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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be 1 minute late?

137 replies

liladough · 25/04/2024 20:13

What would you do?

I have an appointment tomorrow at a healthcare facility. It’s an NHS appointment but at a private contractor. I have waited 6 months for this appointment.

I have to get the bus there, it’s an hour long journey (just one bus). The appointment is at 3:20.

I can either get the bus that gets there at 3:01, or get the bus that gets there at 3:21. I don’t want to be waiting outside for twenty minutes as it’s a really dodgy area, they have a cage on their door and you have to buzz up, just for context. There’s no where within a 5 minute walk I can go to get a coffee. Judging by their reviews I would have to wait quite a while to get seen anyway. So if I have to wait 30 minutes to be seen, that’s nearly an hour of waiting in there which would quite frankly do my head in.

On the other side, what if I get the bus that gets there at 3:21? Can I risk that the bus would actually get there for that time and not say 15-20 minutes late? What if I get there at 3:21 and they say sorry you’re late, we can’t see you, try again in 6 months.

YABU = 3:01 Bus
YANBU = 3:21 Bus

OP posts:
lovecrazyhorses · 25/04/2024 22:27

Is the bus right to the door?

transformandriseup · 25/04/2024 22:37

Definitely get the early bus. Some buses are once every two hours where I live so I wouldn't think twice about arriving 20 mins early.

SleepingStandingUp · 25/04/2024 22:39

Go early, press the buzzer don't wait outside, take a book

Emeraldsrock · 25/04/2024 22:40

I think the 3:01 bus isn’t early enough and it’s utter madness to contemplate the later one. I would be getting the 2:41 arrival bus.

Yellogreen · 25/04/2024 22:41

Don’t risk the appointment. Get there early and just read a book in the waiting room! It’s not exactly that early is it

Emeraldsrock · 25/04/2024 22:42

You have to walk in stand at the desk, give your name etc. what if someone is in front of you are the desk taking ages? What if the bus is late?

I work in the NHS and on my lists if you are more than 15 min late you are turned away.

Lesina · 25/04/2024 22:43

Early bus. Buzz in and say you want to wait inside. Don’t miss the appointment

MumblesParty · 25/04/2024 22:45

I’m very intrigued by this health facility which is in a shit area, but presumably right next to a bus stop, has a cage on the door, and no waiting room.

Ineedaholidayyyy · 25/04/2024 22:54

This frustrates me. You are exactly the reason why appointments overrun and its a selfish attitude. You should be aiming to arrive with time to spare to sign in etc , not purposely planning to arrive late because you don't want to wait and then delay appointments for the rest of the day!

I would even be getting an earlier bus than the earlier one you suggested . There will likely be school traffic at that time and buses are not known for being punctual

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:03

MumblesParty · 25/04/2024 22:45

I’m very intrigued by this health facility which is in a shit area, but presumably right next to a bus stop, has a cage on the door, and no waiting room.

I know right. And it's looking like the OP is not going to come back to tell us anything, or explain anything to us. Wink

I also wanted to say, I went with my friend for her to get her covid booster on Tuesday ... The appointment was 2:15pm and we got there at 1.55pm. Wanted to get there in plenty of time. As an NHS worker said above - do try to get there a bit earlier if you can.

There was nobody waiting, as a couple of people hadn't turned up (not sure if they were late, or not coming!) So we went straight in and out before 2:00pm. It's always a good idea to go early - at least 10 or 15 minutes early. Not too early - like an hour - but 15 minutes early yeah ...

mondaytosunday · 25/04/2024 23:06

Get the earlier bus. I had similar (not dodgy area though) and was five minutes late and the area nurse had left. It was about her six months wait as I went to bottom of the pile. Won't they let you in to wait inside?

pambeesleyhalpert · 25/04/2024 23:09

I'd 100% get there at 3.01. I'd prob get the one that got there at 2.45 tbh because things always go wrong esp on public transport

pambeesleyhalpert · 25/04/2024 23:09

Also yes they always run late but if you turn up 10 mins late they won't see you so I'd deff play it safe.

MultiplaLight · 25/04/2024 23:11

No wonder people are late for appointments regularly if they think like this.

Get there with time to spare so that you aren't stressed. It would serve you right if they won't see you.

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 25/04/2024 23:14

Get the earlier bus. It could end up being late or you could get stuck in traffic. Buzz up to the appointment when you get there and go in early. Saves faffing.

Delphiniumandlupins · 25/04/2024 23:15

Round here bus timetables are not accurate. I definitely would not rely on one scheduled to arrive later than my appointment. I might get the earlier bus and get off a stop before (or after) and walk, if that's an option for you, rather than standing at the door.

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:15

mondaytosunday · 25/04/2024 23:06

Get the earlier bus. I had similar (not dodgy area though) and was five minutes late and the area nurse had left. It was about her six months wait as I went to bottom of the pile. Won't they let you in to wait inside?

Whilst I think that everyone should try to get to an appointment early, that's a bit mad. You were just 5 minutes late, and the person you were seeing was gone, and you had a 6 month wait to see her again? An hour late I would have got. But 5 minutes?! Confused I would have thought it would have taken her that long to sort herself out to leave/get her coat on/get her bag etc...

That's actually bonkers! Sometimes people are late because traffic jams and public transport delays. Most people will try and fit you in if possible. Obviously if you are repeatedly late that's different, but if it's one time, most people will try to accommodate you. Our GP Practice says, 'if you are more than 10 minutes late there is no guarantee you will be seen.' But in most cases they will try to squeeze people in.

SoozyWoozy5 · 25/04/2024 23:18

FFS. Just get the earlier one!

Blanketpolicy · 25/04/2024 23:20

for a hospital/consultant appointment I would get an earlier bus than the 3:01 one

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:21

Looks like I’ll be getting the early bus then! Btw it’s not a hospital it’s a really small clinic, like dentist size. I’ve gone past it on the bus before so know where it is - bus stops just outside it

OP posts:
TimeInBlue · 25/04/2024 23:22

I can’t believe this is even a serious question.
Who doesn’t get to medical appointments early anyway? As my DSs’ Scout leader used to say ‘if you’re on time, you’re late’.

SabreIsMyFave · 25/04/2024 23:25

TimeInBlue · 25/04/2024 23:22

I can’t believe this is even a serious question.
Who doesn’t get to medical appointments early anyway? As my DSs’ Scout leader used to say ‘if you’re on time, you’re late’.

Well your DS's Scout leader was wrong. Confused If you're on time you're on time. What other false things did this leader tell the Scouts?!

This has jarred me a bit, because in a job I used to be in some years ago, I would be in at 5 minutes to 9am (the time I started,) and my manager always had to say 'what time do you call this, part timer?' He had been there since 8.45am, and classed me as being 5 minutes early as being late! My BUS got me there for 8.55pm. The buses were only every half hour. If I got the earlier one, I would have been there for 8.25am when my start time (and the office start time) was 9am!

saraclara · 25/04/2024 23:25

Twenty minutes early is my normal.

I thought this was going to be a question where the earlier bus would get you there an hour or more early.

Original poster
liladough · 25/04/2024 23:25

Oh and for people saying about busss turning up on time I totally get that - we do have an app in my area to live track buses so I’d be able to see if buses were on track to get to my bus stop in time

Its not that I can’t be bothered to wait outside, its just genuinely an unsafe area for a lone female to be walking in. I know someone personally that was robbed walking down that road.

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 25/04/2024 23:27

Arriving 19 minutes early is fine, by the time you have walked into reception registered etc that's 5 minutes to start with and buses are often late. If anything I'd take an earlier one