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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How important do you think it is to be on time for a GP appt

364 replies

Ireolu · 19/09/2023 12:06

Just that really.

Do you think it is important to turn up on time or early for a GP appt? Do you think you shd still be seen when you are 10 mins or more late for a 10 minute appt.

This is just for adults over 18 not for children. TIA for thoughts.

OP posts:
RuthW · 19/09/2023 12:10

We won't see you if you are more than a few mins late.

Fairymother · 19/09/2023 12:11

Its very important to be on time. If you are late i would expect you to call (so they can see someone else waiting before you and try to swap around their schedule a bit) or make a new appointment.

StanleyGoodspeed · 19/09/2023 12:12

better too early than late is my motto

VeridicalVagabond · 19/09/2023 12:12

Of course it's important, they're absolutely shagged as it is trying to fit everyone in and appointments are basically running back to back to back all day. If everyone turned up 10 minutes late it'd be more knackered than it already is.

I always aim to be 10 mins early.

ExtraOnions · 19/09/2023 12:13

I’m always on time for appointments- it’s respectful to the people coming after you, not to be

IvorTheEngineDriver · 19/09/2023 12:14

Our GP surgery takes the next appointment early if you miss. If you show within 10 minutes of your booked time you will be seen. If you are later, your appointment is cancelled.

purplecorkheart · 19/09/2023 12:14

The Practice I attend is very busy but they really try to be on time and normally unless there is an emergency. If you are late you are not seen. They wouldn't run late because you are not on time.

Stroopwaffels · 19/09/2023 12:14

Essential. Not just for a GP appointment but for any sort of appointment. If I was unavoidably delayed by unexpected traffic or train cancellations or whatever I would call the practice in the hope they could juggle people around a bit.

Nopenopenopenopenopenope · 19/09/2023 12:14

I'm always early for appointments. But GPs are never on time so it often seems pointless.

WDIAROM · 19/09/2023 12:14

I always arrive at least 10 minutes before my appointment. I wouldn’t want to risk not being able to be seen. On the rare occasions I have been late I’ve always walked in with the expectation that I might be turned away. So I think it’s very important.

MasterBeth · 19/09/2023 12:14

Why would you turn up early? You just get in the way. Being too early is just as bad as being too late.

Turn up on time like a normal person.

RainCloudsInTheSky · 19/09/2023 12:14

Always be on time. Preferably a little bit early. At the moment it’s hard enough to get an appointment and I wouldn’t expect to be seen if I was late.

Spinet · 19/09/2023 12:14

You shouldn't be late of course. But I wouldn't want somebody to die because they were badly organised so if there is an easy way to fit them in they should be.

LubaLuca · 19/09/2023 12:15

It's imperative to arrive on time, i hate being late for anything. Just wish the doctors could work even vaguely to timetable, or ring in advance to let you know you'll still be waiting an hour after your scheduled appointment and ask if you can do that.

CuteCillian · 19/09/2023 12:15

Essential

Gnomegnomegnome · 19/09/2023 12:15

Why are you asking?

BoohooWoohoo · 19/09/2023 12:15

I'm always early because I know how strict they are.

NonMiDispiace · 19/09/2023 12:16

Why on earth would you deliberately turn up late for any appointment, let alone a GP one with the pressures they work under? Sounds like arrogance to me, do you think your time is far more important than theirs?
I’m always early for any appointment, unless it’s absolutely unavoidable when I would phone to let them know.

AgnesX · 19/09/2023 12:16

It's important regardless of age etc. It has a knockon effect on all the subsequent appts. It's bad enough when appts are late because they run over.

TussleBack · 19/09/2023 12:16

You should be at least 5 mins early because you dont know if there's a queue to check in.

LesLavandes · 19/09/2023 12:17

Be on time!!

BBno4 · 19/09/2023 12:17

I'm always early but never seen on time. Even if I'm the first appointment of the day.

So I would say arriving on time is as important as being seen on time. Which doesn't seen to be that important to my GP...

StanleyGoodspeed · 19/09/2023 12:17

and you have to use the desk to check in and the queue is usually so long , they make you late. I got there 20 mins early once and was stood in the queue the whole time and by the time I had checked in, I was a couple of minutes over the apt time🙄

Rainraingoawaycomebackanotherday · 19/09/2023 12:19

Aim for 10 mins early to allow for traffic issues/tantrum from small child. Whenever the doctors are running late I assume they’ve had to spend longer for a patient who has multi issues, has just had some bad news or perhaps they’ve waited with them while they’ve been waiting for an ambulance (all things my relatives have experienced) and I think thank god I’m not seriously ill.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 19/09/2023 12:20

If I arrived late I wouldn’t expect to be seen.