Appointments

We live in a society where people work from 8 am until 6 pm. Supermarkets have caught onto this years ago and have extended their opening hours to accommodate our working lifestyle.

Yet for some reason many other establishments have not yet adapted to this form of consumer-oriented opening hours.

Last week I had to cancel an appointment I had made because I have to work that day. But when I tried to reschedule it was just impossible because the damn dentist isn't open on wednesdays and that's my only day off. On other days they only have time between 8 am and 5 pm, which is exactly when I work. Now I'm gonna get my head chewed off because I haven't been to the dentist for too long, but it's not even my fault. I can't come because of their limited opening hours. And I have the luxury of having a day off. Many people don't even have that and would have to take a day of leave to go see the dentist. And what's worse than sacrificing a day off to go to the dentist?

And don't even get me started on the appointment I need to make at the dermatologist. The first one I called tells me they won't have an opening until august (!). Then I try to phone the hospital dermatologist, and they are so busy that I am kept waiting almost 10 mins until I just decide to give up. The next hospital website tells me they too have a waiting list of over 9 weeks. What is wrong with this picture? Why is it so hard to make an appointment for all these things?

But things might change in the near future. The european union wants to approve a motion to have more flexible working hours. This will make it easier for a lot of people to make these stupid appointments without having to take a day off or missing hours at work. But I also want to strongly suggest to all of these (medical) establishments to broaden their opening hours and start adapting to the lifestyle that we are all so accustomed to these days! Perhaps try opening on saturday? Or in the evening? Or perhaps just open specially for me?