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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
EricNorthmansMistress · 28/09/2011 12:17

YANBU
two children + bags + SPD = cannot maneuvre safely without a buggy. I think it's short sighted (what about poorly babies who need to be flat in buggy for their own comfort?) and discriminatory (parents/carers with health issues of their own who cannot physically manage without the buggy)

Acceptableintheeighties · 28/09/2011 12:21

I had this problem with my old surgery.

My dd1 was 17 months when I had dts. The surgery manager told me I had to leave the pushchair in the lobby and wait in the waiting room (through two sets of doors) so I could hear dcs appts being called as there is no tannoy speaker in reception.
When asked what am I supposed to do about carrying baby dts through to the nurse for jabs etc I was told to get a family member to come and to leave dd1 with another family member at home!

All my and dp's families are working during the day, dp used his holiday as paternity leave.

Manager was so unhelpful although did offer reception staff to watch through the door any dc I left in the pushchair... I asked if they were crb checked as was feeling just as jobsworthy as she was being!

I rang the health and safety people who said it was nonsense and they have never advised banning buggies.

Sirzy · 28/09/2011 12:22

Our gp surgery has a buggy park just inside the door. No issue at all with this as there isn't the space in the surgery itself for lots of buggies.

Acceptableintheeighties · 28/09/2011 12:24

Meant to add my new surgery bend over backwards to help me with the pushchair, opening doors etc. So glad I changed surgeries!

LittleMissWoodscommaElle · 28/09/2011 12:32

YANBU.

When mine were little it was a case of no buggy no me.

A sling is fine if you are fit and healthy and have 1 child. I tried them and couldn't get on with them for dd. When I had ds as well the double buggy was a godsend.

ChunkyPickle · 28/09/2011 12:34

YANBU - Children are a major user of the surgery and should be catered for.

I have an active 1 year old - he'd be far more of a hazard running around during my appointment than securely strapped into a buggy.

nethunsreject · 28/09/2011 12:35

Yanbu.

Mine has a place to leave the buggies, which is ideal really.

I can't use a sling and travel by bus or on foot.

maxomummy · 28/09/2011 12:39

I have twins and my surgery bans buggies however they have never questioned me taking mine in when I've been on my own and my DDs could not walk themselves. It is ridiculous that surgeries have this rule, they wouldn't ask a wheelchair user to leave that outside would they? Now my girls can walk and it they are well enough I can walk them in from the car (if I walked there I would leave the buggy outside). Seems to me some common sense should be applied by receptionists and by surgery users. If you really need to use your buggy then use it, if not, then don't so someone else who needs the room can have it.

jeee · 28/09/2011 12:40

Wheelchairs are not analogous to buggies.

mrsdamvan · 28/09/2011 12:41

My doctor's surgery has taken this a step further and now has signs up everywhere stating that people should not bring children with them. Wtf? Impossible for me - my parents work, my youngest dc isn't yet in nursery or school so what am I meant to do with her when I need to go to the doctor's?

Had to go to the doctors last month with a raging ear infection and when I made the appointment did say that I would have to bring my baby with me but was told no children allowed because crying babies/toddlers cause distress to other patients Hmm. Was a nightmare trying to get someone to look after dd. In the end my friend who has 3 children under 5 had to have dd, not ideal (for her!)

Just hoping I don't get ill anytime soon...

2BoysTooLoud · 28/09/2011 12:41

Gosh, not yet come across no buggy rule in docs surgeries. I'd be well pissed off. YANBU in my opinion.

GetOrfMo1Land · 28/09/2011 12:42

MrsDamvan I would seriously be annoyed at that.

What a stupid rule.

GetOffOfMyCloud · 28/09/2011 12:42

I can definitely see it from both sides, our GP doesn't specifically ban prams or pushchairs, but it is an old victorian house with stairs and narrow corridors so more than one small push chair would make it very crowded and be difficult for the parent. (I've never seen anyone with a wheelchair in there so I don't know how that's handled - home visits maybe?)

