Has anyone else been offered crazy NHS appointments?

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mynameisjodie@reddit

Anytime they schedule appointments it's always weird times

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___Steve@reddit

I previously got one at 1am, it was also down as remote.

I can't exactly remember the explanation but it was something along the lines of it being quirk of the system, the remote appointment won't happen at that time - they needed an appointment on the system to proceed with filing the paperwork and one obviously wrong is apparently the best solution they had.

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iPanda_@reddit

People will complain about not getting an appt and then complain when they will lol

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

I guess people who work shifts are glad of appointments at more unusual times but 3am is a bit odd.

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OkRefrigerator107@reddit

I had an MRI scan at 10pm recently which I thought was odd. Apparently my hospital are doing them up to 2am due to the backlog..

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yaboiwreckohrs@reddit

The poor NHS workers :(

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Apsalar28@reddit

There would likely have been somebody on shift anyway for emergencies so you may as well fit in a few routine ones to make best use of the time.

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crankyandhangry@reddit

If that's the case, then yep, great. I know someone who was an inpatient wauting on confirmation of diagnosis and waited 5 days in hospital for an MRI because there wasn't a machine and staff available. So something is still not working.

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TheMusicArchivist@reddit

That was me. Doctors outright told me that I should spend a week extra in hospital (I'd have been fine at home on ibuprofen) to get an MRI done, because the first outpatient appointment they had was six months away, and they said I'd simply be healthy again in six months and my mystery illness would remain a mystery.

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SuzLouA@reddit

Admittedly screening techs aren’t probably used to doing those hours traditionally, but there’s plenty of people there anyway - the ED and the maternity ward are running 24/7/365.

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TeHNeutral@reddit

Erectile dysfunction?

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jus_plain_me@reddit

Emergency Department ya numpty.

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Tetracropolis@reddit

They get paid extra for unsociable hours.

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Dragovich96@reddit

It’s quite normal - even in the US, they run through the night. Less to do with backlog and more to do with the fact they don’t power them down so might as well keep scheduling over night. I had a 3am one when I lived there.

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gyroda@reddit

It makes much more sense for MRIs as there's only so many machines, the only way to increase capacity quickly is to run them for longer each day (new machines presumably take quite a while to fund, buy and install).

But phone appointments?

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JennyW93@reddit

You don’t power down an MRI, it’s running all the time anyway.

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gyroda@reddit

Sorry, by "run them more" I meant "use them for longer hours". Do more scans earlier/later in the day.

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lemonsinmysocks@reddit

I had the exact same recently! MRI scheduled for 9:45pm

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BorderlineWire@reddit

Years ago, I had to call 111 because something happened to my back. I had no idea what it was only that it was sudden and I couldn’t walk but I was pretty sure it didn’t need A&E, especially if it could be triaged over the phone or seen by a more appropriate service.

I got offered an appointment at a walk in centre, all well and good but the appointment was in half an hour as they closed shortly after. Even if I could have walked to the bus stop at my normal pace, It would have taken me nearly an hour to get to the place (so longer shuffling about) and I didn’t have a car or any money for a taxi. I said I definitely wouldn’t make it, explained why and asked if there were any closer or later options. They said no and that I should just go to that appointment anyway.

I actually talked about this on a U.K. sub in a similar thread at the time, someone got quite upset at me for suggesting there was anything wrong with that situation! Like no, Reddit randomer. I didn’t want an ambulance and wanted to stay out of A&E but I also didn’t want an appointment that was impossible to get to that someone else could have benefited from instead.

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glorybeef@reddit

If they have to work at 3am because people never stop being ill, then why not ask you to come in if there's an open spot? It's not like given a choice they'd hold appts at that time instead of a more amenable time but they're running the most cost effective and valuable healthcare system in history

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Whocanitbe_@reddit

I recently had a weekday MRI appt at 7:45pm. And before that I had an appt with a consultant at 4:30pm on a Sunday. It seems as though there is a backlog here and they’re just trying to get through as much as they can.

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Littleleicesterfoxy@reddit

Yup MRI last night at 6.45 pm, quite liked it, nice and quiet and easy to park (for once)

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automatic_shark@reddit

had to have a few MRIs in my time, and I just cannot do anything for a couple hours afterwards. I got in my car once, immediately realised I shouldn't be driving, and called my mum to pick me up. They don't affect you as badly? I felt drunk after mine.

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IngredientList@reddit

With or without contrast?

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automatic_shark@reddit

It was about ten years ago, I can't remember, sorry. I've had three in total, and all have knocked me out for at least a few hours before I felt comfortable moving around.

