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What a numpty!

(20 Posts)
Anne58 Wed 26-Aug-15 16:58:48

Good afternoon all,

Day off today, and as I had an appointment at Bideford Hospital, I offered to take the work banking to do. The boss is flat out and flustered with a special 2 week summer school, and as I also had to go to the high street to collect some shoes, so it was no trouble and extra brownie points. grin

Left in plenty of time, as I hate the feeling that I might be late, and parking at the hospital is not easy. (Never seen so many cars illegally parked, 2 wheels on the verge and the other 2 on the double yellow linesconfused).

Arrived in town, collected the shoes (the stitching still doesn't look right) did the banking and decided to go mad and buy a bottle of a perfume that I used to wear which was on special offer at £13.99. Actually, I'm not sure that it still suits me, but it's a bit late now.

Out of the town car park, and on to the hospital, where I managed to find a space after only about 5 minutes driving round.

Flushed with success I proceeded to the right department (I had been before so knew that it wasn't in the main building). I rang the bell to be let in, explained to the receptionist that I was a little early, but was happy to wait. She looked a bit flummoxed and asked who I was there to see.

I couldn't remember, but rummaged in my bag, telling her that I hadn't actually received an appointment card, but had been copied in on the letter from the consultant that I had seen previously, when she had written to this one asking them to see me. The appointment itself had been made by telephone.

I was at the wrong hospital shock and there was no way I could have got to the right one (Barnstaple) either in time or without getting myself all of a doo dah.

It's been rescheduled for next week.

It's an appointment at the memory clinic to see if the new tablets have made any difference blush

Charleygirl Wed 26-Aug-15 17:05:37

Oh dear- how to waste time phoenix without really trying. You were fortunate to get another appointment so soon.

Anne58 Wed 26-Aug-15 17:12:44

There were 2appointments made originally Charleygirl just in case the consultant decided it was too soon tojudge the effect, as I told them that I had delayed starting the new tablets because I was worried about the bad dreams sad

dustyangel Wed 26-Aug-15 17:19:19

grin phoenix Sorry you were all of doo dah. Having narrowly missed going to the wrong hospital and then totally muddled myself up and got to the right one on the wrong day, it appealed to my sometimes weird sense of humour.

Anne58 Wed 26-Aug-15 17:29:04

dusty I stayed quite calm, stoical almost, and went to Morrisons. The receptionist did say "would you like me to call them & say that you're on your way?" , but I knew that driving to Barnstaple under pressure, so to speak, would definitely have got me all of a doo dah!

Bellanonna Wed 26-Aug-15 17:29:25

Oh, Phoenix. I think the lack of a letter didn't really help. I try, not always with 100% success, to write in the diary straightaway. It doesn't always happen and I do cock up sometimes. I find these days I daren't commit anything to memory. Good luck next week, and hope the consultation goes ok.

Luckygirl Wed 26-Aug-15 17:44:32

Not a numpty - it all sounds as though it was a bit confusing to me.

posie Wed 26-Aug-15 17:59:53

How annoying for you but easy done. I have to write times & appts down straight away as well these days. Also suddenly think of something to write on shopping list only to have forgotten what it was when I go to write it down.

Elegran Wed 26-Aug-15 18:03:18

Join the club. A few days ago I turned up for ny tenth annual checkup after my lumpectomy (Yippeee the last one!) at the date and time entered in the diary, copied from the note in the back of last year's diary where I wrote it after last year's appointment. The receptionist couldn't find any record. She eventually found the appointment was for next Monday. At least it was ahead!

Anne58 Wed 26-Aug-15 18:13:40

Every good wish for next Monday, Elegran !

girlofthelimberlost Wed 26-Aug-15 18:23:54

I did something like this a few weeks ago. Arrived at dentist's all flustered apologizing for being a few minutes late and proceeded to explain about the traffic.
Receptionist looked totally baffled and when I gave her a chance she explained my appointment was for late afternoon. I told her oh no, it's for this morning. I have it marked on my calendar.
She remainded me that appointment was for the hygienist and he works there afternoons.
Had a look at my calendar and of course she was right. I had been looking at the appointment for two weeks' previous with the dentist.

Now she calls me the day before to remind me of the appointment and time blush

NfkDumpling Wed 26-Aug-15 18:38:08

You have two hospitals Phoenix?

Elegran Wed 26-Aug-15 18:38:34

Thanks phoenix No problems so far, touch wood, so I don't anticipate any.

A side effect of not going to the appointmant was that I went into Waitrose instead (convenient to Hospital and bus) They do a "you shop and we deliver" so the modest shop I usually do in Tesco's and carry home morphed into about twice as much to be delivered to the door.

Ana Wed 26-Aug-15 18:41:23

As an aside, I only noticed today that my local Asda has a huge sign emblazoned on its window 'Order online and get delivery for free!' grin

Lona Wed 26-Aug-15 18:41:48

Happily any hospital appointments made in this area are marked with at least one letter and a couple of text reminders!
I'm a bit 'belt and braces' so I write it on the calendar as well as putting it in my phone! hmm

Ana Wed 26-Aug-15 18:45:12

I do agree, Elegran, that those yearly checkup appointments are fraught with danger! They send me the appointment a week or so after I've had this year's and don't send any reminders - it's up to the patient to record the time and date somewhere safe.

HildaW Wed 26-Aug-15 19:53:35

Easily done I've been referred for two tests - not dissimilar, and it was only by chance that I looked at the letter heads and saw that one was at one hospital and t'other elsewhere. As my initial appointment was in one place it did not dawn on me that one of the referrals would be at another location.

Anne58 Thu 27-Aug-15 08:24:04

Nfk one in Bideford, one in Barnstaple, not two in the same town!

glammanana Thu 27-Aug-15 08:32:35

It must be the week for us Phoenixas on Tuesday I made arrangements with everyone for me to go for CT scan (re broken shoulder/arm)yesterday to realise at the last minute it was not until next Wednesday the 2nd Sept thinking I should book in memory clinic myself.confused

rosesarered Thu 27-Aug-15 08:52:06

Poor you, Phoenix, did you feel silly? I once turned up for an op at the wrong hospital, which was even worse than your mistake! Things like this happen all the time.smile