Can ds wait in the gp waiting room?

[Whyohwhy99]

I need to go to the gp next week. But the appointment is at 2.30pm. So I'm going to have to get ds from school early. Because I won't make it to his school on time. Could there be an issue if I leave him in the waiting room whilst I see gp? Hes 11 and sen. But he will likely just watch youbtube or something.

If he's 11 can't he make his own way home from school?

At 11 I would have been able to do this, but only you know if his sen will prevent him from being happy or able to do so.

You know your child.

A gp surgery would be fine for him to wait in the waiting room as long as he’s well behaved.

You’ve mention the SEN so I’m assuming this is quite relevant.

Does the school have any after school clubs that you can put him in just for that day?

As long as you don't need anyone from reception to keep an eye on him, that's fine.

You can, as in lots of people are left in the waiting room while the person they're with sees the doctor. But only you know if he's likely to wait happily.

Yes ours would have been able to sit quitely with a book in the waiting room for 10-15 minutes. You should be able to do that being 11 yo. Our youngst is AuADHD and can do it without supervision.

SEN? What is his special needs?

Ah ok. I wasn't sure if it was allowed. But if it is it should be ok. I mentioned the sen because most 11 year olds would walk from school on their own. He won't go to after school club.

It's allowed if the can handle it without supervision.

If he can't walk home alone is he ok to be left unsupervised without you worrying he will elope or get distracted/distressed? If he will be fine to quietly sit then of course it's ok to leave him in the waiting room.

He won't run. I'm 80% sure he will he will be ok if he has his phone so he can play a game or something

80 percent sure? Will u be relaxed enough to talk to gp if u have some concerns?

Thnk you need to use this as an opportunity for him either to try After School club, start the walk home and you meet him partway, be prepared to wait safely at school until you arrive or in a nearby library or similar. Alternatively is there anyone else who could meet him as a one off?

I wouldn't if you're only 80% sure. What happens if he falls into the 20%? Is he likely to be disruptive, volatile or a danger to himself?

80% sure isn't sure enough to leave him.

Why won't he go to after school club?

Can he not come into the appointment and just have headphones on? Or wait in the car?

I wouldn’t leave a child I was only 80% sure I could trust unattended - sorry.

I won't be relaxed regardless if he was there or not. I say 80% because I have never done it before

He definitely won't do after school club. Hes not ready to walk on his own yet. Thats going to take a while.

I don't have a car. And no definitely not i do not want him hearing anything. The 80% is more because I have because i have not done it before. And I won't know till I try.

I work in a GP surgery and it would be fine with us. I would also happily keep an eye on him but would have to say I wouldn’t be able to guarantee being around all the time

And what might happen if it is the 20%?

Hes autistic and he finds that to hard hes only been at the school slightly over a week. I don't want to put more stuff on to him.

Maybe I used thr wrong words when I said 80% I just meant I haven't tried leaving him in a waiting room before. I can have an idea how he will be but I can't be 100%

I’m sorry but I don’t think a GP’s waiting room is the best time to test this - if your appointment overruns or an emergency happens he’ll panic on his own.

Ask about afterschool, then he won't miss anything and you can get to your appointment without any worries. Or ask another parent about having him for the afternoon.

He would become scared and stressed but it would be internal. He wouldn't show it outwardly. And he definitely wouldn't run he would be to scared. But he may be fine

I've done this with my DS at a similar age, also with SEN though he'd be ok at home on his own emotionally, he has epilepsy and at the time it wasn't well controlled.
He just played something on his phone. Nobody was at all bothered.