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

I didn't have an MRI but I had a heart investigation done in 2022 and they did CT with contrast. They couldn't get a vein (despite the fact I have large, obvious veins inside my elbow from lifting weights) then extravasated me (ie, missed it and pumped the dye into my arm muscle). It was agonising. When they realised and said they had to do it again, I nearly stormed out, but they brought in a different guy who did it properly in my left arm. The right arm was swollen for nearly a week, though.
After that they called me back for an MRI with dye and I point blank refused. I'd had enough.

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bellatrix99@reddit

I get an mri each year (I have ms) and usually they don’t bother me but this year I ended up dizzy afterwards. I don’t know if it was because it wasn’t in the usual machine - it was in a temporary truck outside. Felt less stable?

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salutdamour@reddit

Evenings and weekends are so much more convenient. I’m glad this is happening

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

For most people. I'm retired - the weekends are the one time I have commitments. I'd happily swap appointments with people who work. I guess it doesn't work like that, though.

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BillWilberforce@reddit

Usually you'd have to pay to go private to get an evening or weekend consultation or scan.

Really shows that the government is reducing the waiting lists.

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Cheesysock5@reddit

The government is not just reducing waiting lists by offering more appointments, they're also taking away funding for necessary appointments, treatments, or surgeries. It's disheartening when your GP and specialists say you need a surgery, then you recieve a letter through the post saying that funding was declined.

I know a lot of people benefit from the NHS, but I have not benefitted from the NHS as much as I am entitled to. I can't see a difference between NHS and private at this point, either way you're paying a lot for not much.

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Total_Fly_2628@reddit

Weekend and evening outpatient lists having been going on for well over a decade in the NHS.

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Peskycat42@reddit

I was going to say this. I can remember a scan on a Sunday morning back in 2012

It was a bit weird as the wing of the hospital was almost deserted with just a few people here and there, but was just an NHS appointment, so I assume the consultant was behind on his NHS lists and taking advantage of the weekends to catch up

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Yikes44@reddit

I'd say weekend and evening appointments are probably easier for a lot of people anyway.

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undercovergloss@reddit

I had an MRI scan at 4pm on a Sunday and was shocked that they run routine scans on a Sunday. I asked the radiographer and she said that they also are on call and if they’re at home and the doctor needs them in - they can be called in at silly hours of the day/night.

(By any chance was the hospital you’re referring to UCLH? If not it must be nationwide)

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AutomaticInitiative@reddit

Hell 7 or 8 years ago I needed an MRI and they got me in next day at 7pm. Essentially there's only a limited amount nationwide so they run them non-stop.

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disneyadviceneeded@reddit

This is a nationwide thing, and being going on for years. At my old job it was Mon-Fri 9-5 (with the clinical staff doing on call). All us non clinical staff would fight over the Saturday waiting list shifts. This was 10 years ago.

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

Still 3 am?

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Guilty-Jellyfish-855@reddit

Most outpatient MRI scanners in the NHS run 8-8 Monday-Sunday, often including public holidays. There's so much demand, having scanner idle is a waste of resource essentially. I've heard some places in Canada run them through the night for outpatients so you could be appointment for a routine knee scan at 2am. I wouldn't be surprised if that becomes a thing in the UK too eventually.

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Silly-Industry1527@reddit

I mean how many people start work at 7 or 8 in that very hospital? It might not have fitted you personally, but not really an unreasonable expectation that a lot of patients couldn't be there at that time. 🤷‍♂️

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Money-Pen8242@reddit

I had an mri appointment at 7.30 on a Saturday night. It was in a glorified portakabin in the car park. Rock and roll!

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No-Jicama-6523@reddit

There are loads of them now, there's one in an Asda carpark near me.

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Mabenue@reddit

I mean this seems pretty sensible. People are more available in the evenings and weekends so makes sense to try and fit people in then. Much more convenient than in working hours.

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akl78@reddit

The backlog is huge, but reducing- have a look at these charts: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7281/

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VardaElentari86@reddit

Probably quite handy if on a 9-5 (my work is fine for getting time off for appointments, but plenty probably aren't)

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Flapparachi@reddit

Yep, I had a CT scan at 7:40pm on a Friday night two hospitals further away from my ‘usual’ one. They ended up calling me on the day and said I could turn up any time after midday and they would squeeze me in, given that I was travelling far and had to arrive on a full bladder.

Backlog clearing.

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swansw9@reddit

Our ‘diagnostic centre’ (CT, MRI, US) is open until midnight to try and clear waiting lists. It suited me fine to go at 10pm on a Friday but the staff told me it’s very unpopular with older people.

I also do occasional weekend outpatient clinics, I usually apologise to the patients for taking up their weekend and they’re usually delighted they didn’t need to take time off work.

