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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask what you think this means?

16 replies

chocolatefiends · 04/08/2021 15:37

Received this text message yesterday afternoon from my doctors:

Dear chocolatefiend
The doctor would like you to book a routine telephone appointment, please contact reception at 8am Mon-Fri to book a same day appointment with Dr Smith.
Thanks
Smith Surgery

I've changed the name of the Dr and surgery but other than that it's the exact wording they sent me.

YANBU - this means you should ring at 8am and be given a telephone appt for the same day
YABU - this means you should ring at 8am and be given an appointment in just over two weeks time

For context, the surgery's normal policy is that you ring at 8am for an on the day appt (half of all their appts are released at 8am on the day for those how need a same day appt). if you want a 'routine appt' (which tend to be booked up two weeks in advance) you are supposed to wait until after 9am to ring so as not to jam the phone lines for those who need an on-the- day appt.

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 04/08/2021 15:38

I read it as the same day.

Original poster
chocolatefiends · 04/08/2021 15:39

TIA for replies

Just to be clear: this should read:

YANBU - this means you should ring at 8am and be given a telephone appt for the same day on which you rang.

OP posts:
Original poster
chocolatefiends · 04/08/2021 15:40

Thanks RedHelenB

OP posts:
Hadalifeonce · 04/08/2021 15:41

It clearly states to book a same day appointment. That is what you should be offered when you call.

clickychicky · 04/08/2021 15:43

It's a bit confusing. But they want you to ring from 8am Monday to Friday and get a same day appointmentment with the doctor. But it is for a routine matter so not super urgent and you can do it whatever day is best for you.

EBearhug · 04/08/2021 15:44

If it's a routine appt, I wouldn't necessarily expect it on the same day, so I'd be prepared with a list of times/dates that I can/can't do. But different surgeries manage these things differently, so it doesn't matter so much what the rest of us say. The only way to really find out is when you call at 8am.

clickychicky · 04/08/2021 15:44

But it should be on the day you phone to ask for it

NuffSaidSam · 04/08/2021 15:45

I think it means you call at 8am and get an appointment for the same day.

However, if routine appointments are normally booked 2 weeks in advance and the text message was wrong/badly worded I wouldn't be bothered. It's just a mistake in the wording of the message.

pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 15:46

@clickychicky

It's a bit confusing. But they want you to ring from 8am Monday to Friday and get a same day appointmentment with the doctor. But it is for a routine matter so not super urgent and you can do it whatever day is best for you.
That would be my take on it too.
RuthW · 04/08/2021 15:48

It means choose the day you want to come and ring then for a same day app. It's not urgent.

l send similar messages and that one could be worded better.

KupoNutCoffee · 04/08/2021 15:57

My guess is that you're meant to call at 08.00 and ask for a same day appointment. To which the receptionist will read the notes, tilt her head (which somehow you'll hear down the phone), and say...well its a routine appointment...you're supposed to call at 09.00 but I suppose I can book you in.

Doctor when you see them, will ask why you didn't come same day.

Original poster
chocolatefiends · 04/08/2021 16:34

Thanks everyone. Mixed opinions then! I do think it's possibly just a badly worded text.

I initially read it as ring at 8am and get an appointment for the same day you ring,

So I rang at 8am this morning and was given an appointment for 15 days from now. After I put the phone down I reread the text and rang back and the receptionist said that 'same day' doesn't mean 'same day' (said in a tone which suggested I was stupid for thinking it did!), it means the next available routine appoointment.

If I wasn't familiar with the surgery and was just going off the text message I'd definitely think she was wrong. But I've been with this surgery for about 20 years and, to be fair, 'routine appt' does usually means one of the ones you book in advance and there's always been a two-week wait for those.

I dropped off a urine sample recently so my concern is that is if the receptionist has made a mistake then it could be that the Dr wants to speak to me about something about the sample that is concerning and needs swift attention. But I guess if it was that urgent the Dr would just have called me direct instead of sending a text.

What's annoying me is there is no other way to get through to the surgery other than going through the receptionist. There's no email address on the website. So there's no way to check if what the receptionist said was right other than ring her again which I doubt will lget me anywhere.

I have filled out a comment form on the website in which I've suggested they need to reword the text message a little to make it less confusing (assuming it's a standard message they send to lots of people).

OP posts:
Original poster
chocolatefiends · 04/08/2021 16:36

@KupoNutCoffee

My guess is that you're meant to call at 08.00 and ask for a same day appointment. To which the receptionist will read the notes, tilt her head (which somehow you'll hear down the phone), and say...well its a routine appointment...you're supposed to call at 09.00 but I suppose I can book you in.

Doctor when you see them, will ask why you didn't come same day.

Haha! Yes, this is probably what will happen.

It's a very good surgery generally and there are some really good receptionists there. I didn't recognise this lady's voice - wonder if someone is covering for their holiday over the summer.

OP posts:
malmi · 04/08/2021 17:20

They should not be using the term "same day" if they mean "next available routine appointment" and I don't see a good reason for people to be phoning at exactly 8am if that's all they are doing, unless the receptionist unplugs the phone at 8:15. The whole thing makes no sense. Also, the receptionist has no right to take any tone other than apologetic when explaining such drivel to patients.

pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 18:40

I've read it again and, yeah, it still says to ring at 8 for a 'same day appointment'.

Clearly, like you OP, I'm too stupid to understand that the words 'same day' mean 15 days hence.

I'd be tempted to ring at a different time and see if you can speak to a different receptionist, or at least one who isn't rude, who can explain why the text is worded in that way and what it is supposed to mean.

Original poster
chocolatefiends · 22/08/2021 17:24

Thanks so much for all your comments.

(v belated) update.

As they don't have an email address I wrote the surgery a letter suggesting they need to reword the text message (assuming it's a standard one they send to lots of people).

A rfew days later the Duty Manager rang, was very apologetic, said she could see how it is confusing, and said they are going to reword the text.

She also read me a Drs note on my file which explained what the appt was about which settled my mind that it wasn't urgent and I wouldn't die before it happened!

So far, so good...

She also (magically) had a sooner appt available. Which she described as one of our 'same day routine appts' .... in four days time!!!!!! Confused

Given I knew by then that it wasn't life-threatening I said I'd stick with the appt I'd already made.

OP posts:
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