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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:
Rosa · 28/09/2011 13:02

How silly it must be a fashion for people to be come jobsworth obsessed. EIther that or all the surgery staff have not got children or have forgotten what it is like when you don't have family or friend s or hired staff to help out. As for Mrs Donovan not being allowed to take her child with her ...YNABU. Now if the child had been ill would you have been permitted to take the child to the doc or would she be visited in the car park as not to disturb other paitents ?

YankNCock · 28/09/2011 13:03

My surgery has this rule. I have a bike lock to attach my pushchair to the rail outside. There really isn't enough room for everyone to bring their pushchairs in. Sure, it's a bit inconvenient sometimes, but if everyone brought a pushchair in it would definitely be a fire hazard and make it harder for the people with impaired mobility to get around.

I think YABU to ignore the rule and then get stroppy when called on it.

Kladdkaka · 28/09/2011 13:06

Do the surgeries not plan for the likelihood of a parent and child using the centre?? Ridiculous and bad planning on their behalf. Do they allow wheelchairs? think of the dirt they must bring in and as for saying a buggy will pick up all the germs present??? crazy

Having a child is not a disability

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

Having a child is not a disability

It is ridiculous that surgeries have this rule, they wouldn't ask a wheelchair user to leave that outside would they?

Having a child is not a disability

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

Being a child is not a disability

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.

They don't. They make access easier for disabled people. Having a child is not a disability. Prams just ride on their coat tails.

Wheelchairs are not analogous to buggies.

HALLELUJAH!

pozzled · 28/09/2011 13:06

mrsdamvan That is absolutely ridiculous. I always take my DDs with me if I have an appointment, although for a routine appointment I'd make it while DD1 was at nursery. But I haven't yet left DD2 with anyone else, and she won't reliably take a bottle.

I think it's good for DCs to get used to the GP surgery so it's not only associated with pain/illness for them. And I think it's a good thing for my GP to see my DCs occasionally and get to know the whole family a little.

OP, My GP surgery is happy to accomodate pushchairs, there's normally a couple there when I go in. I wouldn't have a problem with being asked to leave them if there was somewhere that you could lock them (with a bike lock) and if they were understanding towards those that can't really cope without e.g. Acceptableintheeighties with twins and a toddler.

Whatmeworry · 28/09/2011 13:09

Seems to me a bunch of trends are hitting the Doctors:

  • Bigger buggies - the monstrosities of today didn't exist when mine were young a decade ago
  • Less well disciplined/controlled kids, making other patients less comfortable these days.

I really do think there should be a legislated restraint on buggy size, some of the ones today take up the entire pavement width.

And judging by a few threads there should be a legislated restarint on child noise :o

And did I mention the Cafe Nero PFB Buggy Garage :)

BerylStreep · 28/09/2011 13:12

MrsDamVan, perhaps your DC could use the posters to colour on when they are waiting at the Drs?

mousymouse · 28/09/2011 13:13
  • Bigger buggies
what about the old fashioned silver cross prams then? they are/were big
PeachyWhoCannotType · 28/09/2011 13:15

Yes Kladd but without using buggy for ds4 I could not possibly risk taking ds1 and ds3 who are disabled out, at least until recently

The differences are clear and absolutely I agree with your last post but there are crossovers too

BTW the buggy rule was in palce at our GPs when ds1 was born and he's 11.5 now

Whatmeworry · 28/09/2011 13:18

what about the old fashioned silver cross prams then? they are/were big

Yes but they weren't that common, the ones today move around town like bluddy panzer divisons.

I doubt Doctors would do this if it wasn't a problem....

Dirtydishesmakemesad · 28/09/2011 13:22

What WERE prams like in the 80s say i googled but all that came up were ones like this
www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/marmet-pram-coach-built-pram-from-the-80s-retro/86065725
which is what I remember my little sister having.
I dont see how this is any better than my loola with a carrycot!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 28/09/2011 13:23

would be very tricky if you had a baby and were going to see the gp with a back problem!

tulipgrower · 28/09/2011 13:25

Is it common in the UK to turn up to GP appointments with your kids in tow? Or is this only done in an emergency situation?
I haven't seen it here (Germany), apart from babies in their baby carriers. Kids are at childminders, with other parent/relatives, in kindergarten/nursery, ... elsewhere. It must be a nightmare for parents and other patients alike.

None of the doctors around here could accomodate buggies and still ensure wheelchairs could get in.

Ephiny · 28/09/2011 13:28

Presumably not everyone has someone to look after their children while they go to the appointment, especially if it's an urgent/last-minute one.

