Interstate medical specialists changing date of appointment

[harvyk]

Hi All,

A friend of mine was booked on a MEL-SYD vv at the end of June to take her daughter to see a medical specialist. The appointment was confirmed, and she had brought herself / her daughter $70 sale fares with QF.

Yesterday afternoon she received a phone call from the specialist's office saying her appointment was to be moved to the following Monday (they gave a pretty flimsy excuse for the move IMHO)

Now yes I know the simple answer is that she simply books new tickets on the Monday, but this is going to be leaving her out of pocket.

Has anyone ever been able to move flights around for such reasons, alternatively has anyone ever been able send an invoice to a doctor for screwing them around like that?

For the record, no I don't think she is a QFF, and I am pretty certain she doesn't have status.

 

[simongr]

Not exactly the same BUT I recently had a J sale fare to the UK. It was designated not cancellable in the conditions. I was made redundant two weeks ago and my boss was able to sign a statement to that effect and the business has received a credit for the value of the flight for use by someone else.

 

[Archphoto]

I had a similar experience, that I had to cancel a flight due to an extreme lateral sprain on my right ankle. A certificate from the doctor was enough to have the "non-changable" ticket refunded.

Perhaps a similar certificate from the specialist involved would assist?

 

[harvyk]

Perhaps a similar certificate from the specialist involved would assist?

That's what I've suggested to my friend. (thanks to simongr's post)

 

[drron]

Not exactly the same BUT I recently had a J sale fare to the UK. It was designated not cancellable in the conditions. I was made redundant two weeks ago and my boss was able to sign a statement to that effect and the business has received a credit for the value of the flight for use by someone else.

Sorry to hear your news simongr.Hope there is something lined up.

Harvyk when your friend rings the specialist tell them to emphasise the original ticket is nonrefundable and ask if it really is necessary to change the date but if not then get the certificate and tell her to end the conversation with I now hope I can transfer my ticket though it will cost more.sowing a little seed of guilt can help sometimes.

 

[simongr]

Sorry to hear your news simongr.Hope there is something lined up.

Irons in fires and all that. I have only seen four suitable jobs advertised in the past three years so a tad nervous. If one of the irons hatches it might all work out well - I might even grow a beard...

 

[sinophile888]

I was made redundant two weeks ago .

Sorry this is a little OT. I was made redundant at the end of last year. Three weeks later I was asked to reapply as a colleague had taken ill. Now have 6 months work at a higher pay plus I get to keep all the redundancy payout.

 

[simongr]

Sorry this is a little OT. I was made redundant at the end of last year. Three weeks later I was asked to reapply as a colleague had taken ill. Now have 6 months work at a higher pay plus I get to keep all the redundancy payout.

Great result sinophile888!

 

[vetrade]

Hi All,

A friend of mine was booked on a MEL-SYD vv at the end of June to take her daughter to see a medical specialist. The appointment was confirmed, and she had brought herself / her daughter $70 sale fares with QF.

Yesterday afternoon she received a phone call from the specialist's office saying her appointment was to be moved to the following Monday (they gave a pretty flimsy excuse for the move IMHO)

Now yes I know the simple answer is that she simply books new tickets on the Monday, but this is going to be leaving her out of pocket.

Has anyone ever been able to move flights around for such reasons, alternatively has anyone ever been able send an invoice to a doctor for screwing them around like that?

For the record, no I don't think she is a QFF, and I am pretty certain she doesn't have status.

If there is a need for your friend's daughter to see an interstate specialist it is highly likely that specialist practises in a very narrow field and is therefore probably in big demand. Changes to schedules are commonplace for such specialists because of unforeseen urgent surgeries (and the cynical might say, the occasional game of golf) etc. Your friend might be better off just accepting that medical appointments (interstate or not) don't fall into the same category as discretionary holiday travel. Booking tickets significantly in advance to get cheap fares might have been a good option if everything went to plan but since it hasn't she should just suck it up and book new tickets.

And as for the suggestion that the doctor compensate her for inconvenience ? That's just fanciful and ain't gonna happen.

 

[harvyk]

Booking tickets significantly in advance to get cheap fares might have been a good option if everything went to plan but since it hasn't she should just suck it up and book new tickets.

The reason for the change was because the Dr wants to attend a conference on that day, and whilst I know that such events are important for Dr's to attend I also don't see why that should take precedence over a booking made months in advance. Basically this Dr's personal decision has cost my friend, and I feel that he should shoulder some responsibility.

