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'd love a weekend or evening clinic!

At this point I'd suspect they don't want the appt . I've had 2 nhs scans on a Sunday and a bladder test on a Saturday this year a CT and a heart Echo - ended up getting admitted on the Monday after this due to the results but I've always accepted the Sunday appts as it means I get seen quicker. I've also had appts at half 8 in the morning on a weekday which are horrid to get to as I don't live near my specialist hospital but surely people tak the appts because it means they get seen?!

Easter Sunday having an mri was a new start to the day and definitely a bit strange - but as I’d been waiting forever for it - I grabbed the appointment when it came up as it meant my surgeon could use the images to plan and carry out my much needed operation…

think 24/7 is the way to go at hospitals

Given the amount of money that goes into the NHS it should be a 24/7 service and staffed accordingly. More jobs for Doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, lower waiting times etc

Even if people don't want a Sunday appointment, that's no reason to be rude to you "shooting the messenger" OP.

I've been offered a "clinical assessment" appointment for knee trouble, on 24th Dec. I was surprised the clinic ran that close to Christmas. I'll be there, no complaints.

Less public transport on a Sunday.

That's hilariously bad! 😂

There is but if you could get there by private or public transport why wouldn't you take the appointment? I'd rather sit in waiting area for an hour due to the bus times than keep waiting for an appointment at a time to suit.

Lots of the things people might rely on in order to be able to get to an appointment such as public transport, childcare, school or day centres for adults they care for don't run the same/at all on Sundays. It's not something that everyone can access.

Still shouldn't be rude to admin staff though.

I have home visits from my GP surgery because of mobility problems. I was very surprised yesterday when a lady from a local pharmacy rang and offered to come and do a flu and covid injection tomorrow. When I queried the day it turned out she does part time and the only day she is in my area is sunday. I dont like sunday visiters and normally dont answer the door or even the phone. However its a small inconvenience and better than getting flu or covid.

I had a pre procedure appointment on a Sunday recently. I was delighted.

I wouldn't be able to get to a Sunday appointment as no public transport where I live. No Uber or taxi will come out that far

I'm eligible for hospital transport but that doesn't run at weekends.

The hospital will end up paying more in taxi fare than the cost of the appointment.

Crikey i would snatch your hand off!!

you bet they are the same people? but you don't know this.

You are being V u. I couldn't attend a weekend appointment because i don't have a car and where i live there is no public transport at the weekend. I can't afford a taxi. So - a bit of thought about what you are assuming won't hurt you

I think weekend appointments are a great idea, but NHS staff also need to consider the needs of people who don't have good access to public transport, or don't have family/friends with a car to drive them to/from the appointment.

So, yes, I think people who have cars and who simply can't be bothered to interrupt their usual weekend routines for an appointment are being totally unreasonable.

But, for folks who rely on public transport and/or don't have friends/family with cars, or who live in rural areas, yes, it's unreasonable to expect people to attend.

Another issue is where the appointment is. For example, I have to have regular CT scans (2-3 times/year). There are two CT scanners in nearby hospitals - but, no, I routinely get sent to the scanner 10 miles away! You could not make it up.

It's a two and half-hour trip on the bus each way, or £50-£60 for a taxi round trip. So, what do I do? I put my foot down and politely make a fuss....

But it’s not my fault. All you have to say is “sorry, I can’t take that one, I’ll wait for the next”

We had a Saturday Ophthalmology appointment.

We were the only ones to turn up!

All the staff being paid ££££££ and nobody turned up.

People should be fined for not turning up. Benefits sanctioned too.

I didn’t say you were being rude. But a weeks notice just before Christmas and if you are phoning early in the day and the appointment being on a Sunday sets you off on the wrong foot with some people.

Shall we leave it at if you get offered a Sunday and can take it then that's good. If you can't then at least you may be moved further up the list. No need to be rude to the receptionist, people should just say I'm sorry, I can't take that.
Was having an operation some weeks ago and was in the queue. Turned up at 7.30am and was processed by the staff then seen by the surgeon and his assistant, then the anaesthetist. There is a queue and it was after mid day before they got to me. A lady came in at 11am for a minor surgery and was put out she wasn't going to be seen in the next few mins and it would be the afternoon she would be seen. Cue the huffing about the NHS etc and given how she was dressed I wanted to say the BUPA hospital is over there. Somehow her glass was half empty due to her having to wait (she had a business to run blah, blah)

I’m waiting for one but the appointment comes through when DH can’t take me or we’ve got a holiday booked and paid for what am I supposed to do? Ideally I’ll take the first appointment but sometimes it’s just not possible.

I was given a Sunday appointment for a pregnancy scan. I'd have much rather had it on a weekday when my child was at nursery, as children aren't allowed to attend.

As it was, they gave me no choice of other dates as they were under instructions to offer the scan within a certain timescale, meaning I received worrying news on my own, while my husband looked after our eldest.

I also received very poor care and misdiagnosis from a midwife who was clearly shattered and fed up of doing overtime on a weekend.

I used to take my dc for mris on Sunday mornings. It worked really well for us, but only because we had a car and I could drive and afford petrol. The hospital is out in the sticks, limited public transport on a Sunday morning and a taxi would have been very expensive. Not everyone is so fortunate.

I am in 2 minds. In my area a Sunday appointment would be okay for those who have a car. The roads would be quieter and it would be easier to get parked. However it would be rubbish for those who use public transport. The buses are every 2 hours on a sunday assuming that they turn up. It would cost £15 for a taxi and not everyone can afford this.

No it certainly doesn't.
I assume you're just offering them an appointment and they're free to say no thanks.
Personally, I'd be very happy to get offered an appointment on any day of the week at any time. Hopefully at least some of your patients appreciate the effort to get them seen.

Yes, I know it's not your fault. Just like it's not my fault that I have cancer, it's not my fault that my my consultant expects scans to be undertaken regularly, and it's not my fault that there isn't public transport to take me on a 20 mile+ round trip for a scan that could be done locally.

I also can't just wait for "the next one", I'd be dead if I did.

I get it, I've worked for the NHS and so I understand that there are plenty of members of the public who are rude, lazy and feckless. But we're not all like that. Most of us bend over backwards to help the NHS and often in the face of some astonishingly rude and uncaring NHS staff.