I'm mortified

My dentist can charge for missed appointments/late cancellations, but they're very understanding with me. I often have to phone at short notice to change my appointment, due to migraine or back spasm - both unpredictable.

ExDancer, I often forget what day it is - so rely on the reminder texts from doctors and dentists. I do check my mobile morning and evening, though, as I never carry it around with me.

My friend actually has a diary, with everything noted down, so can tell me exactly what she's doing for weeks ahead!

ExDancer

Plenty of tips here, thanks everyone. I will try some of them, but don't have a smart phone (fees are too expensive) although I do write things on the calendar.
I would have happily paid a fine as 'punishment'

90p in W H Smith's sale - write everything down and put it in the kitchen near the kettle so you can see it last thing at night/first thing in the morning!

Works a treat (usually).

www.whsmith.co.uk/products/whsmith-2023-week-to-view-commercial-calendar/5013872123833.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_5C_-8yO_QIVlsvtCh3dCwc7EAQYAyABEgLVs_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Similar products and other retailers available

Worked as a Practice Nurse for 13 years. It was the smears that used to get me, 3 missed/DNA/forgotten used to mean a precious hour wasted. Bloods…used to give me a chance to catch up following difficult ones, unless too many didn’t come.

Plenty of tips here, thanks everyone. I will try some of them, but don't have a smart phone (fees are too expensive) although I do write things on the calendar.
I would have happily paid a fine as 'punishment'

Mortified? Don't beat yourself up over this. It happens. Just phone up the surgery, apologise, and make a new appointment. My GP surgery always sends a text reminder the day before an appointment. If yours doesn't offer this service, which is automated, perhaps suggest that they introduce it.

An small old fashioned diary is the answer. I write everything in mine and carry it with me all the time. Not possible to forget appointments if you make a habit of entering everything, keep it handy, and check it often.
Lots of people prefer a mobile phone but a diary is easier I think.

I've never been late for or missed a doctor's or dentist's appointment. I'm well aware that I can be absent-minded and have set up reminders on my phone calendar. However, I have twice managed to turn up early for a hairdressing appointment - on one occasion, a whole week early!

Callistemon- yes, it works brilliantly- first thing I do in morning is check it. done.

ExDancer

I completely forgot a doctor's appointment yesterday.
Should I phone the surgery and make a grovelling apology and humbly ask for another? It was for a nurse to take some bloods to try to sort out some new symptoms, so quite important as the problem does need attention.
I feel so very stupid - I just forgot what day it was, and the appointment was made weeks ago!
I just forgot!

Ex-Dancer we use an old-fashioned thing called a Week to View Diary - appointments etc are written in there as soon as they're made and it's always there, open, near the kettle.
I know reminders can be set up on mobile phones too but we find this simple system works for us.
WH Smith is selling them much reduced now.

I'm not saying it's infallible but it helps!

You don't sound like the sort of person who regularly misses appointments. Ring them and apologise. I am sure that's all you need to do.

Mirren

I have forgotten appointments at my GP surgery...and I am a GP at another surgery!
I always apologise for my mistake but , unless you are a frequent offender , everyone understands that people forget, cars break down, buses don't turn up etc. Life happens!

If a car does not start up, or a bus doesn't turn up- you would phone immediately and release appointment for emergency, surely.

Our GP surgery put up details every week of missed appointments for GPs and Nurses. It is always somewhere between 10 and 14 hours….a week. I can never believe how many people DNA, (Do Not Attend). There will be legitimate reasons on some occasions, but from knowing the Practice Manager/Receptionists well, the majority just forget or don’t turn up.

I have forgotten appointments at my GP surgery...and I am a GP at another surgery!
I always apologise for my mistake but , unless you are a frequent offender , everyone understands that people forget, cars break down, buses don't turn up etc. Life happens!

Perhaps a good idea to charge for missed appointments- same as hairdresser's or nail salon, or indeed dentist's. Not the full cost, but significant enough to 'concentrate the mind'. 25 for GP, 50 for out-patients and 250 for operation. NHS should continue to be free for treatment, but not missed treatment.

If someone is not able to go out and attend surgery, and therefore only has home visits (which are like gold dust these days) - are can it be that they are out when doctor calls?

My surgery sends texts to remind us the day before appointment.

I know it can happen to anyone. But ... I think we should all make treble sure to try and not forget. I went for blood tests 2 weeks ago, and the nurse could not give me an appointment with GP until the 28th of Feb. Which means said appointment are so precious, and me not turning-up would deny someone else the chance. A few years back, I went for an operation on my knee- very long waiting list and yet several people did not turn up- for AN OPERATION! I was reall shocked- especially due to very long waiting list. Several people could have had a life-changing op on that day- and the cost for theatre staff and post op, aneasthetist, etc, etc, is enormous and such a waste.

I once went a week early.for a hospital appointment
I have had hospital reminders but they are n often 5 days before, which is good but also think it would be good to have one the day before, as you can forget with so much notice

I’ve never forgotten a GP surgery appointment but last year I completely forgot to attend for jury service. The letter arrived about two months before I was asked to attend, and I followed the instructions for accepting. I put the letter where I couldn’t possibly fail to see it every day. And then, at some point, put other paperwork down on top of it!
To my horror (and instant panic), I found it three weeks after I should have attended. Sent an email (I found it on a Saturday) and I phoned first thing on the Monday morning. Was told to forget about it, apparently it happens often as the letters are sent out so far ahead.

I wonder how many of these people ever ‘forgot’ to go to the airport on the right day for their holiday flight, they are booked even further ahead than doctors or hospital appointments.

I was a hospital receptionist back in the days when there were no reminders sent out. It was extremely rare to have a clinic where every patient turned up! The notes of the patients who didn't attend would go through to the consultant and he would say whether they should be sent another appointment or discharged. Also it was not unusual to have patients turn up a day or a week late, or even early.

Please just ring and be honest. I'm a receptionist at a hospital and we always appreciate someone who says "I honestly just forgot" and apologises rather than try and make up a story

A bit harsh!

Phone, apologize. Ask if they do have a system for reminders on your mobile or email and make sure they have the information they need.

At home put it on a wall calendar or in your diary. When you are looking at the weekend at your next weeks appointments etc. When you notice the appointment put an alarm on your mobile phone for the day with an hour before or what ever it takes to get ready and go.

Good luck.

I completely understand that sometimes appointments do get forgotten and I’m sure an apologetic phone call would be appreciated by the surgery. I was horrified to learn that in January our local surgery had 44 hrs of wasted clinicians time by people missing their appointments, apparently this was better than in December! No wonder it’s so difficult to make an appointment.