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Original poster

Why don't hospitals have childcare for patients?

112 replies

Gingernuttie · 07/02/2023 19:56

Obviously it would be expensive, but surely better than not having it? I can imagine all sorts of scenarios where it would be vital.

I'm looking at going to my 12 week scan alone, and as I've had hardly any symptoms this pregnancy compared to previous I'm worried it might be an MMC, so would prefer DH to be there. But DH will have to take the day off work to look after DC. DC can't come into scan with us. The hospital is over two hours drive, so a round trip of about six hours (they are always running late IME) which is far too much childcare to ask of a friend etc. My MIL does do regular childcare and could normally help but she's sprained her ankle badly and can't at the moment. There's no ad hoc childcare available locally to where we live. I'm lucky that DH actually exists and can take the day off, otherwise I just wouldn't be getting a scan at all!

Just one example, but in my situation I'd be prepared to pay quite a lot for one off childcare for hospital appointments. Ditto if I went into labour early and hadn't sorted anyone to look after DC. Or if there was an accident. Etc etc.

I'm sure there's a good reason nobody thinks it's worth running this service, but what is it? Curious!

OP posts:
CantFindTheBeat · 07/02/2023 20:43

I hope you have good news at your scan, OP, lack of symptoms doesn't really mean anything at all, but I can imagine you must be anxious 💕💕💕💕

desperadodogface · 07/02/2023 20:44

DP couldn't come to my scans cos of covid. Like you, no symptoms and lots of fear. I think your business idea is good but needs more thought when it's not based on your feelings and experience

MargaritMargo · 07/02/2023 20:47

Skyeheather · 07/02/2023 20:07

For your 12 week scan, if money isn't a problem, can't you book a private scan with your DH (a private place would probably allow DC to be in the room) then you can go to your NHS one alone, happy that you have a healthy baby.

This is what I would do OP. You can take children to scans, or you could have someone watch him just for half an hour / hour that you’d be gone.

Out of interest where do you live that the hospital is two hours away? Hebrides???
Am I desperately naive?

In response to your OP, yes in theory a lot of people could use services like this, there are private one off babysitting services you can use. If they were smart then they’d affiliate or advertise around the clinics, hospitals, GPs and pregnancy forums, so that women considered them for these exact type of scenarios.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Floofyduffypuddy · 07/02/2023 20:48

That's true re ikea. I had a near visit last week and we had no child care.

nildesparandum · 07/02/2023 20:49

One of my grandchildren was a premature baby, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital had a room with toys in where a lady was looking after the elder siblings o the babies while the parents spent time with the baby. My older grandchild was two years old then and was looked after there when DH and myself were working and could not provide childcare.This was the 1990s and I cannot remember if the parents paid for this but it seemed to work well.

Summerfun54321 · 07/02/2023 20:51

I don't know how you are coping living rurally without a decent support network.

WandaWonder · 07/02/2023 20:52

Gingernuttie · 07/02/2023 20:03

No no I've obviously phrased this badly, I'm not expecting the NHS to provide!
I was thinking of a private company operating from a room attached to or near to the hospital. I'd be prepared to pay up to about £80 for an hour. Would that not be enough to make it work?

I do see what you mean, but they would need a lot of people in a position to pay that or more for it to work

Original poster
Gingernuttie · 07/02/2023 20:54

Yeah we could definitely take DC to Inverness and try to find childcare somewhere there. It might be possible, but I guess I'm just not keen to dump him with a random nursery I know nothing about. If there was an official hospital-affiliated nursery then I'm sure word would get round among people I know as to whether it was okay or not, and I'd feel better about it. Appreciate that this might seem oversensitive to people who regularly leave their kids in childcare, but my DC has never done that because there is no childcare in our area so that hasn't been an option for us. I'm realising that my situation is niche though! Thank you everyone who made good suggestions ☺️

OP posts:
Boneweary · 07/02/2023 20:54

@Summerfun54321 - what should she do?

I mean, we don’t live as rurally as the OP, nothing like, but while we have friends, most work during the day. The OP has her MIL which is more than we have!

No one can conjure family members and while you can make friends they are often in a similar position as you anyway!

Atethehalloweenchocs · 07/02/2023 21:00

It would be so complicated and open to abuse - there is no way that this should be the responsibility of the health care system.

Justmeandthedog1 · 07/02/2023 21:04

Rent a Granny.
At the hospital there’s a DBS checked, insured granny who sits with a child or two, reads stories, drawing, colouring, building toys etc… ( hospital only have to provide a basic room) Mum has scan, check up, collects child £15 an hour?
I’d do it, the hospital is probably warmer than my house.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 07/02/2023 21:08

Going by the Gynae/Antenatal department I worked in, there would be far too high a chance that people would drop their kids off and then disappear for eight hours. We had to get rid of the (unsupervised) play area because it was being used to facilitate shopping trips.

