Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be cross re. missed appointment?

9 replies

RoxyMoosic · 19/06/2023 19:51

Now before I start, yes, I am well aware I made a mistake here and could have avoided this whole scenario by not doing that. However, there was a very simple solution here which would of course have made too much sense.

I have treatment at a hospital which requires me to phone the morning before to confirm I am coming in the next day. I think this is because the medicine is very expensive, and once it’s been ordered it goes out of date quickly, and can’t be reused for someone else iyswim. Anyway, I forgot to phone. I actually remembered by the afternoon of the day before but the phones are only manned first thing in the morning and the rest of the time it goes to answerphone, so I wouldn’t have got through anyway.

So I turn up on the day of my appointment and I get sent through to the nurse who essentially tells me off and says that they don’t have the medicine for me. Fine, I accept it was my fault not to phone. So she rebooks me for next week.

AIBU to think this is is a waste of everyone’s time. Mine, the nurses, and other patients who could have had the appointment instead. Someone could easily have phoned me the day before when they realised I hadn’t confirmed just to check I was still coming. The receptionist could even have phoned on the day to say that they had cancelled my appointment, which would have saved me the journey to the hospital. It feels like I’m being punished. Well you didn’t phone so we’re going to make you turn up anyway then just send you away. A 2 minute phone call from one the nurses/ the receptionist could have sorted everything out. Now I have to make a 2 hour round trip again.

OP posts:
FlyInMySalad · 19/06/2023 19:53

Totally your fault.

ThinWomansBrain · 19/06/2023 19:54

Mad - particularly when they are so hard to contact by phone.
I was in hospital in December - the volume of reminders was OTT - including ones that said to call and confirm on numbers that were never manned or answered.

Clymene · 19/06/2023 19:55

once it’s been ordered it goes out of date quickly, and can’t be reused for someone else iyswim

So they couldn't use it for anyone else. I'm sorry you had a wasted journey but now you know, you won't make the trip if you forget to confirm your appointment.

Assuming it's a regular appointment, you can set a reminder on your phone so it doesn't happen again.

It just sounds really unfortunate all round

OwlBabiesAreCute · 19/06/2023 19:55

YABU. It was one phone call and you knew it was required.

The NHS is on its knees, staff do not have time to be chasing up people.

ChocolateCoveredCookie · 19/06/2023 19:55

AIBU to think this is is a waste of everyone’s time

Well you wasted their time, and an appointment someone else could have had. You know the procedure so why should they chase you? Odd you think this is on them tbh.

GoodChat · 19/06/2023 19:56

They can't waste time phoning everyone with an appointment, clearly, if they can't man the phones all day.

Quveas · 19/06/2023 20:00

It's their job to remember things for you? Yeah, right.

swanling · 19/06/2023 20:01

It's a crap system. How are all the people who can't use the phone supposed to access their medical treatment?

You're not a person to the NHS so they don't care.

GwinCoch · 19/06/2023 20:06

Can you ask if there is an out of hours option whereby if you forget you can confirm? Maybe a mobile number to text? I think I would remember if I relied on medication but I also know that if there was a disaster at home then I might well forget to confirm on one occasion. No one is wrong, but communications could probably be improved. Also pissed off at the NHS haters on this thread - pay for your healthcare then.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread