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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour asking me to take her to hospital appointments

344 replies

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 11:43

A neighbour has asked me to drive her to, stay with her and bring her home from 2 upcoming hospital appointments. The first is in 4 weeks time and the second the week after. I have said I can’t because I’m working and she has asked if I can book the time off. I haven’t replied but this seems cheeky to me after I’d said no. AIBU? I need my annual leave for things with my own family. She has people who visit her who I presume are family and friends but apparently has no one to go with her. I work full time at home and have children so with everything that comes with that I’m busy.

OP posts:
Silverbirchleaf · 02/10/2026 18:21

gardenflowergirl · 02/10/2026 18:18

GPs don't arrange hospital transport but they do make the referral for it. My mum got it for her hospital appointments.

I rang the hospital directly and was given a specific number to ring. They asked various questions and then booked the service for my mother. No referral needed.

Shinyandnew1 · 02/10/2026 18:22

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 17:59

She has replied to say she’ll have to ask her children if they can go with her but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to because of their work. 🤯

‘I would have thought you’d ask your own family and friends before asking me. Perhaps you can request they take annual leave to help you instead as I need to use mine for my own family’s needs’

kxeil · 02/10/2026 18:22

realdeal7393 · 02/10/2026 18:20

Many do yes. My DM spent a lifetime refusing to drive, despite having a licence. Once my DF died, she thought absolutely nothing of calling up family members who she hadn’t bothered with in years, asking them to drive one hour to her house, another hour to the hospital, an hour back, and another hour from her house to their house again. When I pointed out that she could just pay for a taxi, which would take one hour, instead of expecting someone else to take four hours driving that day + the time spent at the hospital, she looked at me like I was being unreasonable bringing it up.

She got much worse as she aged. I once had my decorator go over to do her lounge. She’d never met him before. The following week I discovered that the district nurse team called into her house whilst he was there painting one day, and told her she needed blood tests at the hospital. Without so much as a breath, she said, “you’ll take me won’t you” to the decorator, who was so stunned at her cheek, he found himself nodding. She even complained when he turned up 5 minutes late to take her. When I asked him why he agreed, he said that she was forceful in the way she spoke, and he felt he had no option.

She got much much worse over the years.

Outrageous behaviour!!

Topseyt123 · 02/10/2026 18:25

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 17:59

She has replied to say she’ll have to ask her children if they can go with her but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to because of their work. 🤯

Good. Now stick to your guns if/when she comes back to you because her children have said no due to their work.

Be firm (blunt even) with her - you can't do it either because of YOUR work. Suggest she looks into booking hospital transport, dial a ride or a taxi. She's not incapable of that if she can book the theatre and transport there for herself.

GP surgeries do not usually make the bookings for hospital transport but are usually able to provide the information needed for patients to call themselves for it. Ours does, and the local pharmacy gives it out too.

Alternatively, she can call the hospital department she is due to visit and explain her problems with transport and they might be of help booking it.

ClairDeLaLune · 02/10/2026 18:28

Ratherhaveacupofteaandabiscuit · 02/10/2026 16:00

I wonder how those who repeat this is not the OP's problem and call this request for help cheeky will feel if they ever end up old and alone with health problems.

It isn't about whose "responsibility" this is, it is about an older lady in need and doing what you can to help.

Accompanying her to an appointment does not equal becoming a carer, it's just a bit of kindness.

Also if you really are too busy to go to hospital with her on those days, which is perfectly valid, it is quite possible to still help and show kindness.

Saying because she has been on the planet almost 80 years she should therefore should know about navigating the world is just wrong.

Using the internet could be on many varying levels and does not prove she can do everything.

The people who visit her may be unable or unwilling to help too. Who knows?

The world has changed so much, is still changing everyday. By the time you are mid seventies there will probably be things you can't cope with unaided. Many older people are being shut out of society by increasing technology.

You could suggest hospital transport or a local voluntary car scheme and help her find the contact details.

This would take minimal time from you but could make a lot of difference.

Christ, some people have so little empathy and just see older people as an inconvenience.

Living on your own as you age and become ill or disabled is hard enough without the attitude of some people.

Her asking the OP to take leave from work to take her, is absolutely taking the fucking piss. Are you the neighbour?

cornflakecrunchie · 02/10/2026 18:30

Bloody cheek..

Skodacool · 02/10/2026 18:33

Either she takes a taxi or asks for hospital transport. If she’s so insistent even after you’ve said no you’re best not getting involved. She sounds the sort who will keep asking favours.

MiggyWoods · 02/10/2026 18:35

Many older people are being shut out of society by increasing technology

My cousin is mid 60s and perfectly fit and well. She's stopped going into town on a Wednesday as has been her habit for years. She doesn't have a smartphone and can't pay for the parking. You can ring a number to do it but you have to wait ages, then give them your card details etc. It's more bother than it's worth.

shhblackbag · 02/10/2026 18:38

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 17:59

She has replied to say she’ll have to ask her children if they can go with her but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to because of their work. 🤯

Surely, her children should take annual leave. What absolute cheek she has.

nomas · 02/10/2026 18:39

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 17:59

She has replied to say she’ll have to ask her children if they can go with her but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to because of their work. 🤯

Doesn't surprise me sadly. I work more hours than my brother (office and WFH) yet my mum still thinks he can't be disturbed but I should be readily available, even though I am more senior than him.

