Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does your partner attend medical appointments with you?

132 replies

momtoboys · 07/11/2025 15:36

I have a dear friend who attends all medical appointments with her, and visa versa. Neither of them is ill, this is for all appointments, follow-ups, annuals, a virus. They are in the exam room at all times. They also attend each others dental appointments and sit by the chair while the work is happening.

AIBU to think this is an unusual arrangement?

OP posts:
CakeIsNotAvailable · 07/11/2025 15:39

I cannot imagine having the energy to care about who somebody else takes to a doctor's appointment.

I'm a GP and I'd say about 50% of my patients bring someone with them to their appointment. It is completely normal.

You do you, and let your friend live her life.

66babe · 07/11/2025 15:39

As a healthcare professional , this is not ideal
Its a time for privacy , openness and the potential to disclose anything that may require escalation within safeguarding

However , I’d not refuse anyone .. maybe it’s an anxiety thing ? Or someone to confirm the information shared ? Or maybe it’s just support for each other ..
Each to their own I suppose

Swiftie1878 · 07/11/2025 15:38

Yes, weird.
If one of us needs to see a doctor and is feeling unwell, we may give one another a lift and wait in the waiting room, but that’s about it.
The dentist thing is especially weird!

BarbaraHavers · 07/11/2025 15:38

Sounds absolutely suffocating.

HollyhockDays · 07/11/2025 15:38

Bit odd. Do they not work? Have they always done it. I went to them when DH was seriously ill but when he recovered he went on his own.

Octavia64 · 07/11/2025 15:37

No

but important ones it can be helpful - surgery, cancer etc

Wowisthisit · 07/11/2025 15:37

It depends. Not the dentist or usual GP appointments. I am a fainter so anything which may involve needles but he will wait in the waiting room.