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

Complaining about a weekend appointment or an evening one leads to conclude people want time off work to go to it. And if they don't get that then don't want it.
Rubbish really.

I'd have no issue with Sunday appointments.
My GP however keeps booking me on Fridays, the one day I'm off work with the kids and have no childcare options...

I got a call yesterday asking if I wanted to move an ultrasound appointment from Thursday am to Sunday am.

It means i need less time off work - so I was delighted.

But its at a different hospital further away- so someone without access to a car may have had issues with Sunday travel?

Anyway - please accept my gratitude @reallyffspeople for working extra hours and getting us all seen sooner.

I'm sorry about that. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't where some people are concerned, they're never happy.

I suppose there is an argument for giving to Mon-Fri, 9-to-5 workers first dibs on week end appts but it's getting that information to begin with.

i think it’s one thing to be a little surprised, but it’s another to be genuinely annoyed and asking why I “think it’s appropriate” to invite them to an appointment on a Sunday - erm because you’re on a waiting list and you presumably need to come in to the clinic?

I’d love it, and you can get parked!

Yeah, if you live outside London so buses are reduced service on a Sunday, and you don't drive, and you can't afford a taxi, you can just walk. I mean it's probably only a few miles.

I am lucky enough to have a car and work full time, so I would be very happy with a Sunday appointment. But I can see why some people might be upset at being told they're going to have to wait longer because they cannot get there on a Sunday.

I have taken people for weekend appointments, easy travel parking and little waiting , how the NHS should work.

How come (historically) the people in the clinics dont work weekends like regular wards?

Okay but the hospital has 24/7 patient transport available and it’s not my fault that that’s the case - I’m just given a long list of people to ring (over 1000!), to try and get them in.

I have absolutely no clue. I think they’re giving up weekends they’d have already had off to come in to try and get the backlogs cleared. I know some of our surgeons will set up a list with a couple of weeks’ notice to operate on however many people they can fit in. They’re giving up leave they’d have taken, they still have weekends on call etc.

Are you in a very religious area OP? I'm surprised at the is it appropriate comments. I'd personally be happy I've reached the top of the waiting list. Only reasons I can think of for Sunday being tricky relative to any other day is if you're reliant on a bus that doesn't run that day (you say not an issue for your hospital), or you don't have anyone for weekend childcare. But that's not an is that appropriate comment! Only other thing I can possibly think of is that people are worried about staff not getting a break.

Weekend appointments are great! I’m currently in a virtually empty eye hospital, having parked in a virtually empty car park, waiting for my aunt. Downside is there are no staff anywhere to ask things of, eg where to go (hospital is vast), and there’s no cafe at the weekend, but otherwise great. I agree Sundays might be trickier depending on public transport, but otherwise defo the way to go surely, to get waiting lists down?

I had a procedure at my local massive university hospital on a Sunday. Thought it was great, but the whole clinic was staffed by some sort of agency based miles away who had all been shipped in to run the clinic, no doubt getting overtime rates. It still took ages to get the results.

More important than their health? I am sure they can give up one Sunday to attend an important appointment.

OP I work for the NHS and have done for many years sadly for some it is a thing they take for granted probably because it is free. Over the years I have seen some disgraceful behaviour so nothing surprises me anymore sadly.

What idiots some people are. It's like 'now that you mention it...I don't think offering medical appointments for no cost at delivery to people who desperately need them is appropriate actually. I'm going to change careers and become an arms dealer.'

Which religion says you cant seek medical advice on your holy day? Certainly not Christianity.

Ive noticed people seem to expect a private health service at such a low cost. It’s genuinely baffling

I had a Saturday appointment a few weeks ago and my mother has one tomorrow. We're glad to be seen and parking is so much easier.

Our local hospital seems to do MRI and CT scans all weekend. I've had a weekend scan apt before.

£15 each way in a taxi for me if on a Sunday or after 8pm on a weekday.
Or if rostered in at work, its an absolute pain to get cover on a Sunday - or Saturday, especially near xmas or with less than 2 weeks notice.

I can see why people might be a bit miffed, life is no longer 9 to 5, but transport, childcare etc hasn't caught up yet

I wouldn't mind a Sunday appointment, but I guess it depends on people's individual circumstances. For example, where my dad lives there is no public transport on Sundays so it would be impossible if you needed to use that to get to a hospital.

Hi, OP -

Transport is the only genuine issue I can think of. Can you clarify whether that is the problem, or work the hospital’s transport provision into the conversation early?

I think Jesus would appreciate the work you and your colleagues are doing, and excuse any lapses in the observance of the Sabbath for medical care.

Absolutely no excuse for the rudeness. My family are grateful patients.

I really can’t tell. If they mention transport I’m printing the letters here and adding a note re patient transport and the taxi company we use most often at the hospital, but it seems to just be that people are annoyed I’m daring to suggest they come in on a Sunday! As if we’re not all giving up our weekends (both clinical and non clinical) to make these appointments possible!

But surely the NHS expanding to a non 9-5 approach is better?

Calling someone today with an appointment tomorrow probably will be difficult for some people.

Single parents - who will take the kids as they aren't in school?

People who care for elderly relatives tend to have their weekends already mapped out for them with taking elderly Mum shopping, cleaning houses and doing laundry for their parents and in-laws etc.

If you called me today with an appointment for tomorrow that would mean my elderly relatives would be without some of their medication for a week as they rely on me to collect prescriptions on a Saturday and deliver them on Sunday along with all their grocery shopping. I then have to hang around in their house whilst waiting on 2 loads a washing completing before finally getting home, sorting out my house and then the full-time working week starts again.