People using up your time

fussypensioner

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

I find the whole weekly shop thing a big problem as well and avoid petrol stations where there is a big store attached.

But I disagree about the moving the car thing - where should the driver move their car to, there won't be parking places for every car or even any space to move their car forward a bit without blocking everyone else. Also, you run the risk of being accused of driving off without paying and technically you should NOT move until you've paid. Lastly, I don't think the fuel is released from the pump until the previous person has paid, so you'd just be standing there glaring at the attendant's window for a while.

Having said that, I find the behaviour of other people at petrol stations infuriating - mainly the getting back into the car, putting everything back in a bag/wallet, doing God knows what, instead of actually driving away and letting someone else fill up.

I always pick pay-at-pump where possible, pick a quiet time and always completely fill up so that the next ordeal is delayed as long as possible .

We are the victims here of the money making machine. You could only buy petrol at one time, but now people want everything "on the go" so it is provided for us, but without much thought about where you should park if you want to shop as well. The consumer always gets blamed but it is the petrol stations that need to provide the proper facility to park.

As for the fuffing around before driving off, this is very irritating and I once watched a lady in front of me take down her pony tail, brush it and then re-do it into a different style.

GlasweJen

its not just overbooking, medical record and nursing staff have a lot to juggle.

The clinic is set out as say 10 + 2 which is 10 regular appointments plus 2 squeezed in (emergencies usually).
Then the junior gets say 14.

We come in in the morning and we have 24 regular appointments and 7 overbookings all of them deemed emergency or urgent.

Then a ward phones, we've had a person admitted and X has happened - well that's another one to squeeze in.

Then someone turns up in a patient transport ambulance, that service is so squeezed here that the person needs seen to ASAP or there's a risk they won't get home.

Then someone flies in from one of the islands, again they need seen on time to get back to the airport to get home.

Then someone who has a pre-booked translator appears but the translator is in another part of the building, going to take longer than anticipated so that person needs to wait and then be squeezed in later.

Plus all the regular appointments, most of our patients need scans and drops in before seeing the doctor. Family members want to interrogate us and then want in depth explanations as to why we won't discuss the patient and they won't accept any of the lovely leaflets out lining our data protection policy or giving an overview of the condition that their relative has.

And that all happened yesterday, thank god I'm part time.

DomRavioli

Firstly, to the OP - I am always on time for my flights, however the special assistance people are guaranteed to be late. I've been the last on the plane on many occasions, along with other disabled people, because we were waiting for the pre-booked assistance. The worst I have had is T1 Manchester, where we were the only flight to leave within a 90 minute period due to cancellations of other flights, and they were still late, holding up the entire plane for a good 20 minutes. I was at the gate 60 minutes before departure, it was pre-booked and confirmed at check in, and they still couldn't get it right. I could have had another glass of wine, but no, I sat at that blooming gate like a lemon waiting.

I absolutely hate when shop staff are chatting to each other, when you're right there and they can see you, and they still ignore you.

And Jen, you are completely right! I've worked in the NHS for 11 years and some clinics I have worked in don't just overbook, they double book, due to the sheer numbers of DNAs. On the rare occasion that patients turn up in numbers, they will be seen, but it will be on priority need for their time slot.

I've also worked in a GP surgery; the usual reason for running late is emergencies - the kind of emergencies where they need admitting to hospital; as a GP you never know what will walk into your room, it could be something simple like a verruca or a medication review, or someone could literally be on death's door. Sometimes doctors are late too, it isn't intentional (contrary to some patient's thoughts, they don't control traffic, the weather, or idiots). Please don't take it out on the staff, who have no control over another human being, and are usually just as frustrated as you are that there is a delay. Just speak to the manager/supervisor, or pop a complaint in so they can handle your concerns in the right way.

Savvy_Sue

I arrived just a couple of minutes early for a bra fitting not long ago. Was asked to take a seat, which I did. Sat there for 20 minutes. Then heard someone saying "the twenty to three hasn't turned up". So I stood up and said, excuse me, I've been sat here 20 minutes. Somehow they'd missed me.

THAT was annoying!

gayleygoo

I am a stay at home mum and when I make a doctors appointment I usually take the first one offered by the receptionist.

Despite not being employed outside the home (I don't consider myself "unemployed" as such), there could be times where an after-five-o-clock appointment would suit best: i.e. when my OH is home from work and I can go to the docs without my 3 small children (a few people have commented on the distress of being around children at the doctors', so it seems there is no winning whether I was to bring children with me to an earlier appointment or "take up" a later slot that employed people may feel entitled to. Although I've usually managed to get a babysitter, not everyone is able to do that.

I don't mind waits at doctors' either. It's no-one's fault usually, sometimes there are emergencies. I take a book or some knitting to any place where I might have to wait, and am never bored.

Indie_Kid

DomRavioli wrote: »

Firstly, to the OP - I am always on time for my flights, however the special assistance people are guaranteed to be late. I've been the last on the plane on many occasions, along with other disabled people, because we were waiting for the pre-booked assistance.

I've not had this problem. (ok, I've only done Exeter to Dublin and Dublin to Exeter) I turned up with plenty of time to spare and so did assistance both times.

jackyann

No-one looking at me would know that I am retired (other than by the big grin and relaxed attitude!), neither would they know if I am working around my voluntary duties and childcare for family members.

A lot of this thread has been about NHS appointments, and if we want to keep this last shining jewel of a co-operative society, then we have to show our commitment by being careful about appointments that we make, and understanding the pressures on staff.

Kaye1

I agree about Dr's appointments- you never know what is happening.
My routine 32 week check with midwife turned into an emergency caesarean. Which meant she took my blood pressure and pee, tested it and then spent the next half an hour arranging for me to be admitted as an emergency.
Without this intervention my baby wouldn't have made it- but it meant that everyone behind me was VERY late.
So now, if we are running late with anything for NHS, I always think to myself that you never know what is happening to the person in front of you.

peaceandfreedom

Kaye1 wrote: »

I agree about Dr's appointments- you never know what is happening.
My routine 32 week check with midwife turned into an emergency caesarean. Which meant she took my blood pressure and pee, tested it and then spent the next half an hour arranging for me to be admitted as an emergency.
Without this intervention my baby wouldn't have made it- but it meant that everyone behind me was VERY late.
So now, if we are running late with anything for NHS, I always think to myself that you never know what is happening to the person in front of you.

Glad you and baby were OK .

I'm inclined to agree about GP appointments - I don't go very often but I bring a book and am prepared for a wait. It is usually not the GP's fault and certainly isn't the staff's fault.

I try to take a similar view when held up on the motorway because of a crash - at least I'm not IN the crash. I am not a patient person but it doesn't help anyone if we get wound up over things that can't be helped.

Indie_Kid

Kaye1 wrote: »

So now, if we are running late with anything for NHS, I always think to myself that you never know what is happening to the person in front of you.

This is true. Years ago, I was told to go to hospital as I needed an operation. They couldn't for whatever reason, operate that night. Because I couldn't stop shaking, they wanted me to stay in overnight and they'll operate on me first thing the next morning.

Next morning comes. We go down to theater. We're waiting to go in and we're told sorry; but you have to wait. It turns out (I don't quite know his situation) that someone had been rushed in and needed some emergency surgery.

I finally got my operation that afternoon.