to want to take my pushchair into my doctors surgery?

[gillquil]

my g.p surgery has just banned pushchairs, I've them a letter that follows, is this the norm? or should I just change our G.P.?

Hello,

I would like to make a complaint about the forthcoming ban on pushchairs in the surgery from the first of April. I am a mother of three, my eldest child has just turned four and we have a double pushchair which we normally use for our two youngest. My youngest child has just turned one, and as is typical for his age, he wants to crawl and climb all the time, he definitely doesn?t want to sit on my lap while I wait, he will however normally wait happily in his pushchair, or sleep in it while we wait or during our appointments. My two year old daughter just wants to run around.

If I am unable to bring my pushchair into the surgery I am going to have to let my son crawl over the floor in the surgery which I can?t imagine being the most hygienic thing to do. Or when he is asleep I will have to wake him, and what if both he and his sister are sleeping? do I really want to wait for my appointment struggling with a sobbing two year old daughter and a crying one year old son, my handbag, and changing bag on the floor or on the seat next to me. All of which, toddler, and baby and baggage have to then be carried into the appointment. I would also like to know what is suggested for mothers who need for example to have their young child with them during say a smear test? Should I leave him to crawl around the floor in the surgery during this?

Parents that I know often rely on being able to entertain a young child or children in a pushchair so that they can speak to their G.P. or nurse for a few minutes uninterrupted. Or the child sleeps on through their appointment and waiting time, and the parent can have a proper conversation or treatment.
I don?t have the option of arranging childcare for the times when I need to come to the surgery, especially as we normally ring at 8 a.m to see what appointment we can get if any for that morning.

I asked about the security of the area that has been designated for pushchairs to be left. As far as the lady I spoke to knew, there is none, it seems that the surgery is relying on the area being ?out of sight.? I disagree anyone walking past will be able to see a row of unsecured pushchairs. Pushchairs cost as I am sure you know an enormous amount of money. We live close by and two of my neighbours have had pushchairs stolen from outside their own front doors in the last six months, and we had a child?s scooter taken ourselves. It was suggested also that I buy a bicycle style lock for our chair, but I can?t see what I would secure it to.

While I can see the need for some sort solution to the congestion in the waiting room, as a result of parents and children who are patients at XXX Surgery using pushchairs, I don?t feel that just telling people their only option is to leave their pushchairs outside, in an unsecured area, and carry in their child or children and changing bags, handbags and who knows even their shopping, is acceptable. In fact I think it?s discriminatory. I have spoken to several mothers today who are patients at XXX, as are their children, and they all agree, and have said they will be putting forward their comments also.

I look forward to your reply and hope that XXX can be a bit more creative in finding a solution that doesn?t leave patients feeling unwelcome.

"Surprise smear!" OMG!

Surprise smear ah my six week check up, fun times.

nigel sorry my pram annoys you so much, but if I should just carry my baby to the surgery, you too should be forced to do a 15 minute walk with a squirming, crying 15 lb infant in your arms, plus the nappy bag. And I'm in Manchester so lets assume it's raining, so do it while carrying an umbrella. Trust me, you'll need to see a Dr after that, if only to get your back sorted.

I also don't have anyone nearby who can watch my baby while I go to the surgery, unless my husband takes time off work.

FFs get a smear test when your h is around.

I'm with Nigel. You aren't a mother, your a martyr. Get over the buggy shite.

Nigel do have any children of pushchair age? Do you know how heavy they can get when walking long distances? Imagine carrying a toddler that doesn't walk unaided with a changing bag, and an umbrella atleast a mile...... would you want to do that???....try it bet u would never attempt again!!
And then multiply that thought-carrying twins/& or toddler & baby-somehow i dont think thats possible!
Oh and for the record not everyone has a partner or a friend that doesn't work during the day that doesnt already have kids of their own and their own various appointments to get to!
Pushchairs aren't that much of a problem infact without them pedestrians wouldn't be able to get from A-B with their children-& dont start with the 'in my day bla bla' they had big giant silvercrosses back then that were huge and cumbersome

MsNorbury what is with your swearing? Not everyone has H

So get an appointment outside of office hours? Fine for a planned procedure, but I don't tend to get a couple of Weeks notice when I'm getting ill. Must try harder.

And how about yes, it is just a pram ffs so how about YOU just get over it and get off your grumpy arse and walk round it.

OK then, one child needs an emergency appointment, we get one for an hours time. Parental support is 1 and a half hours / 2 hours away, husband is in work with back to back meetings - that is a typical day for him. What do I do? I have small twins and as discussed ad nauseum it is not feasible, safe or practical not to have the other one in the buggy during the consultation. What do you suggest? Just leave one outside / in the car? I'm not being a martyr I just know the practicalities and would like a little bit of leeway for a short period in the twins life when I need that support. In a years time it won't be an issue.

"bigjoeent-but people are not saying they can't use the buggy, just that they have to leave it in the park.You could have pushed your DC across the rioad and then unstrapped them.
You don't have to hold your dc whilst they have their injections-a member of staff can do this. And why is your child magically silent in the pushchair so youi can hear the doctor, but not sitting on the floor or on your knee.
i am sorry but I refuse to accept that women are so bad at m,anaging their own children."

There are no members of staff available to "hold your DC". What on earth sort of places are these where busy surgeries are offering to hold babies left right and centre?