It’s just wait list initiatives - it’s a good thing really (3am is REALLY weird though)

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

I guess I count as older people. I'm usually in bed around 9pm. 🤣

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Maximum-Peach2911@reddit

Yep, I've got an ultrasound for what sounds like a very similar situation tomorrow (Saturday) morning. I was actually quite pleased so I don't have to shuffle around work during the week. Now if they start offering me 3am my enthusiasm may start to wake a bit.

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anabsentfriend@reddit

I had an audiology appt on a Sunday morning. It was with the department head and she was trying to clear the backlog. She looked absolutely exhausted. I've heard that she's left now. I've been waiting for my current appointment for months.

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Goopy-GilsCarbo@reddit

I had gynae surgery at 7pm on a Sunday. We had to arrive at 11am on the day but I was last on the list. They were running late but decided just to get mine out the way rather than make me rebook, for which I was very grateful!

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LadyKatkin@reddit

I had a CT scan at 2pm on Christmas Day 2019. They knew I had cancer and wanted to crack on, but I really was flabbergasted at that. The hospital was quiet and everyone was lovely 🥰

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Upstairs_Anywhere_15@reddit

I received a whole letter in the mail saying unfortunately they were going to have to change an upcoming appointment and sorry for the inconvenience etc. I looked at the new date and time and they had moved it by 5 minutes? Very confusing.

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DameKumquat@reddit

I had a colposcopy at 5pm on a Saturday. Very weird walking through a mostly-deserted London teaching hospital.

More recently, a MRI in December at 6pm in a mobile unit at the far end of a dark car park, miles away across the city. It looked like the sort of place kids explore at the start of a horror movie.

Inside was lovely and I was done and dusted before my appointment was due to start.

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feralhog3050@reddit

2024 I had a colonoscopy on Christmas Eve. Nothing like a few days of restricted eating & then bowel prep to get you ready for a big roast dinner, lol. And I was the one cooking. My cousin in Canada was also in hospital that Christmas, and about 10 years ago my dad had an operation on Christmas Eve. It's the most wonderful time of the year

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PipalaShone@reddit

Not too bad, but I came home from holiday with a sprained ankle 7 days ago (it happened 12 days ago) and went to an Urgent Treatment Centre juuuust to make sure.

Turned out I had also broken my foot, so I was strapped into a moonboot and have an appointment with orthopaedics on Tuesday, so 12 days after being seen initially and 17 days after the injury. The hospital is 70 miles away.

I'm really grateful for this because I should gone to hospital while away (totally on me) but also because I was told that the nearer orthopaedics departments in the NHS Trust wouldn't have an appointment for 3-4 weeks!!!

I'm very lucky to have someone to drive me there. 50% of the people in the UTC had a broken/sprained foot/ankle and I really hope they also can get a lift to the right place.

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cityfrm@reddit

I had a CT scan in the carpark portacabin at 7.50pm on a Sunday.

3am is baffling. I would've thought it was a mistake.

I've had bleeding and pain for 2 years, mostly bedridden with it, ever since I had severe overstimulation with IVF at an NHS hospital. I waited 11 months for a gynae appointment, where they told me to speak to my GP and sent me packing. The GP appointment is another 8 weeks later. I would've definitely preferred a 3am appointment to get this sorted quicker.

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darybrain@reddit

"We need clinics and scanning/testing services to run 24/7 to clear huge backlogs"

"Was given an appointment at a crazy time in a place that has the facilities to do this that is further away because it is a bigger place, wtf"

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No-Philosophy6754@reddit

I have a CT scan tonight at 7.30pm.

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TheAnxiousPangolin@reddit

I work in the NHS, and can confirm that there does appear to be some nationwide push to help clear the backlog of patients and get people seen within the recommended timeframes. 6am isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things, and I hope your appointment goes well.

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

!answer Thanks. I definitely wasn't going to wake myself up at 3am on my birthday of all days but I generally wake up around 5-5:30 so I can manage 6.
I have to feel sorry for the poor buggers who have the night shifts.

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Tattycakes@reddit

I’ve seen some talk recently about people being put on virtual waiting lists and getting these “appointments” in the middle of the night and weekends, which aren’t actual appointments, they’re just a way to keep people on the system. Definitely phone and double check!

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

OP this might be the actual answer

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densebloom5@reddit

I came to say this - the ERS system allocates them to a silly time, but it isn't the actual appt time, it's just to keep hold of the referral list though it doesn't normally tell the patient that time

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Crimson-One@reddit

I had a 3am phone call appointment on my NHS app but this wasn't for me to attend, did it mention your attendance, it told me this was an internal call and my attendance wouldn't be required.

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

Mine states "patient does not attend at St George's Hospital" and below that says "This is a telephone/video clinic" so I'm assuming from the latter they'll call.

