Hospital out patients appointments

In my experience the earlier you get there the better - your notes will be put out as being there and no-one will look at the appointment time. Take your kindle!

The journey home is likely to be a pain - I don't envy you this!

I don't know about this particular hospital tanith but the only way I have ever gotten in (slightly) early for an appointment is if someone in front of me has not turned up. Is it not worth you going for a coffee or something just to let the rush die down before attempting the trip home?

Not much of comparison I know but my dad is an avid football supporter and is very unsteady on his feet these days. He refuses to have a walking stick so I make him promise that he will wait for the rush to die down before attempting to get home on the Tyne and Wear Metro. It terrifies me how they keep the passengers waiting at the top of the very steep steps and then open the barrier and thousands of people literally pile down the steps. If he so much as hesitated he would be trampled.

Most of the outpatients' clinics I've attended recently have been running at least an hour late - once it was two hours!

Thanks both of you, Gillybob Charing Cross hospital is in Fulham a very busy area and the rush hour in London especially on Friday last from about 3pm till 7/8 at night so waiting for the rush to die down isn't really an option. I'm not bothered about the crush its just standing on the tube for and then a bus is not easy even if you are perfectly able..
I'll definitely take your advice and go early I think.

But if you take someone else's slot, who turns up on time then has to wait, it's hardly fair is it?

Ana that is what I'm fearing last time I waited an hour and half after my app time..

That would be an awful long time to have to hang around tanith. Up here it only takes around an hour for the football and shopping crowds to die down so my dad normally (under strict instructions) calls in somewhere to have a coffee, or a cheeky pint (he thinks I don't know )

It might be helpful to know what time the clinic starts? I mean, you might be the first on the list? As Ana said more often than not they are running late. Good luck anyway.

tanith the problem with turning-up early is that most clinics invariably run late so you could end up sitting there even longer.

As you know, Hammersmith is a major stop, which means lots of people also get off there and the trains are very frequent at that time. Check the indicator board, if there's another one minute behind there's a better chance of getting a seat.

Where would you be getting the tube to tanith ?

Everyone finishes up waiting ages - the nurses go back and forth updating the board - 1 hour late, 2 hours late and so on. It is always like that whatever time you get there.

I've spent more time than I care to remember travelling to and from CXH during rush hour. I expect you already know that Barons Court is the nearest tube and as it's an open air station it doesn't feel as oppressive and crowded. Luckily, it's not the busiest of stations and you will certainly get on. Stand right by the "less able" seat and if necessary ask someone if you can sit down. Commuters are pretty good at letting old grannies have a seat.
CXH is a huge teaching hospital and the imaging department is always busy. I've no idea how the appointment system works, but there are inevitably delays so I reckon given that you won't be back on the tube much before six you should be ok. A 3 pm appointment would actually be just as bad on a Friday on the tube.

Thanks everyone for the input,Lillie I hadn't realised Barons Court was nearer I'll check that out we normally get off at Hammersmith. I think you are right Luckygirl whatever way I play it I'm going to be waiting so maybe I'll just get there in plenty of time and hope I get seen pretty swiftly..
I just checked out going to Barons Court but it involves a bus and 3 different trains whereas Hammersmith is a bus and one train much more straight forward.

Just a thought off the top of my head and you might think this is a silly idea, but if you could afford it.... what about staying overnight on the Friday, have a meal, or a movie, whatever would take your fancy.

You wouldn't be worried about the appointment running too late or the rush hour. Up on Saturday for a leisurely breakfast and get whatever train/bus would suit for the journey home. Maybe do something nice on the Saturday morning, or just head straight for home. Making a little trip out of it.

Hammersmith is hardly a destination night out!

Thats a thought Coolgran65 it isn't even far as we are only in Ealing its just the blasted timing that's going to make it problematic. I'll see what I can find and then make the suggestion to OH as he usually comes with me..

There is the Apollo and the Lyric theatres and of course Riverside Studios plenty of pubs/restaurants so I might find something just have to persuade OH

Isn't there an Odeon, or is that long gone?

Riverwalk - it was just a thought off the top of my head. I don't know London well, and Hammersmith- not at all.

And of course, my suggestion wasn't intended as a destination night out. It was making the most what might be available to avoid any journey issues. i.e. a movie followed by fish and chips could be fun a comfy bed, breakfast just to sit down and enjoy.

tanith I hope whatever you decide regarding your journey, that your appointment visit works out well and you have positive MRI results.

Ana I think the Apollo theatre is the old Odeon cinema I remember Queen doing a gig there sometime. There is a cinema somewhere down the high street but not sure what its called..

Thanks Coolgran65 I think it will be fine I like the fish and chips idea in fact that would appeal to OH much more than the theartre

Not sure about your hospital but I can tell you that my local doesn't allow anyone to jump in earlier than their given time. There are notices on the walls saying this-you will be seen at your appt time and not in the order you arrive. When I used to go with my mum and she had an am and a pm appt we were usually very early for the afternoon session. We still had to wait.

Thanks trisher I think I've decided to just turn up in good time for my app and sort out the journey home on the day.

How much would a taxi cost?

daphnedill OH estimates £25 minimum each way. Its not going to be that bad to warrant a £50+ spend .

Just a thought. Maybe you could go by public transport and go home by taxi.