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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Immunisation appointments

31 replies

Custardcreamking · 04/09/2023 10:37

I have a small child who is due the next round of immunisations. I had an appointment sent to me on a day that I cannot make. I work 5 days a week, 4 weekdays and one day at the weekend so have one fixed day off in the normal working week in which to get all of the life admin / chores done.

My drs doesn’t do the immunisations through their nurses, it has to be a health visitor. The health visitors only do immunisations in clinics and dispite living in a big city and being willing to travel they cannot fit me into any clinics on my day off, ever. ‘Take a day off work’ they suggest. I only get the bare minimum holiday and it’s all allocated until the end of the year.

And I am a bit pissed off about the suggestion that I take a full day off work to get my child immunised. It seems to me like so much in this country that nothing has changed from the 1970s when families survived on a single income and the mum stayed home. Life’s not like that these days, and I’d expect the nhs to understand that and be a bit flexible in understanding that I cannot be in a certain place at a certain time.

We’ve hit an impasse and my child isn’t getting immunised (until I calm down and gather the energy to try to address the situation once more). AIBU to expect the NHS to be a bit more flexible?

OP posts:
hdbs17 · 04/09/2023 10:47

Be like the rest of us and take a day off to get your child their appointment.

If the HV clinic is only operating on a set day - they aren't going to change that just for you.

Chamomileteaplease · 04/09/2023 10:47

It is quite normal to have a specific time for children's immunisations ie Thursday afternoons. They have to have everything set up and get it all done at once.

Could you ask a relative or friend to take him? - quite normal so long as you ask the clinic or surgery if they need something in writing or whatever from you.

JenniferBarkley · 04/09/2023 10:45

Being a working parent is really fucking hard, but it's normal to need to take time off for the DC's medical appointments. I think most surgeries only do immunisations in dedicated clinics, it must save them a huge amount of time which is a precious resource for them. I think you just have to suck it up.

TheLongGloriesOfTheWinterMoon · 04/09/2023 10:43

Not really tbf.
This is the NHS that the govt is busy dismantling.
When I was a pregnant teacher, (2003) my midwife appointments were on a Friday morning. No leeway. The midwife came on Friday morning to my GP surgery. If I wanted continuation of care, then Friday morning it was.
Maybe your partner could take the child? Or a relative?

RancidOldHag · 04/09/2023 10:42

I can see where you're coming from, but no it's not always possible to arrange endlessly flexible vaccination clinics, or to take up appointments meant for other purposes with vaccines

And this has been the case since at least the 1990s (in some areas at least)

So no, you're unlikely to have an exception made. Instead, can you save up lots of in-person things, and get them all done on one day off?

Hufflepods · 04/09/2023 10:42

Plenty of parents work full time and manage to get their children immunised or take them to appointments.

They don’t do the clinic on your 1 free weekday, what exactly do you expect them to do? Employ someone to work an additional day for you?

Theres also no need to book a whole day off. Book a morning or late afternoon slot and you can work the rest of the day.