I also asked if I could put the baby on the floor while I had my smear and was told NO.

So there you go.

Again

twins or DC very close together
mobility issues
mental health issues
general post partum not-coping-very-well issues

= woman in some areas who do not feel / are not able to access their doctor.

This is a problem. I can't believe anyone thinks it isn't.

And I know some posters have said that not being able to access a doctor for this period is a short period of a couple of years (may be longer for some obviously) but I don't think that is good enough TBH.

YANBU

It's virtually impossible to get a pushchair into my GPs, but it is allowed. Double pushchairs can be dragged in sideways . I got a P&T, and when I went for DDs 6 we check up I got in OK, but DS was asleep in the puschair, which I couldn't get down the stairs to the consulting room. All the waiting rooms are on different levels, with lots of stairs (open plan, stupid modern design). There were times I was physically shaking by the time I got into the consulting room having waited with 3 small DC.

Sardine we are wasting precious time trying to get people to understand, you see, if you hate mothers and young children, see them as an obstacle in your way then you can't empathise with them, it's their own fault, having children this day and age. Some people on this thread have had it easy, and therefore do not understand how things like this can be very hard to manage got other people, If they ever have an unfortunate turn of events in their own situation or health, they will quickly change tune. Then there are people who just dislike mothers who fin't just grin and bare every ounce of crap flung their way, these people will never change, they seem so bitter, and forget that they were once children, had mothers who struggled, maybe struggled themselves, but don't want the next generation to have it any other way then they did.

It's all very well complaining about how Mothers cant manage for this reason and that reason, but what are the surgery actually supposed to do about the health and safety aspect of the waiting room being overcrowded with buggies?

The problems they cause elderly people who may be unsteady on their feet, or who have limited mobility that makes finding a route round the buggies difficult, or those who have limited vision, are all equally valid problems that have to be considered too. As well as the health and safety aspect of being able to evacuate in the event of an emergency.

I would have thought that the majority of mothers who have one baby with them, or a baby and toddler are more than capable of coping for a little while without their pushchair. But without a ban, all those mothers who could cope will continue to take their pushchairs with them, causing a problem to other surgery users. It would make a lot more sense to have a full ban and then relax the rule on the odd ocassion where there is a Mother with twins and a toddler or whatever, than it would to just allow all buggies all the time.

'There are no members of staff available to "hold your DC". What on earth sort of places are these where busy surgeries are offering to hold babies left right and centre'

Gps get funding depending on % of vaccinations given and will put thenmselves out to make sure they are administered.I have had a 6 yr old who is terrified of needles and a member of staff was found to restrain him

Our GP surgery banned pushchairs about the same time ds was born - 17 years ago. They have a covered area just outside with chains and padlocks. You use the chain and there is a £5 deposit for a key and unlock it on your way out - I never did - was never worried about anyone stealing the buggy (never occurred to me either although I know people who got het up about it).

Have a big gap with mine so it was never an issue. Can imagine the ladies who were there 17 years ago would have been helpful and sympathetic but can't see it now - they have been replaced with very unhelpful women.

Personally I think the surgeries should be investing in a bit of care for those with young children. The GPs are technically self employed and extremely well paid, they receive quotas for immunisation, etc., and a little care in the early days keeps a family with them. We are now almost 4 adults (all BUPA covered), the dc have been about three times each in the last five years, I go once a year and DS went five years ago, preferring to use the private GP service at the local private hospital which he says is worth it because the staff are polite and the appointments run to time.

We are money for old rope and would welcome a little courtesy when we go.

Oopsi, you sound like you have a great surgery to go to not all drs are like that. In my situation they don't magically provide another person to hold a DT for half an hour whilst getting both twins vaccinated.

I asked if someone could hold my baby when she had her 2 months injections. Very begrudgingly they found someone (I stood in the corner of the room and sobbed ). The nurse suggested I change surgery to one closer to home.

"'There are no members of staff available to "hold your DC". What on earth sort of places are these where busy surgeries are offering to hold babies left right and centre'

Gps get funding depending on % of vaccinations given and will put thenmselves out to make sure they are administered.I have had a 6 yr old who is terrified of needles and a member of staff was found to restrain him"

How on earth does this assist when a woman needs a smear.

I said that there was no-one to hold the baby and staff told me that I would not be allowed to put her on the floor even on a blanket.

LesAnimaux

If my lame father trips over your ridiculously large prams he's in hospital for weeks.
Or dead through a heart attack. Your kids will not die from being held.

They are supposed to offer an inclusive service, yes, but the problem with inclusion is that what suits one persons needs doesn't suit another's. Or do you think we should just spend millions of the NHS budget to make all surgeries bigger with wider corridors so that every buggy can be brought into the surgery at the mothers convenience?

Have you read the thread MsNorbury.

People are unable to access basic healthcare services due to the OUTRAGEOUS fact that they are not in the best physical and / or mental state and have seen fit to have children.

Why on earth anyone thinks that women are going to be strewing pushchairs all over the place is beyond me. Most parents are considerate. Bit depressing that anyone's immediate thought is that all these evil disabled mothers are out to kill elderly people. And as such it is right and proper that they cannot access basic services to get treatment for themselves and their children.

I mean fucking hell women who are going to end up with mental or physical issues shoudl have KNOWN THAT before they decided to have children.