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Crimson-One@reddit

That certainly sounds like a call mine definitely said 'your attendance is not required' to make it super obvious I didn't need to do anything or worry about this timing of the call.

I wonder if it was originally a typo 3am seems odd for patient contact, glad you were able to rearrange to a more convenient time so soon after, and it didn't prolong the wait further! Recently went through a cancer scare myself (all clear thankfully) so know how nervy the situation can be! Oddly my symptoms were found on my birthday, definitely ruined the mood so understand not wanting to take that type of call on your birthday either.

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GetCapeFly@reddit

Is having an appointment on your birthday that big of a deal?

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jms_uk@reddit

I think the issue is waking up for 3am appointment.

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

This. As a post-menopause female with an ovarian cyst which makes me get up to pee several times a night, my sleep is poor enough already. If I had a call at 3 there's no way I'd get back to sleep again.

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Boredpanda31@reddit

Maybe the time is more of an issue? 3am isn't a great time for a lot of people.

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leofoxx@reddit

I had my flu jab on my birthday. It was my little present from the nhs to live longer 🎉

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CrabbyGremlin@reddit

3pm? Not so bad. 3am? Absolutely not. I wouldn’t spend my birthday sleep deprived and groggy.

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Nice_Back_9977@reddit

Double check it’s a real in person appointment before you do that!

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thecatisincharge@reddit

In our dept, sometimes patients get notified about appointments that are actually the dr writing the results in a letter rather than a phone call & the appt letter/notification will say it’s a telephone call. Maybe that’s what has happened? We get a lot of patients calling to say they waited in & didn’t get a call from the dr & then we explain a letter is on its way with the results.

I guess what I’m saying is, don’t panic if you don’t get a 6am call & you could always call outpatients for clarification on the appt type

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No-Jicama-6523@reddit

One hospital in my area routinely does this. It makes me wonder if be logging it they increase their count of patient interactions.

Same with GPs, I have seen data that says patient interactions are up, but I look at the NHS app and there are far more interactions logged than I experience.

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imjustjurking@reddit

Yeah the NHS app tells me when a clinic is going to review my referral and it has sent out an appointment for that a couple times.

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heavenhelpyou@reddit

100% its this - alot of capital funding has been diverted to clear the backlog. It's about time

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Total_Fly_2628@reddit

Honestly I’m flabbergasted by how little the general population knows about radiography services. This thread is full of some very misinformed people. It makes me sad as a radiographer to see how little people think of us.

OP why is it odd to have a scan on a Sunday?

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Revolutionary-Bag139@reddit

Yep. I’ve had an outpatient MRI at 11.30pm. When I asked the technician why it was so late, they said the machine runs 24/7 so give appointments whenever they have space.

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syfimelys2@reddit

I had a Sunday appointment at 9am on New Years Day this year 🤣 similar situation to OP where I was referred for a scan due to some concerning symptoms. Didn’t expect to spend the first day of the year in a hospital gown with my legs akimbo and a cold hard internal scan thingy up in my guts (facilitated by a male too, not that I cared but was an unexpected turn).

Glad I chose a boring NYE and an early night…

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

Oof, hope it turned out well for you.

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SB-121@reddit

I had a 7.45pm MRI at Salford Royal which was very convenient to get to at that time, and easy to park.

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Spiritual-Peach-4032@reddit

I had a scan on Good Friday which surprised me - but I guess diagnostics was open for emergencies /inpatients, so why not put through outpatients also.

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decentlyfair@reddit

Had a scan at 7.30am on a Sunday once.

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juno_winchester@reddit

I had my gallbladder out at 7.30am last Saturday.

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MrsCDM@reddit

Nice! Mine is coming up in 2 weeks, how are you getting on?

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juno_winchester@reddit

Really well thank you. First 48 hours after the op were pretty rough but it's been a really good recovery. Only time I have some pain now is in my stomach when I stand up from sitting and even then it's only a quick twinge.

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MrsCDM@reddit

That's not bad at all! Wishing you a swift complete recovery ☺️

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juno_winchester@reddit

Thank you! Hope yours goes well too

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Streathamite@reddit

Honestly, some of the replies to this post just show that some people are never happy.

NHS waiting lists a couple of years ago were horrendous. The government has actually done a really good job in reducing them by having the NHS provide more appointments on evenings and weekends (which should actually be better for a lot of 9-5 workers). Yet people still complain!

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Silly-Industry1527@reddit

Exactly. People constantly moaning that they can't get an appointment or they've been on a waiting list for months on end (valid complaints tbh), but then don't want to set their alarm too early to get to an appointment at 7.30 that they apparently desperately need (not so valid in most cases).

