Why don't hospitals have childcare for patients?

[Gingernuttie]

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!

It's actually an anxiety of mine as a lone parent if I had an accident or needed to go to A&E for whatever reason DCs might have to come with me. What would happen if I couldn't phone anyone because I was too ill or confused? I just have to hope that somebody would supervise them until social work get there and call next of kin. It must happen quite a lot surely since its not possible to predict when you're going to have a health emergency.

I know it would be a logistical nightmare to run but this would have saved me so much stress!

My 2nd pregnancy needed weekly appointments and sorting childcare for those was the most stressful part of the whole thing (and that's saying something). They were never the same day or time so couldn't sort anything paid/official. Husband can't take a whole day off work (long commute- no WFH) to take DD.

There were a few times where it came so close to the wire that I was considering not going. Hospital had told me no children in no uncertain terms so I just couldn't face the confrontation. There should be some flexability on the matebity hospitals side with siblings.

I think it's a great idea OP. Like in the olden days when supermarkets had play areas in them where the kids were left for an hour.

Yup, it would be totally abused.

I used to go to a gym that had a creche with signs up EVERYWHERE saying it was a strict 1hr slot, and you couldn’t leave the gym premises while your child was there

Every single day, people would drop their child at crèche and then go to the nearby shopping centre and breeze back hours later, totally unapologetic

The creche got closed in the end, the poor staff couldn’t deal with the pisstakers

If it helps at all I had to take DD to A&E recently, DS (infant) had to come with us and staff were amazing at helping me look after him (providing nappies, formula, holding him etc) while I waited for someone to get him. DD was very seriously ill and it was a very sudden emergency, I found when the shit really does hit the fan the staff are amazing at cutting through red tape and rules to help you - so I wouldn't lose too much sleep over this.

I haven’t RTFT because the title is as much as I need to see - why on Earth would the NHS provide you with for childcare for your children? It’s absolutely on its knees! The health inequalities across the nation are HUGE, and you’re suggesting we take more tax from all, to provide MORE for those who have chosen to have X amount of children (and I have two!).

Do you ask your hairdresser if they will provide you with childcare so you can get on with having your hair done, or the accountant so you can discuss your tax bill with them, or your office so you can get some work done?

The NHS is not a charity. It is PAID for my your taxes, and just because you don’t hand over money, it doesn’t mean it’s free. Just like hairdressers, accountants, builders etc, it needs to be treated as a professional service and not a family day out.

Even if the NHS had on-site nurseries that the patient paid for per child, the costs would be absolutely huge to cover staffing, accessibility, safeguarding, health and safety policies and building costs.

Where would the initial start up money come from? And if you’re looking to ensure the NHS doesn’t lose any money to pay for vital/essential/life saving services - you’re probably looking at about £80 an hour (as staffing would be a nightmare with cancellations/last minute appointments/not knowing capacity etc) - so if you have that much money, an external babysitter would make more sense.

Total nonsense.

The op did not say the nhs should provide this

Hence my final paragraph.

I've just had to cancel all my treatment because of lack of childcare. But I don't know what the answer is, don't get ill until they can be left!?

@Pregnantthenfkd thank you

I think the better answer is to have a day a week/month of planned 12w or 20w USS at the MLU - bringing the care closer to you & your community.

Childcare option would be brilliant but practically and financially it's a non starter

If you’re happy to pay for it at the hospital then why not have paid for childcare at home?

alternatively take the grandparent and they can sit outside with dc - depending on age

Organise childcare near the hospital? It would work out cheaper.
Child could stay with you in the car and then a babysitter locally.

There’s loads of agencies that provide this type of care.

No there shouldn’t.
You may want or even feel you need to bring your toddler child but the woman beside you may just have been told her child has died. She may never be a mother.

There will always be an alternative than a woman carrying a dead baby having to be beside your toddler.
Thats the reality of why there are no exceptions to the children rule in a maternity unit.

Its amazing how quickly childcare can be found by some people when they are told it’s no children, no exceptions and make your own choice about attending.

Please don’t worry about it.
Hospitals are very good at identifying true situations of desperation, your kids would be looked after until social work arrive if e.g you collapsed in the street and ended up in an ambulance with no other parent to call.

Being acutely unwell and having no family/friends is very different to ‘I brought my child because their dads at work and can’t (read doesn’t want to lose pay) take time off!

The nhs is to provide healthcare to those who need it. Not childcare. You need to look at social care OP

Is it just my DC who would have screamed the whole time if I tried to leave them in child care they weren't familiar with?

Have you tried Sitters OP? I used to find someone coming to my house to care for my DC for one off things was a good option.

I think if there was a market for hospital childcare it would exist. I would rather go into an appointment alone than pay £80ph, for childcare.

You need to get over your awkwardness and ask someone, it's how networks are built. Go overboard if you must with wine and offers of reciprocal childcare, but don't let your DH miss this and you miss his support because you feel awkward about asking a favour.

Or take MIL with you, plonk both of them at a cinema or soft play and go to the appointment.

Good luck, I hope it's good news.

It’s a good idea for hospitals to have childcare available for parents going to appointments because it would reduce babysitting stress.

And how would that work for those completely unable to pay £80 an hour🙄

It’s a nice idea but totally infeasible from a business perspective. Nurseries can barely run with a full time cohort of kids there all day everyday. 1-2 hrs here and there with no guarantee would not work - unfortunately!

Seriously?!?! I have no words, but "entitled" springs to mind.

The alternative should be a private side room for the woman who lost her baby.

Other hospital departments also potentially have people getting bad news about their children while other children are nearby. You can't avoid children, they exist in the world.

OP, I have been to a few scans alone because of childcare difficulties. DH and DD sat in the hospital carpark waiting for me so if there was bad news, he'd be close by and I wouldn't have to drive home alone.

My local hospital told me kids weren't allowed in scans. I said 'Ok well that'll mean me having no scans then'.

DC then came to all my scans, he sat strapped into his buggy watching Bing on my phone.

Had to go to A&E once with my toddler, when I was a lone parent. They had to keep me in overnight in a little room off the nurses' office and they took DD to the children's ward for the night and looked after her there. State of the NHS though would probably mean there wouldn't even be a bed on the children's ward for an extra child let alone the willingness to take care of a non-patient.