I tolerate it because she's my mum but your neighbour is being ridiculous.

nomas · 02/10/2026 18:41

MiggyWoods · 02/10/2026 18:35

Many older people are being shut out of society by increasing technology

My cousin is mid 60s and perfectly fit and well. She's stopped going into town on a Wednesday as has been her habit for years. She doesn't have a smartphone and can't pay for the parking. You can ring a number to do it but you have to wait ages, then give them your card details etc. It's more bother than it's worth.

Doesn't she just need to download the app like RingGo? Once you've registered, it's really easy to sort out parking. You don't have to keep re-entering your car reg number and credit card details.

BippidyBoppety · 02/10/2026 18:47

nomas · 02/10/2026 18:41

Doesn't she just need to download the app like RingGo? Once you've registered, it's really easy to sort out parking. You don't have to keep re-entering your car reg number and credit card details.

Doesn't have a smartphone applies.

I have an elderly lady in my Village who has given up her car due to failing eyesight and the expense of running a car. I said I'd always sort her if I wasn't busy - couple of weeks ago she asked if I could sort her dental appointment because her brick phone wasn't able to do the "press 1 for reception" thing. It's a bigger issue for the senior generation. Car parking, hospital appointments, banking, deliveries etc.

OrangeFlower14 · 02/10/2026 18:50

@BippidyBoppety I don’t know anyone in their 60s who doesn’t have a smart phone, most of us couldn’t manage work or anything if we didn’t use one

that is an elderly

@MiggyWoods is there a reason she can’t use one or is it too expensive? I do understand if you’ve got health issues there may be reasons you can’t, but if she can drive and going into town and stuff I’m thinking that is a bit less likely

mirrornearer · 02/10/2026 18:52

You’ve posted about this before.

nomas · 02/10/2026 18:55

BippidyBoppety · 02/10/2026 18:47

Doesn't have a smartphone applies.

I have an elderly lady in my Village who has given up her car due to failing eyesight and the expense of running a car. I said I'd always sort her if I wasn't busy - couple of weeks ago she asked if I could sort her dental appointment because her brick phone wasn't able to do the "press 1 for reception" thing. It's a bigger issue for the senior generation. Car parking, hospital appointments, banking, deliveries etc.

Fair point, but why doesn't she have a smartphone. She's mid-60s not mid-80s!

nomas · 02/10/2026 18:56

mirrornearer · 02/10/2026 18:52

You’ve posted about this before.

No, she hasn't. Similar situations happen because women are frequently put upon.

MiggyWoods · 02/10/2026 18:56

Doesn't she just need to download the app like RingGo? Once you've registered, it's really easy to sort out parking. You don't have to keep re-entering your car reg number and credit card details

As I said. She doesn't have a smartphone.

nomas · 02/10/2026 18:57

MiggyWoods · 02/10/2026 18:56

Doesn't she just need to download the app like RingGo? Once you've registered, it's really easy to sort out parking. You don't have to keep re-entering your car reg number and credit card details

As I said. She doesn't have a smartphone.

In her mid-60s? That's no age. Unless there's a learning difficulty, which would make things harder.

MiggyWoods · 02/10/2026 18:59

In her mid-60s? That's no age. Unless there's a learning difficulty, which would make things harder

She's a headteacher. She doesn't want a smartphone.

nomas · 02/10/2026 19:00

MiggyWoods · 02/10/2026 18:59

In her mid-60s? That's no age. Unless there's a learning difficulty, which would make things harder

She's a headteacher. She doesn't want a smartphone.

Hard to muster sympathy then.

Therealjudgejudy · 02/10/2026 19:03

Judging by her reply she is indeed very entitled op

NeverSometimesAlways · 02/10/2026 19:03

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 17:59

She has replied to say she’ll have to ask her children if they can go with her but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to because of their work. 🤯

Do you work from home? Some people seem to think if you work from home you’re not really working!

RosaNovella · 02/10/2026 19:05

BecauseNothing · 02/10/2026 17:59

She has replied to say she’ll have to ask her children if they can go with her but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to because of their work. 🤯

WTF!

newyearnoeu · 02/10/2026 19:05

Allseeingallknowing · 02/10/2026 15:29

They do, and they’re VERY expensive!

as expensive as 2 days of annual leave?

even if only on minimum wage, 2x8hrs would be over £200. Her local hospital would have to be pretty far away to cost 50 quid in each direction.

RachelGreep87 · 02/10/2026 19:12

Her entitlement is breathtaking!
Would her children happen to be sons I wonder? Taking old ladies to the hospital is probably women's work.
Fuck that!