I used to work on a clinic reception desk years ago and some of my favourite excuses for not taking appointments were that it clashed with their bingo, that it was on Friday 13th, that 9am was too early to get there from "the other side of the city" (when I started work at 8am every day and came from close to where this patient lived).

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Silly-Industry1527@reddit

Exactly. People constantly moaning that they can't get an appointment or they've been on a waiting list for months on end (valid complaints tbh), but then don't want to set their alarm too early to get to an appointment at 7.30 that they apparently desperately need (not so valid in most cases).

I used to work on a clinic reception desk years ago and some of my favourite excuses for not taking appointments were that it clashed with their bingo, that it was on Friday 13th, that 9am was too early to get there from "the other side of the city" (when I started work at 8am every day and came from close to where this patient lived).

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FitSolution2882@reddit

I'll leave out the oart where they're REMOVING large amounts of people from the waiting list for a number of conditions

But

You are correct otherwise. I wouldn't give a shit what time or where an appointment was.

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Quirky-Respond93@reddit

Exactly this!

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Inevitable-Height851@reddit

I've spent several months in hospital over past 3 years, sleep time isn't a thing on NHS wards, they do scans etc. whenever it works best for them. I know this is an outpatient scan, and it's inconvenient for sure, but I guess they've got to clear their backlog, and better you be seen promptly rather than experience a delay.

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Silly-Industry1527@reddit

Exactly. People constantly moaning that they can't get an appointment or they've been on a waiting list for months on end (valid complaints tbh), but then don't want to set their alarm too early to get to an appointment at 7.30 that they apparently desperately need (not so valid in most cases).

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

Exactly right. It may seem odd to the patient to have appointments at different times but the NHS works 24/7.

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19Pip87@reddit

I’ve had mri’s at 7pm at night, and just this past Sunday had an operation at 8am with just two weeks notice. I said to my surgeon that I was surprised to have a Sunday operation date as every other operation I have had has been during the week but he said they are trying to moving through the waitlist! There was 5 other people in my morning surgery slot and we were all out by early evening or the next day. Hospital was eerily quiet so I’m glad resources are being maximised to their full potential!

I’d be quite happy to turn up early morning instead of waking weeks/months for a more normal slot! If it gets me seen and sorted quicker then I’m all for it!

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Gloomy_Stage@reddit

Yep, my friend had a letter for an MRI scan at a major hospital at 4:30am.

She called to check it was correct and yes it is! I guess in a major hospital the MRI scanners are operated 24/7 in case of emergencies so makes sense to utilise any free time to reduce backlog.

I would rather attend a sooner appointment at 4:30am than wait months for a 10:30am appointment.

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vacuumandduster@reddit

MRI scanners are never turned ‘off’ the magnets are always creating a force, just depends on the staff to operate , so I think it’s worth it to keep scanning patients through night and day :)

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LeftCat6512@reddit

I had a CT scan at 4.30am last year, although less by appointment and more by being in A&E with a burst appendix. It felt surreal being in there in the middle of the night based on the clock, but as busy as the day time.

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FitSolution2882@reddit

I wouldn't give a shiny shite what time and where it was (within reason, the south to Newcastle is taking the piss though) I just want to be bloody seen!

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chuckiestealady@reddit

I’ve had MRI scans on Saturdays and Sundays as I know they are trying to clear the backlog.

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No-Jicama-6523@reddit

I've seen Saturdays and Sundays for routine stuff and opening scanning departments a bit later, so appointments between 5 and 7. 3am for any appointment is insanity, I wouldn't be surprised if they are throwing a few in to every on call shift and you get messed about and have to wait.

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Brief_Reflection_343@reddit

I recently had a gastroscopy on a Saturday afternoon - had been waiting just under a year.

The nurse said the endoscopy unit is working 7 days a week at present.

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Carafaggio@reddit

I had a hospital appointment last year on a Sunday which I thought was weird but assumed it's to help with the backlog since covid. 3am is mad but it makes a bit of sense places in London are doing some 24 hour appointments. They probably keep offering people 3am and they all change the time haha

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LittleSalamander77@reddit

My mum works in ultrasound and helps put on extra shifts on Sundays etc and has done for years and years at silly o clock! But the 3am one is new to me 😂

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Katatonic92@reddit

I've had a few Sunday morning appointments, scheduled for 10am when buses don't start running until then on a Sunday. I've also had later appointments up to 8pm at night.

I have never been given an appointment for anything outside the 12 hour window of 8am-8pm. 3am is crazy.

And I have multiple hospital appointments every month, yes, every month & have every year since 2021. I have 5 specialists, all at different hospitals, all require regular different tests/scans/etc, from me. I'm surprised I haven't experienced something like this.

