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

Also some of the public transport is rubbish on a Sunday. It’s not all to annoy you.

I’m aware but you don’t need to be rude, surely? Anyway I’ve finished now so it’s all immaterial for another weekend

You’re not discharged for just not attending.

I’m not assuming anyone can attend, I always lead with a “I know it’s a Sunday, but can you come at X time”, and people are still rude

I’d love an appointment on a weekend! Makes it so much easier than having to get time off work and cover etc.

DH most happy that his appt is on a Sunday. Makes life a lot easier.

Our health centre has run it's vaccine clinics at the weekend for ages. It is obviously very regimented as you get appointments at times like 11.27 am.

I've had weekend appointments and I'm really grateful, DH doesn't have to book time off work to take me. I think it's a brilliant idea.

If I'm honest, I was disappointed at a 7:30am Saturday appointment for my daughter.

Obviously I didn't say anything about it and it's better than no appointment, but I felt sorry for my daughter. Bring prodded with a lot of needles, cannulas etc really isn't fun when you're a kid, but then to use up your weekend for it rather than a day off school makes it even worse.

It is what it is though, and whatever is needed to get through their case load.

Could be worse, our ENT department has a paeds tonsillectomy list on Christmas Eve 😅

I was thrilled with mine! I had one MRI on a Friday night at 6:30 so could do it after work and one on a Sunday at 8:30 which was brilliant as loads of parking and was one of the first
on the scanner so no waiting around

DS has two years in a row got an appointment on 23rd December.

Tbh I think he keeps getting them because no one else will take them! He seems to have bumped up the list (we were expecting it to be a much longer wait).

How soon is the clinic?

People are not used to healthcare being available on a Saturday, let alone on a Sunday. We have got used to being given plenty of notice for appointments historically and I can imagine that people who have been waiting for a very long time and then are offered an appt at relatively short notice that they can’t easily attend may well react in perhaps a less than ideal way.

You have mentioned hospital transport, but in reality not many meet the criteria to use it. Transport costs may be prohibitive on a Sunday and public transport may be non existent or few and far between (is dire on evenings and Sundays in some areas including mine). That again may result in a less than desirable response due to disappointment.

An appt after dark may be problematic for older people especially (although younger people may also be affected) due to the darkness and the time i.e. transport issues, sight issues if driving in the dark, family not being able to take them due to childcare issues, not feeling safe being out after dark.

An appt coming up before Christmas may mean missing out on a planned gathering with family who have not been seen since last year etc or not being able to attend the appt. That may be the only social gathering that the person has over the festive period.

Given so many people appear to be being rude, there is something contributing to that, so it’s either some of the above or perhaps how/when the call is being made.

Can’t really be bothered about the appointment then. There are always ways around it.

I have a car so Sunday appointments would be fine.

As long as the clinic are reasonable if people can't make it - there are no buses here on a Sunday and a taxi to the hospital would be about £70 each way - it's a damn good idea and people shouldn't be rude about it.

I wonder about this. Sometimes when I queue at the GP receptionist I cannot help but overhear the person speaking with them. And sometimes this person seems rather particular, to say the least.

Prioritise your health and our health service, FGS!

It’s in a week. I’m definitely not the one being rude, multiple other patients complimented me on my manner!

How very dare a NHS staff member take a break. Wise up

What, like saying "are there any other days I could come?" Because thats standard practice with hospital bookings.

If the appointment is so super important that there's no flexibility at all then the patient probably wouldn't have been on a waiting list in the first place. You dont, on the one hand, get to tell people they have to wait for months,/years, then insist that only 1 particular date is an option.

I'd clap back... oh well what a shame that's you now at the bottom of the waiting list .. see you in 2029
I can not tolerate rudeness

If you've been waiting you would jump at the chance imo. You clearly aren't that ill if a Sunday is inconvenient assuming no previous engagements. I recently had a pre-op assessment on a Saturday. I was v.happy to take the date. There at 8am and out by 8.45.

Is she not allowed a
Break ?? More likely an unpaid break too, u probably not worked a day in ur life if u need to ask that? Get a job, Assuming has made an ass out of u.

I always know which patients are genuinely in need of a steroid injection to ease their joint pain because they'll move heaven and earth to get to the appointment and certainly don't complain 🥺

It was in fact my lunch break lol

I have an appointment booked for tomorrrow for a brain mri. I was very grateful it is on a Sunday because I have a lot of appointments at the moment and cant afford to take time off work plus no worrying about being back for the school run because DP is off work