To think the appointment time is the time you arrive?

[biedleecarldon]

I have an appointment tomorrow that’s at 5:45. I got a text reminder this morning and it says it’s at 5:10.

Confused I messaged them and they said I need to be there 30 minutes before to have numbing cream. Erm fine but surely when agreeing the time it should include the numbing as the start time? You can’t just expect people to arrive 30 minutes in advance?

Appointment time is the time it starts. End off. They must have lots of late comers and phone calls to clarify the conflicting times.

How peculiar.
I always aim to arrive at our local hospital 30 mins early but that's so I have plenty of time to park (always a lottery) and, as they always seem to have building work going on but don't update the signage, work out where the hell I'm supposed to be and then make sure I'm actually at the appointment with at least a few minutes to spare so I don't forfeit it. It wouldn't be to "check in" (as it were) 30 mins early. And often I wouldn't be able to get there 30 mins early due to work/childcare

I arrived in good time for an appointment only to be told I should have gone and queued up in the hospital pharmacy to collect my medication first. That would have been fine if anyone had told me in advance, given that I would have needed to allow at least an extra 40 minutes to an hour...

Most hospitals/GPs let you know if you need to arrive early for appointments for any pre treatment procedures. Treatment/consultation usually is at the time stated, but pre treatment requirements might be earlier, for example taking a barium meal before a scan.

No idea what happens for any cosmetic procedures🤷‍♀️

I agree. Specsavers does that too. You make an appt then later discover they want you 10mins before for pretests.
I am wise to them now.

I like to be early but I need to be early for the early time.

thats to be expected if you need numbing cream. I wouldn’t expect that to be done at the beginning of the appointment, only prior.

Weird though, I usually do it at home an hour before.

thats to be expected if you need numbing cream. I wouldn’t expect that to be done at the beginning of the appointment, only prior.

Weird though, I usually do it at home an hour before.

if its a skin clinic and for something like micro needling the half hour numbing cream time is allocated into my appointment time anytime I have booked it. they should have told you this at time of booking and I would mention it to them . its bad communication on their part

That’s reasonable, but they’re asking her to get there 35 minutes early, and they didn’t say that when they made the appointment.

I always read it as needing to be there and ready for the appointment at that time rather than arriving, but yes the letter should outline particular stipulations such as need to be here x before your appointment so y can be done. Very few people would be there 30 mins early I suspect otherwise!

Maybe someone forgot to tell you? It’s not like they have turned you away for being late. Did you tell them it was a problem?

I had something similar with Specsavers, book an eye test for DC1 online at a time I knew we could get after school, to then receive a reminder message the day before stating we need to attend 30 mins prior to appt for pre-test tests.....nothing was mentioned in confirmation email/on webpage, so was unaware until reminder message.

Very annoying, so agree it must be clearly advised or included in appt time!

Should have been stated beforehand. They could have also given the option of you putting numbing cream on yourself at home and then coming in at the scheduled time.

That is what they had us do for our DS when he needed bloods done. Can’t recall if they prescribed it or had us pick some up beforehand, but that is what we did instead of coming early for them to apply it themselves.

Seems a bit silly to have you wait the time in the office if it can be done at home.

I’ve had this with hospital appointments and told it’s due to scheduling. ie my appt is with X at that time but Y who does the numbing can’t send out an appt on the system so it’s done separately with a call

If it is for a tattoo I'd ask them why they presume I'd need numbing cream!

YANBU.

Needing to be there 30 mins prior to the actual appointment should have been made clear at the time of booking. Or taken into account as part of the appointment time, depending on how they do things.

Why would you jeopardise your treatment just because they didn’t schedule the appointment in a more logical way. Unless you have a difficulty sticking to the times, just do as they ask.

I suppose it because of the type of appointment. Have needed some scans and blood tests recently and have found you get seen in order of arrival regardless of time of appointment time so arriving earlier seems to lead to being seen quicker. Plus parking is a bitch so if I’m unlucky the extra 30 minutes gives me some leeway

This happened to me when I had a lip filler appointment.

I’m with you, OP. I hate it when the letter says “your appt is at 2.30 please arrive ten minutes before”. I would much prefer it they said “your appt is 2.20”. Just give me the time you want me there.

Lip filler? Yea totally normal

It’s medical grade numbing cream.

No.

So? You can get a prescription for the cream and apply it yourself before you go. My child needed a lot of blood tests when very young so we always got the prescription and did it at home beforehand ourselves.