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MysticMoonACNH@reddit

I got referred on Friday for a brain MRI. Called the hospital Wednesday to book in. After being on hold for 35 minutes I was informed that the waiting list is 15 weeks, and they are currently working on January and February referrals 🤣

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

Jesus. Not like you need your brain or anything!

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Nice_Back_9977@reddit

It might not be a real appointment, sometimes ‘virtual’ ones are scheduled where you will actually just get a phone call at any point in the day, or it might be that someone will review your notes/results and you don’t actually need to be there but it needs to be recorded.

The NHS app complicates this!

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bacon_cake@reddit

Similar happened to me when I received a phonecall confirming my appointment and a text cancelling the appointment on the same day.

I went anyway because nobody would answer the phone, they apologised and said it was actually a phone appointment but I could sit in a spare office, so I did for 45 minutes and nobody called. Turns out it was cancelled all along...

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whyaregeeselikethat@reddit

Yeah I've had the same with a Gynae appointment. An Endo specialist just needed to go over my scans/notes and give me a quick call to book an actual appointment with them at some point that day but it showed on my app that I was going to get a 1am call!

The app is all over the place with some appointments and things in general, it still says I'm on a waiting list for services I'm already seeing and apparently I still need to choose a clinic for a service I'm already under & been seeing for over a year. It's only reliable with my GP related things, I wait for a letter or call to confirm with anything to do with hospitals/specialists now.

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DocMillion@reddit

Yeah I suspect that's what's happened here. Or a fuck up

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Affectionate_Day7543@reddit

I’ve had an appointment with gynaecology consultant at 8am on a Sunday before. I think most of the time you’re being pushed through the private healthcare arm as an nhs patient nowadays

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

My mate in Manchester was pushed through private for a hernia repair, so yes, it definitely happens.

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TheNinjaPixie@reddit

My local hospital in is oursourcing scans etc to Ely at the weekend, it's trying to reduce wait times. its quite a drive and not everyone is able to do that but otherwise its speeding things up

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jaynoj@reddit

My 86 year old mum got an appointment letter for an ECG for the 25th of Dec last year.

I'm deadly serious.

Anyway, I called them and they said it was an error. No shit!

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

Yikes!

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LittleMMCX@reddit

Called this week to get a Pill check (Monday 18th May). Usually, appointments are available from the next couple of weeks. This time, the next available one was the END OF AUGUST!! 😒 I asked why this was the case and it was because they only do it 2 days a week now to make the nurses available for other types of appointments. The 2 days of the week they picked were the days I usually work too. 🙃

As I was clearly going to run out before then (I call when I start my last box, which is only a couple months supply), they transferred me to the attached pharmacy, who can fit me in next week. Pharmacies can now do them due to the backlog, I have now found out.

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LochNessMother@reddit

I think evening and weekend appointments are amazing, they help clear the backlog, but also mean you don’t have to miss work. When you have complex medical stuff going on, the appointments can really mount up. 3am however is a bit ridiculous.

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Ancient-Awareness115@reddit

I had a scan at a hospital 20 miles away at 8am on a Sunday. If we didn't drive it would have been impossible

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Sfb208@reddit

I had a 7 am MRI once, and I was the second patient of the day (though both of us turned up to find an empty unit due to start absence). I've also had sat and Sunday appointments for tests, but 3am still seems odd. I wonder if it's outsourced to non UK Dr?

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fvalconbridge@reddit

Yes I had an MRI at 8pm recently!

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CrazyPlatypusLady@reddit

My psych appointment (medication review) last year was 5:30am. Couldn't remake it because I'd waiting ages and my GP was refusing to reissue my medication without it. Even though it was a video call, it messed my whole day up.

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hellvixen1966@reddit

Hospitals often do a larger variety of blood tests than the gp does. I am going to endocrinology for a single specialised blood test.

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Puzzled-Barnacle-200@reddit

Does that mean GPs do bood tests in-house? I assumed they'd send them off to a lab/hospital.

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JoelPetey@reddit

Often with this sort of thing all of the information e.g. request to results will be on one system, so it will be the hospital doctor wanting to be able to track and read the results when they're ready without having to go back and forth with the GP about it as they won't be able to see each other's systems.

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Nice_Back_9977@reddit

No they don’t, but some blood tests need specific bottles, or need to go on ice, or to get to the lab in a fast timeframe, or get sent off to specialist labs GPs can’t access.

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faroffland@reddit

Yeah when I had an ectopic pregnancy my hospital blood tests were turned around in a matter of hours to check my HCG was going down. You’re not gonna get that kind of turnaround from a GP that posts them off to a lab.