There could probably be a bit of compromise though. If those who could arrange to leave their child with someone did, if those who could fold their buggy did etc, there would probably be enough space for those who genuinely had no other options.

pramsgalore · 28/09/2011 13:28

tulipgrower

Kids are at childminders, with other parent/relatives, in kindergarten/nursery, ... elsewhere. It must be a nightmare for parents and other patients alike.

thats it i am moving to germany Grin

Firawla · 28/09/2011 13:28

yes tulip its common to bring kids who are under school age. if you are a sahm why would you have a child minder or have young kids under 3 years in nursery? they tend not to take kids on an ad hoc basis and who on earth is going to pay for regular childcare just incase of needing a dr appointment??

NestaFiesta · 28/09/2011 13:30

tulipgrower, I would say it's fairly normal to take your kids to appointments if they are babies,pre-schoolers or its the school holidays. Not everyone has a child minder or relatives who are not at work and/or live nearby.

starfishmummy · 28/09/2011 13:32

There is not a lot of room at our surgery but they don't ban buggies - a lot of mums have to walk there so it would be riduculous.
THey'll be banning wheelchairs next and if they if ithey are worried about the carpet perhaps they should go the whole hog and ban patients!

Acceptableintheeighties · 28/09/2011 13:33

Tulipgrower, when I was a child I would be left with a neighbour or grandmother if my dm needed to go to the gp. or when older, left in the waiting room.

If I need to go to the gp my dc have to come with me. all the gps are still at work, my neighbours work, my friends work, my dp isn't office based and could be anywhere so couldn't pop home for half an hour, I work evenings so cant get to the evening surgery.
I try and book appts for the mornings dd1 is at pre school so I only take dts in and they are in the buggy so I can concentrate on the gp not chase them around the surgery!

SardineQueen · 28/09/2011 13:34

tupligrower most babies here are with a parent at home for 6-12 months, and many older as well as a lot of couples end up with a SAHP or go one working part-time.

Free nursery sessions kick in at 3, so up until this age children do go along to the doctor if the parent needs to go, a lot of the time.

Birdsgottafly · 28/09/2011 13:35

It's ok as long as they make exception for disabled twins, or two children with SEN, etc. I know of a few families who have these because of prematurity and other reasons. My department had to get permission for one parent, as he has two DC's with disabilities close in age. These DC's tend to need emergancy appointments, so have to sit and wait. I had to use a buggy for my delayed developmental DD (now 13).

So as long as you can get permission under some circumstances, and the OP does have a medical condition, then fair enough.

There shouldn't be the need to ever evacuate a doctors surgery as they have fire doors and are on priority callout.

Dirty- as soon as your baby hit three months you put them in an umberella folding lightweight buggy, to travel.

SardineQueen · 28/09/2011 13:37

God that 80s pram is lush!

And I'm not normally a pram hun Grin

capricorn76 · 28/09/2011 13:38

My surgery has the same rule but I ignore them simply because last year a gang came past in a van and stole every single pram in the outside buggy area which was out of sight of the waiting area. Some prams are more expensive than cars now and thieves know there's money to be made on eBay. I'm not taking the risk. When they say anything, I say I have a bad back and can't carry DD. Sorry if that sounds selfish but if they can't sort out their security I'm not leaving my buggy outside.

Whatmeworry · 28/09/2011 13:38

There could probably be a bit of compromise though. If those who could arrange to leave their child with someone did, if those who could fold their buggy did etc, there would probably be enough space for those who genuinely had no other options

That just means everyone would assume someone else would compromise, which is probably why there is usually an outright ban.

Looking at recent posts 2 other trends (as well as bigger buggies/less well disciplined kids) may be:

  • fewer people to leave other kids with (more people working)
  • Elf and Safety forcing Doctors to make more stringent rules re access to fire escapes etc.
Wrigglebum · 28/09/2011 13:44

Wow, makes me realise how lucky I am with my surgery- buggies allowed, easy access loos, toys for children in the waiting room and most doctor's rooms and the receptionists are friendly!

tulipgrower · 28/09/2011 13:51

Btw I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, and I will be taking my 9 mth old with me. Grin (I will carry him in my arms.)
(It's only a check up, and I have a 9am appointment, usually things are still running smoothly at that time, so I should be in and out in 10 min. Therefore I haven't bothered with a babysitter.)

Sardine - Over here almost all mothers take the first year off, because the government pays 65% of your former wage for the year, (up to 1800?/ month) then things get tricky, because it's hard to get a kindergarten place until your kid turns 3.