To leave my 5 year old in a doctors waiting room?

It's always difficult to ask a favour, but often people will be happy to help, and you may be able to repay them in kind. My FB memories recently threw up a post where I asked whether any of my friends would swap having my DD for a couple of hours for me having their kid/kids on another day.

You have lost your nind if you even think of it as an option. Make a telephone appointment seesh!

OP I know you said you will order headphones for your daughter.

I wondered if you could pop to the GP in your lunch break? Alternatively have a call instead of going into the GPs office?

I appreciate it's difficult for teachers to have time away from the classroom yet in certain circumstances you must prioritise your health. It's ok to do that.

Take care.

I had to speak to GP about DV. I asked receptionist to watch my 6 year old. They did!

@BarbaraVineFan OP, all the outraged posters have clearly never been a lone parent.

I have and I would call the doctors in the first instance and explain and ask if she could be watched in reception with a tablet or book. If they say no I would change it to a telephone appointment instead so you can pop the tv on and have a proper chat.

it’s shit sometimes on your own but definitely don’t miss the appointment, there’s ways round it

Put headphone on your child with a show if you don’t want them to hear. You cannot leave them unattended fgs

Take IPad / phone & noise cancelling headphones - she can watch something whilst you talk to the doctor 🤷‍♀️

The same people who spent the last year before school started teaching them the way to school in order to send them to school alone from day two (the first day is a big deal and the whole family go), and have taught them how to open the front door and what to do in an emergency and which neighbous to go to, and practiced incrementally leaving them alone for short periods, so that they can come home and be on their own for an hour or two, given that the early years of primary school the school day ends at 11:30am.

It's considered negligent not to have taught your child (if no relevant additional needs) to be pretty independent by the time they start school (at age 6). Culturally relative.

Just call the surgery - 😂 cos it's so easy lol - and ask the receptionists if this will be ok.

I'm pretty sure this just unlocked a memory or being allowed behind the counter in our Drs iirc, but it was a tiny 2 Dr practice.

I had a similar situation, needed bloods taken but if im not physically holding my 5yr old (SEN) he would cause havoc. I asked the receptionist would anyone be free to hang on to him just for the length of time it would take to jab me with the needle but she said they couldn't guarantee anyone would be free so I had to wait an extra couple of weeks until he was back in school.
My bloods thankfully weren't urgent and I've also experienced low mood and anxiety that I couldn't talk about in front of my children so I know its not ideal to wait but could it be an option to rearrange the appointment for when your DD is back at school? Or could you request a telephone appointment instead? Either way phone the surgery beforehand and see if anyone can watch her as you don't want the stress of being turned away on the day

Like others I'm really sorry to read this - things like not adding you to the WhatsApp group are so blatant and absolutely wrong. It sounds as though you've tried several groups too (you do get cliques in some groups but can usually find a more friendly/ open alternative, it's frankly awful that more than one group has treated you this way).

Bring her in with an iPad and headphones?

Headphones yes.
But also when you go into the consulting room see if she can sit behind you in a corner, you'll find it a lot easier to say what you need to if she doesn't have your face in sight..
Depends on the room obvs.

Take her in with you with ear phones and Peppa pig on a tablet?

Well first few days are inset days. What will you do with 5 year old on those days ?

'but in the European country I live in my dentist was praising the upbringing, independence skills and competence of a six year old regular patient who arrived independently (i.e. on their own) to their checkup appointment yesterday...'

Absolutely crazy! Negligent and a massive safe guarding issue. Who on earth sends a 6yr old to the dentist alone .

I don’t think you’ll be able to concentrate and focus on your appointment knowing your little girl was in the waiting room.

I think it depends on what your gp surgery is like - at my village one you absolutely could do this because the surgery is small enough and the receptionists would be fine. At bigger town gps where rooms are all on different floors and there are numerous waiting rooms then absolutely not.
Could you do a phone appointment? I find it easier to be honest on the phone when discussing my mental health but that might just be me

I agree with Iphone and headphones with something you have chosen. It's not for long and your child will enjoy it.

I remember having to take both of mine when I went for a smear test and my two year old daughter started playing peek a boo with the curtain, argh, luckily the nurse was very understanding.

I'm not sure this level of outrage is remotely appropriate for someone wanting to leave their child in a waiting room while going into a GP's consulting room a few meters away. It's not considered appropriate in the UK, but in the European country I live in my dentist was praising the upbringing, independence skills and competence of a six year old regular patient who arrived independently (i.e. on their own) to their checkup appointment yesterday...

For typically developing neurotypical children what's considered age appropriate versus negligence is very culturally relative!

13?!?!

As a retired nurse no practice nurse has the time to be used as a baby sitter ! It's unreasonable to expect someone a small child doesn't know to look after her while the parent is in a consultation.
Best to get an online consultation arranged.
Your child , your responsibility I'm.afraid !

Very sad and angry to read this. That’s awful.

That’s awful. I’m so sorry you’ve experienced this xxx

This.