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Ok-Lack4735@reddit

We actually can! But not regularly, only if something is going belly up generally

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faroffland@reddit

Yeah someone else replied saying they’ve had bloods done extremely urgently via their GP, that’s awesome (well not that it’s in emergencies but great you have that option available!)

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

I had a suspected blood clot when I went to go with a swollen leg, the blood test was done at 11am in gps surgery and she phoned the results to me by 5 pm. The nearest large hospital is 30 miles away.

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faroffland@reddit

That’s awesome! I didn’t realise GPs can process urgent bloods that quickly, I would have assumed 24 hours minimum.

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Ok-Lack4735@reddit

Yep, most do. Depends on your area I'm sure but in my area we do our own bloods. Have lots of issues with people wanting hospital bloods doing there though, we make exceptions but generally it's a no.

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

My local practise does do the test I needed, they just didn't have any appointments for ages. I had to book the blood test myself and Queen Mary was the only place that had an appointment in the next few days. NHS is under strain, clearly.

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toonlass91@reddit

Endoscopy nurse. We have weekend and bank holiday lists running as normal. We are also on call overnight for emergency cases. Weekend appointments normal, but 3am seems odd

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kelliana@reddit

I work in the NHS and do referrals myself. Some services you book an appt and it will be a random time like 8am on a Sunday. It says at booking “do NOT give the patient this appt time the notes will be reviewed by a clinician” or something along those lines. Perhaps you’ve got a similar case and it’s linked into the NHS app but not discerning between different types of appt? I really feel like you’re not going to receive a call at 6am. Our local trust has an Access Issues and Resolution Service - perhaps worth looking for that at your trust and ringing for clarity.

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faerydays@reddit

I have been waiting since September for quite an urgent post-op MRI 😬

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saz2377@reddit

Years ago my husband had a mri scan booked for 9:45pm didn't realise it was pm and turned up in the morning. Thankfully they squeezed him in.

My side was a bit more recent, I was waiting for an appointment from a referral and got my first appointment letter yesterday. My appointment is in July 2027

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Effiecat@reddit

I had a neurology appointment this Sunday, it was at a normal hour tbf.

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KrozJr_UK@reddit

I had a surgery last week, went into the ward probably at about nine, half nine, or so. Was routine, wasn’t an emergency (appendectomy, I’d been waiting at the hospital for 48 hours by that point), so it wasn’t like I was rushed into theatre at whatever time I showed up. I don’t know what’s “normal” times for operations but that did feel surprisingly late.

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According_Union@reddit

Got a late evening weekend appointment soon, they're definitely getting the overtime in to get the backlogs down! Honestly not complaining as I don't have to wait as long, though 3am sounds pretty wild haha.

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BlodeuweddPorffor@reddit

I often (often being every 18 months) have MRIs at 8pm at night in a city an hour from me. And I have to fast for 4 hours before hand. Not pleasant.

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blazej84@reddit

I’ve had an appointment at a weekend it was much better actually as was seen much quicker !.The early hours of the morning is new to me though😬. I know if you are a inpatient you can get taken down early for scans etc as that happened to me when I had a stay in hospital so I guess it’s like that .If it helps get the waiting lists down it can only be a good thing imo.

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purplepeopleater205@reddit

We have a new diagnostic centre nearby and they are open quite late, it was really nice just walking in after work for a test and being seen straight away.

Also got a call about a cancellation for another test, asking if I could attend at short notice. I was happy to rather than wait a few more weeks as I'd been advised.

Definitely looks like the push to clear waiting lists is working.

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jesuseatsbees@reddit

I got a letter for an appointment in the early hours years ago so I called up and the very fed-up person on the other end said that they use these slots as a sort of placeholder, essentially to make their waiting list look better and it wasn’t a real appointment. Sure enough there was some small print in the letter that did say not to attend. I did eventually get a real appointment at a more sensible time.

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Weak-Ad-5181@reddit

I got given an appointment on Boxing Day which I desperately tried to change, but no one picked up. now my GP keeps trying to gaslight me into saying I showed up which i didn’t!

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Automatic_Acadia_766@reddit

I have had a 7am appointment, but 3am is crazy 😂

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ikiteimasu@reddit

Yep it’s taken me nearly two years to get a hint of a vascular assessment requiring imaging and scans. They finally scheduled it as a phone call at 7am (wtf) only to tell me their booking system was changing and all appointments were cancelled - but I wasn’t to worry they’d reach out and rearrange. Have they fk. So guess that’s me waiting another several months!

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redditjada@reddit

3am is crazy. Even if you were an inpatient. 6am is still super early, but i guess it’s better than waiting 6 months. Hope it all goes well for you!

