionally, I get texts before the letter arrives.

If you've been in ICU, it may be a standard follow up appt.

Rhubarbz · 16/09/2017 04:51

Ring the hospital and ask?

MsJamesDeanBradfield · 16/09/2017 05:39

Rhubarbz

Try reading the thread.

Rhubarbz · 16/09/2017 05:49

I have.

Ring the hospital and ask them for details. They should at least be able to tell you which department it is for. Then talk to your GP if you have any doubts

notanurse2017 · 16/09/2017 05:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Italiangreyhound · 16/09/2017 05:59

TiesThatBindMe "I'm afraid to ring in case it is a bloody great scam. The wording of it is just off?"

Find out the hospital general number from the internet and call that number, tell them your name and NHS number and ask them whether you have an appointment on XYZ date.

If it is a scam, please report it to the hospital.

Don't know if this site is helpful

who-called.co.uk/Number/07860054507

Italiangreyhound · 16/09/2017 06:01

Ah, just seen update, hope it is all OK.