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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think Dr's surgeries shouldn't ban buggies?

137 replies

AlbaDeTamble · 28/09/2011 11:13

Mine does, and I generally ignore and a blind eye is given, but yesterday unavoidably with both DCs with me (4yo and 8mo) with all their bags and baggage from the day, just picked up from childminder, I was told I couldn't come in with the buggy. The waiting room was not full. So it wasn't a space issue.
I said either we came in with the buggy or they cancel my appointment (did not feel up to carrying everything) so they relented, after much tutting, and I felt very scolded.
But it strikes me as a highly unreasonable rule? The HCP I saw quoted 'fire hazard' and 'it makes the carpets dirty' and 'elderly people may trip over the buggy'. I don't see any shops or crowded cafes banning buggies for any of those reasons, so why should a Dr's surgery?
But it appears to be common round here... I went to check out next nearest surgery this morning (with sleeping baby in buggy) and they had a big sign in the door saying 'Prams and Pushchairs must be left outside' so I got no further.
Is this really the norm everywhere? Is it really reasonable?

OP posts:

lljkk · 28/09/2011 11:44

I'm tending to be in the yanbu camp... BUT, OP, could you not carry babe in arms & ask the 4yo to walk around in the surgery? You've got to carry the 8mo around the house sometimes,. right? How could it be worse on your SPD than that? If buggy is worth stealing you should be carrying a small lock for it, anyway.

SjuperWolef · 28/09/2011 11:46

our surgery has a pram corner in reception so they arent taken into the waiting area, i couldnt imagine a surgery refusing a pram in! i know of two other surgeries, no tell a lie - three, where prams are allowed/allocated a parking space in reception.

Quintessentialist · 28/09/2011 11:47

And why on eart do they put carpets on the floor of a surgery?

Iggly · 28/09/2011 11:48

PMSL at airborne germs getting on your buggy. You don't lick the buggy.

YANBU - WTF are you supposed to do if you have an ill child, don't drive and they're too big for a sling? Or if you have more than one child?

The last time I checked, GPs provide a public service - we're not meant to be grateful for them seeing as at their convenience.

I'm willing to bet they wouldn't ban mobility scooters.

pramsgalore · 28/09/2011 11:49

the old doctors had a sign up that said 'leave buggys here please' and then in small wrighting ' not responsable for items left' i ignored the sign and my pushchair went where ever i did, the same in the health center, i am not going to leave my pushchair anywhere unattended, if it got nicked which they do they would not pay out, the new doctors don't have any rules and if they did i would soon tell them where to get off, unless they were willing to pay out for a new replacement if it went missing, the cost of pushchairs now make them easy targets to get nicked. i love some of the shops that say no pushchairs and then close down because not many people go in.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 28/09/2011 11:50

YANBU. I've never heard this. No problem with buggies in our surgery. I get pig sick of hearing the sling argument as well. They are great for some people but not everyone gets on with them. They aren't the answer to every prayer.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 28/09/2011 11:50

Iggly - I did say, I've never really thought about it, just read the sign.

I suspect they mean people might cough and sneeze - but then unfortunately they might cough and sneeze on the baby, too!

GetOrfMo1Land · 28/09/2011 11:50

Blimey - I have never heard this rule in any surgeries I have been to, in either village, town or city centre.

I must be quite lucky.

Whatmeworry · 28/09/2011 11:51

Do the surgeries not plan for the likelihood of a parent and child using the centre?? Ridiculous and bad planning on their behalf

Many older surgeries were built before the modern 4x4 megabuggies, in fact some (thinking about the Victorian house we used to go to) I suspect before any buggies. Clearly the last 4 generations or so never went to the doctor as they couldn't possibly have coped without their buggies

GetOrfMo1Land · 28/09/2011 11:52

It is very thoughtless - if you have a baby and a small child, and you have to carry a baby, when one or more of you is possibly ill, it seems a daft rule really.

I can understand cafes banning prams, but not GP surgeries.

Upwardandonward · 28/09/2011 11:53

My surgery also doesn't allow mobility scooters (there's a scooter park by the buggy park), just wheelchairs.

