I'm mortified

A lady I know had a phone call from the surgery and was told off for missing three appointments for blood tests. She told the receptionist not to speak to her in that tone of voice and that the appointments had been made for her by the surgery and then cancelled by the surgery. She said if they could make her one that wasn't cancelled she would be happy to come in.

How kind of that consultant Callistemon.

Grammaretto

I am sympathetic.
I missed an appointment recently because I wrote it down on the wrong day in my calendar.

My dentist charges £15 for missed appointments. Once I was caught in traffic and phoned to say I'd be 5 minutes late. He wouldn't see me and I had to make another appointment.
Which reminds me I have the Dentist at 8.15 am on Monday.

Oh, that was mean, Grammaretto.
I once missed a hospital appointment because there was an accident on the motorway, everyone took a detour. I was an hour and a half late but my Consultant saw me at the end of clinic.

there

I would willingly have paid a fee. Just to add, I'm not in the habit of crying when someone tells me off! I was going through a horrible time with depression and anxiety. It had taken all my courage to make the appointment. She couldn't get me out of their quick enough. So much for 'Speak to your GP if you are struggling with your mental health'.

I am sympathetic.
I missed an appointment recently because I wrote it down on the wrong day in my calendar.

My dentist charges £15 for missed appointments. Once I was caught in traffic and phoned to say I'd be 5 minutes late. He wouldn't see me and I had to make another appointment.
Which reminds me I have the Dentist at 8.15 am on Monday.

crazyH

kittylester - what a lovely GP you have !

Did have - she emigrated to New Zealand! She was fabulous.

Our surgery sends reminder texts. Also I write everything down on my calendar and in my diary so I can't forget.

I’m sure they would appreciate you phoning up and explaining that you simply forgot.

I forgot to go to the dentist the other day and when I rang to apologise they told me the dentist was very concerned about me because I never miss appointments. She fitted me in the next day.

Yammy

Kate1949

Pre lockdown, I was late for an appointment. I thought they said 10 past 10. They actually said 10 to 10. The doctor was furious and gave me a lecture. It was only when I apologised profusely and burst into tears as I had gone to her with anxiety and was feeling terrible, that she softened a bit.

I don't think your GP telling you off was very professional. It's easy for us to tell you what you should have said to them.
I think your reaction of crying probably told it all I hope they learned a lesson.

I would have made a formal complaint, how dare she tell you off. You’re not a child and you did apologise. You probably felt much worse when you came out than you did when you went in. Not very professional of her.

I once missed a vet's appointment, had put it on the wrong day on my calendar. I was charged £30 for a missed appointment.

Ring and apologise - or if the phone queue is long write a note and drop it in.

I forgot a hair appointment once and was given a half-price cut the next time as they felt so sorry for me!

Kate1949

Pre lockdown, I was late for an appointment. I thought they said 10 past 10. They actually said 10 to 10. The doctor was furious and gave me a lecture. It was only when I apologised profusely and burst into tears as I had gone to her with anxiety and was feeling terrible, that she softened a bit.

I don't think your GP telling you off was very professional. It's easy for us to tell you what you should have said to them.
I think your reaction of crying probably told it all I hope they learned a lesson.

I’d phone and apologise, I always write appointments down on my calendar so I look when I get up every morning , our health centre has never sent out reminders , but they do have a notice in the waiting room with the amount of appointments that people have forgotten to go to. Don’t feel stupid Exdancer these things happen sometimes

Yes pascal she said they only had so many minutes per consultation. I understand that and like ExDancer I was mortified. I was in a bad way and her telling me off didn't help, but I do understand her frustration.

Kate1949

Pre lockdown, I was late for an appointment. I thought they said 10 past 10. They actually said 10 to 10. The doctor was furious and gave me a lecture. It was only when I apologised profusely and burst into tears as I had gone to her with anxiety and was feeling terrible, that she softened a bit.

she was probably super stressed, but her reaction was way over the top.. You certainly didn't need that... quite unprofessional

Pre lockdown, I was late for an appointment. I thought they said 10 past 10. They actually said 10 to 10. The doctor was furious and gave me a lecture. It was only when I apologised profusely and burst into tears as I had gone to her with anxiety and was feeling terrible, that she softened a bit.

Out of courtesy phone up asap, apologise ... try to make it light hearted ... & say something ... it called aging ( that what I usually say when I do stupid things ) ... not saying you are old at all ... you won't be the first won't be the last ... but next appointment write on your calendar ... I even send messages to myself ... a few days before , day before & on the day ... this works well for me ... even meeting friends

It's odd that they didn't txt you. I immediately put my txt appointments in my diary.. But just tell them the truth and I'm sure they'll appreciate that..

Phone and apologise . As long as you don’t miss appointments regularly. They’ll be fine . When ever I have to cancel a gp appointment, reception are so grateful and thank me for telling them . So many patients just don’t turn up

My surgery made a telephone appointment for me to do a medication review with the paramacist, and confirmed it by text. I sat there all morning by the phone and no one rang. So I have that to counter with. My time is just as valuable as theirs.

So easily done Ex-Dancer. I'm sure you will be forgiven and another appointment arranged.

You'll get scolded by that scrolling sign that tells you that 69 appointments were missed in the last month and you will sit there squirming, knowing you were one of them Ex-Dancer!

It is easily done. Our surgery has never sent out text or email reminders.

Phone up and apologise for some surgeries mark on your notes if you regularly do not attend appointments. Ours usually gets in touch to make another appointment. It is only once they should understand. We get text message reminders the day before but I have forgotten the Dentist and the hairdressers.