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

[Ireolu]

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.

Essential. But I've never been late for anything in my life I'm the person sat in their car with their phone/book as I'm too early

Why would being late be a deliberate consideration?

I've never been late for anything!

Apart from making the gp's life more difficult, by being even 5 minutes past your appointment time will have a knock on effect on the patients coming after you. I have sometimes had to wait 30 mins or more after my appointment before I am seen, probably because one or some patients earlier were not on time for theirs.

Don't know what difference it makes being an adult.but nobody deliberately plans to be late.

Some people are hopeless at judging time, how long it takes to get from A to B, or they forget the faf time getting ready to leave, the faf time getting a parking space and walk to the surgery.

But nobody plans to be late.

Some people think it's fine as they're rarely seen on time for an appointment so think a complex GP clinic where the GP has to deal with their job like reading and responding to emails, taking calls etc and see multiple people is exactly the same as them turning up late because they couldn't be arsed, or they went to Primark or any other reason.

Then they get annoyed and make demands.

Since most Doctor's surgeries use touch screens for check-in these days I think patients should be seen in the order they check in rather than appointment time. More efficient. But yes people should still be on time obviously.

On time is late. 5 minutes early minimum.
10 minutes early is better.

This goes for EVERY APPOINTMENT YOU EVER HAVE.

It's important to be on time for absolutely any appointment. Why would you assume that other people's time is less valuable than yours?

I ask because I am a GP and wondered what the consensus was on this and what experience people have in their practices. I am always at least half an hour early for a shift and will typically work to the time booked. I prefer people to turn up on time or even a little early. Thanks for thoughts.

I always arrive on time. However the last 3 appointments I’ve had, they have kept me waiting for over 40 minutes before seeing me. So I guess in future I probably won’t make quite such an effort to be on time, as it seems only to lengthen my wait!

Essential. Appointment should be cancelled with no more than 5 minute's grace. Anyone who thinks otherwise is selfish beyond measure when you think about the knock on effect to all the other patients that day.

While it is important to be on time, I'm not sure blocking people who are late is fair. Some ND people seriously struggle with time management and removing their healthcare for something they may not be able to control fully is a disproportionate response.

No definitely not, you'd get folk with nothing better to do checking in an hour before their appointment, all smug great to be early and people who've nipped away from work on time for their appointment being late.

I always aim to be early but pretty much know I’ll be waiting for a while. It’s fine. I bring a book.

Where I attend there's a numbered ticket system. If you show up late, your number will be after those who arrived before you, likewise you have a good chance of being early if you show up early. Not sure how late you can show up and not be cancelled.

Last time I turned up early, and was called in on time. I was surprised as there's usually a delay.

Mind you the appointment was booked 6 weeks in advance as that was the soonest he could see me

It’s incredibly selfish, rude and self obsessed to be late for any appointment in my view.

you are no more important than the person scheduled after you so yes, if you’re late and miss your time that’s your problem and you should have to rebook.

( obviously emergencies happen but at the very least I’d expect people to call ahead and try and mitigate the inconvenience)

Well yeah but you could set it so you can't check in earlier than 20 minutes or something.

Hahaha my mother used to go on and on about this. For my first therapy appointment I arrived ten minutes early. I got such a bollocking from the therapist for "Not respecting other clients privacy" and told to only ever arrive at my appointment time.

I also only arrive on time for my doctors because I'm always left waiting for 45 mins regardless.

I am always there to “book in” 5 mins before appointment time - I don’t see why you would turn up late and expect to be seen - that isn’t just for GPs but for any appointment booking - turning up late and expecting to still be seen gives an air of “my time is valuable and yours isn’t”

On time is on time

Are you armed forces or just really uptight?

I say 'always' but haven't actually been able to get a GP appointment for over 3 years.

I would be 5 minutes early, would fully expect to be waiting an hour though because in the past back when it was actually possible to book an appt they never ever ran to time.

Agreed!

Time management is not something that is taught to people.
People get into a routine for work, they know the need to leave at x time to get to work often through trial and error, missing the bus, being at the bus stop too early.

A Doctors appointment is often an occasional thing, not something they are doing daily and they are likely to get it wrong, esp if they are trying to fit in other things.

Why do you think GPs are never on time?

GP also. If someone is more than a minute or two late (and assuming that they weren't standing in a big queue to check in) then I tell them that they have missed their appointment and they can either wait until I have some spare time to fit them in, or I'll see them at the end, or they can rebook. If it's a day I can't stay late then they have to rebook.