In fairness there are several purpose built practices close by - I know I took access into account when I was looking.

mousymouse · 28/09/2011 11:53

yes, what is it with the carpets everywhere in this country?
communal staiways
toilets
doctors surgeries
don't tell me they are hygienic

emsyj · 28/09/2011 11:54

If they don't let you take a pushchair in, they should provide some sort of secure storage like a secure buggy park. But banning them altogether is just impractical. What if you have a one year old and a new baby (as several of my friends do)? You can't really carry them both.

I would be sad if they banned buggies at my local surgery as I would then be forced to drive there, which seems ridiculous when it's a pleasantish 15 minute walk.

Catslikehats · 28/09/2011 11:56

Whatmeworry I suspect what the pre buggy generations did is what people do where I live now which is take your maid to carry your bags; the nanny to carry the baby; and have the driver double parked at the front door so you only need to walk 6 paces Either that or you got a home visit.

Firawla · 28/09/2011 11:58

yanbu. i've not come across them banning buggies, ours allows them & i would change dr if they did not - unless they all have this rule round your way then i dunno what to suggest. as for people saying use a sling, that may be fine for people with just one small baby, not that convenient with multiple small children. not impossible.. but dont see the need for them to make life harder for the sake of it if theres plenty of room in the waiting areas

GetOrfMo1Land · 28/09/2011 12:00

I don't see how on the one hand access is made easier for prams (like on buses, that is a revelation now, when dd was in a pram 16 years ago I had a nightmare folding the pram and storing it) when on the other hand access is being restricted.

One of my old GP surgeries was in a Victorian conversion, mothers just humped the prams up the stairs, there was room for all.

Lots of people can't deal with slings, or don't want to. Personally I found them a massive PITA (literally, they hurt my lower back).

Baileysismyfriend · 28/09/2011 12:02

My surgery also has this policy and it is a complete pain in the arse. When the baby is asleep I have to lift him out and carry him which nine times out of ten wakes him up. Also I always worry about it being nicked, prams aren't cheap....

Ephiny · 28/09/2011 12:03

Can you bring in a buggy if it's folded? I know not all prams/pushchairs fold easily or at all, but might be helpful for some people at least?

pramsgalore · 28/09/2011 12:04

i could not use a sling due to 2 slip disks and other weak areas in my spine and on top of that i have enough to deal with, with my ds with sn running around the waiting room with out his sister chasing him, i think they would soon give me back my buggy when they realised i could not run in two directions at the same time and hang onto two dc's

SardineQueen · 28/09/2011 12:10

Ours has this and I found it quite hard. You have to leave the outside and worry about rain / them getting stolen. And it's next to the bins which always feels a bit grim getting the baby out. Then you have to try and carry large baby + nappy bag + whatever else is hanging off it and when you've got mobility issues and undiagnosed post-natal depression and anxiety the whole thing just feels like an immense hurdle.

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 28/09/2011 12:11

If there is an appropriate place to leave them such as a buggy park or plenty of space outside the YABU. If they expect you to cart your child all the way from home with no buggy then YANBU!

My GP is on a busy road with no space outside. There is space for buggies inside- if they banned buggies altogether I would have to leave!

horribledinners · 28/09/2011 12:11

I don't understand this rule. It appears to be new as I remember surgeries being happily and noisily crammed with pushchairs and prams a few years ago.

H&S is used as an excuse for society becoming less and less tolerant. Especially of children and babies.

What about wheelchairs? Babies are people who can't walk and so are entitled to be pushed in pushchairs aren't they?

ENSMUM · 28/09/2011 12:12

I have this problem with my surgery. It has been fine when I'm going in for DD anyway - injections etc - I just take a bike lock for the buggy. The issue was when I had an appointment for me - I had to wake sleeping DD and then have a cross baby to hold, which made my examination pretty tricky - whilst it would have been fine if she stayed sleeping in her buggy. There would have been plenty of space and I don't get the "germs" issue - we have all been outside too, we don't remove our shoes etc.

GetOrfMo1Land · 28/09/2011 12:14

I too would leave a surgery which had this draconian rule (and would complain officially first).

Unless the waiting room is the size of a hobbit's cave there is no need for this rule. The anti germ theory is risible.

pramsgalore · 28/09/2011 12:15

don't that will be the next thing, please remove your shoes.

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