People complaining about NHS appointments on a Sunday

[reallyffspeople]

This is just a moan. I’m currently working to book people in for outpatients appointments. Some of these people have been on the waiting list for years, I’m calling them to offer them appointments and they’re giving me grief because they’re on a Sunday!!

I bet these are the same people who complain that they’ve been waiting so long 🤦🏼‍♀️ complaining it’s not convenient to them and it’s their weekend, as if I’m not giving up my weekend to call them! I just can’t believe that people can act like this

I love my Sunday dermatology appointments, means I don't have to book a day off work.

But I did hear a person complained about a Sunday appt yesterday!

Hospital and parking quieter too so win win.

Oh I love a weekend appointment, much easier to park at the hospital for a start.

You can't win sadly. I'd love a weekend appointment! Easier to park at hospital.

An appt on a Sunday? I'd go in a heartbeat. I'd love to have the choice permanently rather than just for the flu jab or to clear a backlog.

Hospitals are 24 hour facilities and it would so much more efficient to use them 24/7. Staffing of course is is a huge and expensive issue.

They are obviously not inconvenienced by their medical problems to the extent that it interferes with their Sundays then...
If they have been on the waiting list for a while they should be grabbing the offered appointment with both hands... appointmants being like hens teeth!

A family member was waiting to be tested for sleep apnea. We were prepared for a long wait but the appointment came much sooner than anticipated on a Sunday. Our reaction was to be impressed and grateful that the staff worked at the weekend to bring the waiting time down.

I love weekend appointments and am always grateful that my DD is seen more quickly. The hospital is usually quieter, it’s easier to park - what’s not to like. I’m really appreciative of people prepared to work at the weekend too.

Yanbu, I’d be questioning if they really need the appointment from their reaction.

This is my thinking! I just cannot believe how many people are being arse about it.

Teen DS had a Sunday appt recently. I probably sounded like I was complaining (or just really stupid) as, when the person arranging the appt said something like “Sunday 7th December” I said “a Sunday” and then “so 7th December, a Sunday” and then re-confirmed at the very end too! I had no idea that Sunday appointments were offered and so was slightly thrown. I also wanted to really make sure that I wasn’t misunderstanding in some way as I didn’t want to miss the appt and nor did I want this to be some sort of error on the hospitals part meaning DS was taken off the waitlist and then eventually put back on it again. Everyone I mentioned it too was also surprised apart from a couple of people who had happened to have been to this clinic previously.

Some people are religious.

i personally wouldn’t care but it is very important to others.

My MIL is the same, she got a speedy appointment for her breathing difficulties on a Sunday at 9.30. She was majorly inconvienced apparently...'but its a Sunday!'....'at 9.30!!'. What the actual problem for her was we never established!

It’s a real push from our trust to run weekend clinics to get the backlog cleared. Only issue is, the clinical staff move around appointments etc to come in, so we’re booking them short notice! But we give up our weekends to book them just to be given grief

Of course but it’s no reason to be rude.

As someone whose been waiting 18 months and still no sign of it happening any time soon I'd love a Sunday appointment

Have had a few Saturday appointments

Yes some people are surprised it’s a Sunday clinic, or that I’m calling on a Saturday, but I think that’s different from them being rude about it!

Sounds perfect to me. It is my only day off work but the chance of actually getting parked would override that.

What are you doing on Mumsnet if you are at work ? I assume it is your break ?

a) I’m doing overtime and b) yes, I am actually entitled to a lunch break after starting an extra shift at 7am this morning!

Yes, you are.

This is always my first thought.

Apparently people complain about late evening appointments also. I love an 8pm CT scan. No traffic on the road, hospital car park empty, easy to leave children with DH and less people in waiting rooms as whole families don't tend to want to camp out that late.

Give me evening or weekend appointments any time.

I used to love a weekend appointment when it was just me, the only downside when I became a parent was childcare, so I used to turn them down and opt for mid week when nursery was open, but that then left an appointment for someone who could do a weekend.

I normally work weekends so having a weekend appointment means I can usually get an extra day off. Ive had both urology and dermatology on a Saturday and tbh, the clinics were faster as the consultants wanted to get out and enjoy their weekends!!

Yeah it's just because up until recently weekend appointments weren't really a thing. I was a bit taken aback when given a Saturday..not that I complained. Its great they are now trying to do them seven days a week.

I hope you tell them that if they don't want it then the next one is in another year!