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bigbadjimb@reddit

I too had a ultrasound, 10am Sunday, nice and quiet though

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secretlondon@reddit

It has to be a mistake

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Petrichor_ness@reddit

I found a lump on my breast December two years ago. I got the standard "mid thirties is too young for breast cancer, you'll be fine". To which I pointed out I had a hip replacement age 29 and I don't feel like rolling the dice, so they referred me.

I got my appointment letter through a week later which was for mid Feb (8 weeks after first doc appointment) at a hospital over four hours away.

I'm so freckin grateful to have private healthcare as once I had my referral letter, my health insurer set me up with an appointment the following week, still four hours away but I guess there's just no breast cancer in the Highlands!

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Fill-Choice@reddit

As someone who luckily is able to drive, I'd rather have batshit appointment times than be waiting months to be seen. However three weeks is still crazy for abdominal swelling.

My husband had cancer a few years ago and he visited GP for another lump, he had bloods taken that day at the GPS, got a same day appointment with a radiologist about 20miles away and had his bloods taken again and results two days later. This was all NHS, in the north east around January time. I was gobsmacked

Hopefully the rest of the country will get there

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bopeepsheep@reddit

I've had a few through for times like 6am Sat and 7pm Sun. The main issue I had with the 6am one, other than there being no buses, is that I know from previous appointments that the receptionist doesn't start until 8am. You're supposed to wave at the techs and hope they see you to let you in... no thanks. So I tend to rebook for after 8am.

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TurbulentHamster3418@reddit

Yep had an MRI late evening on a Sunday the other month.

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No_Thought_1492@reddit

Not so much a silly appointment slot, but rather I’d been trying to get an appointment since September 2023. I finally got it in December 2025 for upcoming June 2026. I can’t even remember what it was for but I’m sure as shit going to see what excuses they’ll make up.

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b-l-i@reddit

Baring in mind you can’t remember what the appointment is for, may I suggest that by doing this you are simply adding to the problem. While I appreciate your frustrations, are the people you will be speaking to really have any influence on what caused the issue? To me, all it seems you are doing is using up an appoint you no longer need that could go to someone else and wasting your time on a futile task.

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Cal_PCGW@reddit (OP)

I'm sorry to hear that, that must be frustrating.

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SnooGrapes2914@reddit

My daughter got an appointment for an eye test at a hospital more than an hour's drive away when she was a kid. I don't drive so it's almost 3hrs on public transport. Got a letter the next day with an appointment at the exact same time at the hospital a 20 minute walk from my house. Phoned the first hospital, had a laugh about it with the receptionist and cancelled their appoinment

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iloovehugecock@reddit

Yeah I’ve had an ongoing health issue requiring lots of scans, surgeries and all sorts. Initially my appointments were taking forever. I’m talking like 3 month wait for an MRI, then a month wait to get the results, then another 4 months before the operation I needed, etc etc.

I eventually got so fed up of waiting that I complained and asked them why they can’t just schedule all my appointments at once, instead of making me wait for one appointment to take place before booking the next one all the time. They seemed to agree it made sense because from that point on I’ve been getting multiple appointments all scheduled at once, and a lot of them have been really early on Sunday mornings for some reason.

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Quiet_surprise79@reddit

Not any weird timing ones but I get sent all over the place. I'm under the care of one hospital at the minute which is 20 minutes away, but I get sent to another one that's also 20 minutes away in the opposite direction for bloods, then appointments at the usual hospital a couple of days later to follow up. I've also had scans at one 40 mins away which I've also had at my hospital, so I guess it's to do with availability rather than capability.

I previously got sent to a hospital an hour away for a boob check because of long wait times in the local area, and I also have a MH appointment at a 5th hospital as it's a dedicated community mental health hospital.

My previous GP had a phlebotomist who would do most blood tests. I've had tests done at my new GP, but I think all hospital-ordered ones have to be done at a hospital now. Something to do with the financial pressure it was putting on GPs iirc?

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dinkidoo7693@reddit

My last couple of hospital appointments have been on Sunday afternoons, they know I’m a single parent and can’t drive and the Sunday service buses are a nightmare. Its been awful trying to arrange childcare and just getting to and from appointments that only last 10mins at most. I asked for a different day and was told the specialist only works 3 days a month, usually weekends.

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lawrekat63@reddit

I was booked in for an MRI on my liver at 20:30 on a Sunday evening

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

OP marked this as the best answer, given by /u/TheAnxiousPangolin.

I work in the NHS, and can confirm that there does appear to be some nationwide push to help clear the backlog of patients and get people seen within the recommended timeframes. 6am isn’t too bad in the grand scheme of things, and I hope your appointment goes well.

^(What is this?)

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StGuthlac2025@reddit

They're trying to cut waiting lists.

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