If it is a large purpose built place like my old surgery before I moved house then I can't see what the problem is (they didn't ban them as far as I can remember), so it depends on the building and it's location as to whether it is reasonable to ban them or not.

pramsgalore · 28/09/2011 12:45

mrsdamvan thats is just wrong, i would have told them i either took my baby with me or they better arrange a home visit, or i would be calling the out of hours doctor later when they had closed, i hope our doctors never implement any of these rules

flowery · 28/09/2011 12:45

Ours has a lobby/porch thing you are supposed to leave them in. It's usually fine. When I am just popping in to pick up a prescription I ignore the ban and drive DS2 straight in in the buggy - he'd scream blue murder if I just left him in the porch and there's no point getting him out for 10 seconds.

The surgery is not very accessible though. To get in you need to go through two doors, one opening in one opening out, neither very wide or easy to use. Must be a nightmare in a wheelchair I'd have thought.

PeachyWhoCannotType · 28/09/2011 12:47

Our old surgery did until some people cottoned on and started stealing teh buggies left outside (no parking so people would push buggy to surgery then leave under a little roof)

Our one now seems to but tbh when we had ds4 in a buggy and his sn sibs with us it'd have been a brave person to ask if we would leave it outside.

NestaFiesta · 28/09/2011 12:48

Mrs Damvan- what if your child is ill? If my surgery banned children I would write to my MP as that is exclusion from medical care and facilities.

AisforAcorn · 28/09/2011 12:48

Mine doesn't allow them. I understand that there may be a hygiene issue but surely it is no different from people walking on the carpet.

Luckily I live very close so it doesn't really matter to me.

I can't believe there are now doctors saying no children. That is madness!

mrsdamvan · 28/09/2011 12:50

I can kind of understand the no kids rule if you're having an intimate examination for eg a smear test - the nurse/doctor would not want the worry of a toddler racing around while they're examining a patient.

But to discourage children attending routine appointments is I think ridiculous. I get that no-one wants to listen to crying children (but what about a well behaved 9 year old who sits patiently waiting for his mum/dad) but surely people in a waiting room are more worried about their own health/appointment. And children are everywhere, you can't avoid them!

mrsdamvan · 28/09/2011 12:52

If the appointment is for the child, then of course they are allowed into the surgery. It's if the parent/carer has an appointment and has to drag their child with them that the surgery is discouraging. Couldn't believe it when I saw all the posters and signs up. Seriously thinking of changing doctors....

Andrewofgg · 28/09/2011 12:53

Depends on space and layout but in many older buildings TINA.

PeachyWhoCannotType · 28/09/2011 12:55

mrsdamvan wtf? Dh never knows what hours he will work (self employed) and we have nobody else can look after boys so until ds started nursery 2 weeks ago i'd have had to stay ill, and not get seen for smears etc.

Jeeeee I agree and disagree at the same time LOL; I wonder how many people would note the difference for example between a maclaren major and a buggy? I know that in terms of essential need they are different but bans like this do make it more likely for those using a Maclaren Major to receive grief; and then you get murky waters with people who like I did use a buggy late on in order to care for chidlren with Sn who were mobile but have autism and need holding, which you can't do if carrying a baby or toddler (a sling being dangerous if you are toppled over- been tehre and learned that one!). Or parents who themselves have some illness meaning they can't really carry a baby (quite likely in a GPs office I would have thought- bad backs, viruses making people feel dizzy, etc)

NestaFiesta · 28/09/2011 12:55

Yes Mrs Damvan, vote with your feet but definitely complain to a higher authority such as the LHA or PALS. People seem to think you can click your fingers and find ad hoc childcare just like that these days.

pramsgalore · 28/09/2011 12:57

i really would just take my dc along with me and would ignore the signs, but thats me, think having a ds with sn has made me a bit thick skinned Grin ie the looks and comments would go over my head

mousymouse · 28/09/2011 13:01

the no kids rule is ridiculous.
I had two moles removed from my face with my newborn dd lying on my chest...maybe a bit extreme but there was no way I would have left her at home for longer than 20 min at that age.