10 missed calls from private health company

[londontoibiza]

I booked a private MRI scan a week ago. I have gone through the screening questionnaire on the phone when I booked the scan. All good.

In the past week I have had 10 missed calls from them - at first it was “calling regarding my referral”, now they’re “calling to confirm I’ll be attending”.

As a rule I don’t answer my phone to an unknown number unless I’m expecting a call. If they leave a voicemail, I’ll call back when I’ve verified their number.

AIBU to think 10 calls in 7 days is excessive? I’ve paid, I’m suitable for the scan and I will be attending tomorrow. Surely they don’t need to be in constant contact with me?

But that's how you deal with things, not everyone does. MIL had an NHS apt for bloods at her GP on Friday. She is unwell, 180 BP, vwry swollen feet and ankles. Finally being monitored and still as sharp as a pin at 90, although healthcare averse.

Because it was hot on Friday, she didn't attend, booking a taxi is not an issue. Evidently she phoned half an hour before and they didn't answer the phone. She won't make another appointment, the practice won't call to rearrange.

She will have no cognizance that her not attending will mean that someone else couldn't have an appointment. This is what healthcare providers have to contend with.

I don't understand why you didn't answer your phone. Job done, 9 more calls avoided.

actually if i called you ten times and you didnt answer over a week i would assume you wont be attending and i would want to give the appt to someone else.

It’s probably this.

if you’d answered your phone, they probably wouldn’t have phoned 9 more times.

You are completely unreasonable, as if they haven’t got better things to do than call you ten times because you won’t pick up the phone. The person calling you is just doing their job, which you’re making difficult and then banging on about them being unreasonable!

There was a thread on here yesterday about a man being treated on a chair in the waiting room because they had no beds at their local hospital. You should learn to be grateful that you can access private healthcare and stop being such an entitled brat.

And just because you have paid a deposit, doesn’t mean it would be fine if you didn’t turn up - They would still lose out because they wouldn’t get the full cost of the appointment.

They have procedures you don't like the clinic can't assume anything, you don't seem to understand how obstinate you are being, are you like this with everything does it not exhaust you ?

Because you’d still be pushing another patient along the line for an appointment! What an entitled point of view

Why on earth would you not attend an appointment because it’s warm?! I’ve heard it all now

Number of calls excessive what a waste of staff time. I'm not in UK I attend a private dentist and gp I get a text a couple of days before appointment reminding me of appointment and asking me to text yes to confirm and no to cancel and that I'll be charged if I cancel less than 24hours before. The clinic should adopt this system would save them a lot of time especially with those that appear to have an issue answering their phone.
Op I would recommend in the future not to give your phone number out if you don't want people to call you.

They are being excessive because the op is not contacting them.

Oh I know that's my point it's a waste of staff time which is why I suggested text option may be better from a business perspective.

Sorry, i misunderstood.

Because there is often between 14-25% of medical appointments are not attended for various reasons. They are trying to ensure they do everything that is reasonable to ensure you attend. I have patients who make an appointment for the following day who don't attend so I can see why they do it....

I’m sorry but one call and a voicemail is perfectly fine. I will then get back to them as and when I can.

the irony being I’ve attempted to call them this morning (they’re open), and they’ve not answered!

You haven’t got back to them in a week, it may be to do with needing more information, it’s not unreasonable for them to keep following up, seeing as you weren’t contacting them back.

They probably want to check you’ll attend AND talk you through what the appointment will entail… leave your jewellery at home, no metal in your body, no claustrophobia, realise you’ll need to be very still inside the machine etc. It may have been on the online form but suspect they would want to talk you through it particularly if it’s a private service. Until you answer they will keep calling because they haven’t done this part of the process with you.

How do you know they're not trying to get hold of you because the appointment time has had to be changed?

I had a private operation booked and they rang me to say I could have it earlier (a lot earlier) if I wanted as someone had cancelled. If I'd ignored the call, I'd have been waiting 3 months instead of 3 weeks.

She's 90. There was a heatwave. I think those are valid reasons.

Not to not attend without notice.

They could leave a voicemail explaining.

It is unreasonable to leave ten calls.

There's just no helping some people!

If you rang them back it would have been be less. If it’s to do with checking something and you only got one phone call (that you won’t respond to) and then it was cancelled you’d probably be complaining too.
theyre not ringing excessively for the fun of it they’re doing it as you’re not responding in a timely manner

Yes that is true in an ideal world but in THIS world people are arseholes/entitled/forgetful/selfish and reminders might be what reduces no-shows.
Perhaps in future you could ask them to just send a text reminder.

I’m afraid, OP, that you aren’t coming across too well in this. I wonder why you posted on AIBU? You’ve had plenty of answers to that question.