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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think getting to appointments early is rude?

91 replies

splendidisolation · 22/09/2017 08:26

Every fucking time without fail, woman arrives 15 minutes early to her physio appointment which puts me under pressure to hurry up on machine so she can get on, even though my slot has another 15 minutes to go.

Its just like....seriously, can you not listen to a few extra tunes in the car? Have a fag? Enjoy a sit in the park right next door?

I can uear in my physios voice it annoys him too because he has to stop what hes doing to answer the door. ARRRRRRGH!

OP posts:
Laiste · 22/09/2017 08:40

Hang on - is she sitting waiting in the same room as you're having your treatment OP?!

pasturesgreen · 22/09/2017 08:41

As others have said, if physio works from home, then it's unreasonable to arrive early and patients should aim to arrive on the dot. I go to a lady who does massages at home and I always ring her bell right on time, if I arrive early I stop for coffee in the cafe opposite or just play on my phone for 5 minutes to pass the time.

If, on the other hand, physio has a proper waiting room it's perfectly acceptable to arrive early (within reason, I'd say up to 15-20 minutes, any more just crowds the waiting room unnecessarily) and you need to sick it up.

barbarahunter · 22/09/2017 08:41

Couldn't you change your appointment time OP so that it doesn't coincide with early woman?

Fekko · 22/09/2017 08:42

Unless she tries to shoo you away and get in early then it's fine. She might be on a transport schedule that gets in earlier.

We've had people turn up at work for job interviews an hour early and go to reception. Now that's odd!

opheliacat · 22/09/2017 08:42

It is annoying. My parents used to drop me off at the stables and music lessons so early. In the end my piano teacher asked my dad if he could stop doing it as they were still having dinner!

MaroonPencil · 22/09/2017 08:44

As others have said, if she gets public transport it will be either that or arrive 15 minutes late, perhaps - can't control timetables.
If she drives though, and the appointment is in the physio's house, I agree she could sit in the car for ten minutes, that's what I would do.

ArgyMargy · 22/09/2017 08:44

What machine are you hurrying to get off? Sounds very odd.

SerfTerf · 22/09/2017 08:45

I can't quite picture this situation where someone is pressuring OP to get off a machine.

RitaMills · 22/09/2017 08:47

Not weird at all, I'm always early for appointments but obviously I expect to wait until my time. I grew up in a family where both my parents (esp my dad) were late for everything, and I honestly mean 99% of things. Its left me with a deep hatred of tardiness, I'm never late, always early.

Laiste · 22/09/2017 08:48

IF - and this is the crux of this one - IF the appointment is being held in a private home, then your mode of transport is not the concern of the professional. If you don't drive then it's harder to have to wait around obviously, but still you shouldn't be rocking up early.

Of course if they've got a room for you to wait in and have said it's ok, then it's ok.

Rachie1973 · 22/09/2017 08:48

I'd rather be an hour early than 1 minute late as I'd get completely stressed at being late. That said, I take a book and read quite happily for however long it takes.

Laiste · 22/09/2017 08:49

serf same here tbh Grin

5rivers7hills · 22/09/2017 08:50

It's totally normal to arrive early.

Laiste · 22/09/2017 08:50

At the mo I've got a mental image of this woman squeezing into the tiny treatment room alongside the physio and the OP and the machine and standing over them giving them evils for 15 mins Grin

SerfTerf · 22/09/2017 08:50
Smile
Original poster
splendidisolation · 22/09/2017 08:53

Basically it is his home and she has a view of me, we both use one of the special machines he has and its quite disconcerting feeling watched for half of ky session. There is a door but its left ajar by the physio as he pops in and out.

I cycle to see him and if I get there a bit early as others have mentioned I just play on my phone or whatever. But the machine faces out a window so I can confirm she does actually drive, which makes me feel doubly annoyed.

I do accept however that I am being unreasonable and that I should just work on not allowing myself to feel rushed. I do at the same time though think its fucking annoying and weird to actuallly drive to appointments, park right outside a whole 15 minutes early and ring to be let in to sit in a minute room to stare at another client. But clearly in the world of MN, its just me.

OP posts:
Dreams16 · 22/09/2017 08:53

No normal I prefer to arrive early 10-15 mins early so that I can relax and know I'm there in plenty of time rather than rushing think yabu

Original poster
splendidisolation · 22/09/2017 08:54

Wow not sure what happened to my first paragraph there!

"...its quite a disconcerting feeling, being watched for half of my session."

OP posts:
RB68 · 22/09/2017 08:55

15 mins is excessive for an hr or 30 min appt - only needs to be 5

Ameliablue · 22/09/2017 08:56

I've think it is the set up rather than the other patient that is the problem. Even in a private home, I would expect the to be somewhere to wait or if not possible, appointments to be spaced out to allow time for one patient to leave before another arrives.

Badbadbunny · 22/09/2017 08:57

He should allow more time between appointments if he has to answer the door.

Then he'd have to charge everyone more to cover the fewer appointments he could fit into the day.

RitaMills · 22/09/2017 08:58

Well no, you never mentioned that it was his home or the fact she is in the room watching you or that she definitely drives. Your AIBU was all about the rudeness of being early to appointments, which in normal circumstances it isn't. I'd wait in my car and go in a few mins early in her situation.

Seeline · 22/09/2017 08:59

JUst ask him to shut the door?

I do not think 15 mins is unreasonably early (or rude) for this situation.

OliviaBenson · 22/09/2017 08:59

I think you should say to your physio that it's making you uncomfortable. It's up to them to manage it properly.

NannyRed · 22/09/2017 08:59

You're the one with the problem when there is no problem here. Finish your session, ignore the next patient.

I'm never later than 5 minutes early. But I don't expect people to rush because I like to be punctual.