Sleepless1096 · 07/02/2023 21:09

Most people either have other options or turn up and plonk the DC in a corner.

Yes, hospitals may say 'no children' but most will make an exception if you really have no other option and lack of childcare is actually going to stop you accessing healthcare. I needed an emergency scan with DC1 so DC2 had to come along... they weren't pleased but they did the scan.

Having said that, if your partner is available, I'd leave the DC with him. If you feel you need support, they can come to the hospital and wait in the cafe/corridor.

katepilar · 07/02/2023 21:12

Because we live in a bloody men's world.

DappledThings · 07/02/2023 21:15

Gingernuttie · 07/02/2023 20:54

Yeah we could definitely take DC to Inverness and try to find childcare somewhere there. It might be possible, but I guess I'm just not keen to dump him with a random nursery I know nothing about. If there was an official hospital-affiliated nursery then I'm sure word would get round among people I know as to whether it was okay or not, and I'd feel better about it. Appreciate that this might seem oversensitive to people who regularly leave their kids in childcare, but my DC has never done that because there is no childcare in our area so that hasn't been an option for us. I'm realising that my situation is niche though! Thank you everyone who made good suggestions ☺️

There probably is an official hospital nursery. My DC were at two different ones for years between them. But they still wouldn't have been able to offer ad hoc care. How could they afford to have additional staff on standby potentially doing nothing all day on the off-chance someone needs them for 2 hours on a random afternoon?

MrsMikeDrop · 07/02/2023 21:15

Well people manage without it so it's obviously not needed. Everything comes at a cost, not sure how much it would be but I'd rather that money funded more healthcare workers than a creche!

Crumpetdisappointment · 07/02/2023 21:16

why would you want to leave your children with unknown nursery staff?

NeonBoomerang · 07/02/2023 21:17

Are you being serious?? Have you seen how overstretched hospitals are?!

Crumpetdisappointment · 07/02/2023 21:17

and how could they employ people on such an adhoc basis?

LorW · 07/02/2023 21:21

What happens with a pregnant single mum who has below school age children and no childcare options and needs hospital scans? Would she just not be able to have any scans or monitoring all pregnancy? I know people have said foster carers but surely that wouldn’t be available for an hour appointment?

Crumpetdisappointment · 07/02/2023 21:22

can yoiu take a relative to the apointment to help look after your dc while you are having a scan?

Zwicky · 07/02/2023 21:23

The ratios wouldn’t work. In a retail based crèche like ikea they can say “no” to kids outside of a narrow age range, nobody would expect them to look after unwell dc or those with additional needs, they wouldn’t need to provide food and drinks because nobody is left for hours, there is a set time and you can be turned away if it’s full.
It would become a “thing” that people would expect for free, for the duration of their appointment, even if their appointment ran over. It would have to be staffed to accommodate people not collecting their dc on time because they are at their appointment.
People can set themselves up as babysitters and sell the service of attending hospital appointments but if that service isn’t available you have to assume it’s because the games not worth the candle. Maybe it’s worth asking Inverness childminders/babysitters if there is anyone who will attend with you. There probably are local babysitters who would do it for an offer of £80.

Iyjd · 07/02/2023 21:28

Rather than MIL looking after your DC could she come to the scan with you so you have support?

LaughingCat · 07/02/2023 21:29

Justmeandthedog1 · 07/02/2023 21:04

Rent a Granny.
At the hospital there’s a DBS checked, insured granny who sits with a child or two, reads stories, drawing, colouring, building toys etc… ( hospital only have to provide a basic room) Mum has scan, check up, collects child £15 an hour?
I’d do it, the hospital is probably warmer than my house.

I can’t tell if this is satire or not, but I actually love this idea! Grannies paid in biscuits and brews and a nominal fee to watch kids while the mums are having their scans. I totally would trust a granny, every day 😊

Honestly though, OP, sounds like you’re in a heck of a situation! Maybe worth a quick trip to Inverness to check out local childcare, so that you have options not just for this scan but any potentially sudden trips you might have to make. Might help put your mind at rest?

VladmirsPoutine · 07/02/2023 21:31

Crumpetdisappointment · 07/02/2023 21:16

why would you want to leave your children with unknown nursery staff?

This is a very bizarre response.

Although I see what you mean OP, I think making childcare the remit of hospitals would cause more chaos than it would resolve. It would also open a massive can of worms.