Now had a real emergency popped on the day, well then those sorts of things do happen. But as far as I'm concerned, if you make a booking in good faith, you should be able to rely on the other party to honor that booking, especially if there are other things which need to be arranged to make that booking happen.

 

[oz_mark]

The reason for the change was because the Dr wants to attend a conference on that day, and whilst I know that such events are important for Dr's to attend I also don't see why that should take precedence over a booking made months in advance. Basically this Dr's personal decision has cost my friend, and I feel that he should shoulder some responsibility.

I agree - surely making an appointment has an element of contract around it

 

[markis10]

I agree - surely making an appointment has an element of contract around it

I agree also, but endoscopic putting conferences are important

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I have only seen four suitable jobs advertised in the past three years so a tad nervous.

Four jobs in three years? You must be a specialist too!

In regards to the appointment change - does the doctor know they are flying interstate rather than popping over from the next suburb?

Maybe they haven't even looked at your friends address details? If I received a call such as this I would politely decline informing the establishment my non-refundable flight is booked however I will happily change if you cover my new booking.

 

[mannej]

The reason for the change was because the Dr wants to attend a conference on that day, and whilst I know that such events are important for Dr's to attend I also don't see why that should take precedence over a booking made months in advance. Basically this Dr's personal decision has cost my friend, and I feel that he should shoulder some responsibility.

Now had a real emergency popped on the day, well then those sorts of things do happen. But as far as I'm concerned, if you make a booking in good faith, you should be able to rely on the other party to honor that booking, especially if there are other things which need to be arranged to make that booking happen.

In saying that, we aren't aware if this conference is part of the specialists licensing requirements.

There are professions that have requirements of attendance at these PD events, otherwise they won't have their licenses renewed etc.

Not knowing the specifics as to why he wants to attend I don't feel it's appropriate I comment either way

 

[harvyk]

In saying that, we aren't aware if this conference is part of the specialists licensing requirements.

There are professions that have requirements of attendance at these PD events, otherwise they won't have their licenses renewed etc.

Not knowing the specifics as to why he wants to attend I don't feel it's appropriate I comment either way

Wouldn't someone have specific knowledge of a conference coming up well before the 6 week mark? Especially if something like that is part of their licensing requirements?

Edit: Not trying to be argumentative, and your right, we don't know the specifics, but IMHO it's still a pretty weak excuse.

 

[mannej]

Wouldn't someone have specific knowledge of a conference coming up well before the 6 week mark? Especially if something like that is part of their licensing requirements?

Like I said I don't know the specifics, so my answer is a general one.

The two areas I am aware of have point based structures, so it may be a case of requiring the points for his PD but I don't know.

Without this info I am not in a position to comment either way without speculating

 

[Simo]

My Father lives in MKY and one of his specialist live in BNE and he rang onMonday afternoon and said can you see us on Wednesday morning for the surgery that we wanted to do.

Spare slot and can get you in otherwise will be a few months.

Dad was on the plane and Mum had to go as well as he needed someone to help him.

The cost killer was flights at last minute and also accom in BNE as it was also Ekka time and flying home on a Friday.

It was the best part of $4k for travel plus the contribution for the doctor to do the op.

As Dad is a War Veteran he got some of it reimbursed but no where near the true cost due to the high cost of travel at short notice.

 

[scaredeycat]

IF I were the patient I would politely ask the specialist if he/she wouldn't mind bulk billing me, given the circumstances.
If I were the specialist I'd be only too happy to oblige.
I must admit that I am a soft touch - I can't remember the last time I refused a patient's request to be bulk billed. The vast majority of them would be pensioners that I wouldn't charge anyway.

 

[drron]

Wouldn't someone have specific knowledge of a conference coming up well before the 6 week mark? Especially if something like that is part of their licensing requirements?

Edit: Not trying to be argumentative, and your right, we don't know the specifics, but IMHO it's still a pretty weak excuse.

Not neccessarily.I was asked once at 4 days from the conference to fill in for a presenter who had pulled out at the last minute.However it was on a day I had no patients scheduled.

Then it may not have been an educational conference.I also did medicolegal work and occasionly had to attend a court ordered case conference.Those days I had to reschedule.

 

[JohnK]

Booking tickets significantly in advance to get cheap fares might have been a good option if everything went to plan but since it hasn't she should just suck it up and book new tickets.

And as for the suggestion that the doctor compensate her for inconvenience ? That's just fanciful and ain't gonna happen.

That is a little unfair. Sometimes people make appointments with specialists months in advance and re-organise their lives around the appointment and then the appointment gets rescheduled.

If you make a commitment to do something then stick with that commitment.