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.

What does that mean.

Take them away?

What.

People also want free health care. They want big surgeries with room enough for everybody to bring in their buggies, abolish health and safety.

What do you think is an acceptable solution?

FFS you are not reading this thread are you. You are just posting random stuff without taking into account what people have been saying.

I posted my solution yesterday, and again a few posts up.

"I think that surgeries should be aware of these accessibility issues and advise parents that if they need assistance with access then to speak to X and they will find a solution."

I think that is a better solution than telling women who have post natal depression that they should never have had their children in the first place.

However as someone pointed out upthread, all opinions can be expressed here.

No one need explain themselves on here - toddlers are meant to explore ClairAll and of course they are going to want to explore as there are lots of things for them to look at and see.

Sorry 5madthings i didnt mean naughty as such i just meant toddlers doin normal toddler things and sometimes it can be hard without a pushchair when they are grouchy-i agree with everything you have said on this thread i just worded myself wrong

if you need a smear you really shouldn't take a child with you but if you have no choice I would always arrange for one of our reception staff to come in the room and entertain the child whilst I examined you. No way I'd feel comfortable with a child in a buggy outside the curtain on their own (and especially not inside the curtain) I one had a horrific experience fitting a coil when the woman's toddler (stapped into buggy) started yellling "what are you doing to my mummy?" at the top of his voice

That said we don't have a no buggy policy where I work but are lucky enough to have a big waiting area

What solutions are you on about QS, just a question do u actually have children ?

That solution doesn't really sound like a solution though SQ.

It's saying the parent just has to tell someone else and they will find a way to deal with it. Leaving the surgery with the same problem they had originally, and the parent not having to take any responsibility or deal with any possible inconvenience.

"I think that surgeries should be aware of these accessibility issues and advise parents that if they need assistance with access then to speak to X and they will find a solution."

But isnt that just common sense? Dont you think everybody who has an issue with a buggy ban will contact their surgery if they have a problem and explain, and get a solution?

The OPs letter was just a general rant on behalf of all people who could possibly have a problem with not taking their buggy in. The op did not write in and say "I have mobility issues, it is difficult to take my buggy in." or "Anxiety and pnd is making it difficult for me to access the surgery without bringing the buggy". etc. I am sure such a request would be met with empathy.

It is pointless to rant and rave online on behalf of numerous people who could potentially have a problem with a ban that might or might not affect them.

I had pnd after my second was born. I also had really bad spd, I could not walk for nearly 6 months following birth. I could not possibly get into surgery with both kids unless I brought a buggy in. I left the kids at home with somebody if I went in for myself. The surgery knew about my plight. I had spoken to them, so they let me bring the buggy in.

The solution you suggest is good as far as it goes. I think most surgeries will on their discretion let parents take buggies in if there was a need. For all the others, without mental health, or mobility issues, parking the buggy in the "buggy bay " should not pose a problem.

For every ban, I am sure that there is an exception to the rule, and that every case will be judged on its own merit.

I am sorry if I come across as totally unsympathetic. I just think it is a perfect storm in a teacup, because it is ridiculous to think that the very institution here to look after our health will actually impose a ban that will have such negative effect on some. The onus is on the individual who needs the buggy to speak up and say "actually, I am bringing the buggy in because I need it". Doctors, nurses, and health care staff are not uncaring ogres.

What solutions are you on about QS, just a question do u actually have children

She's just taking you back to the underlying issue again, ie the reason for the bans are lack of facilities, and you don't get to upgrade all these surgeries for Total Buggy Access without a mahoosive spend.

And so the question is who will pay. The country is skint. So who wants £25 appointment fees?

No One.

Well then, you know where you are....

My surgery have a notice on their main entrance that prams are banned....I have never left mine outside, I have 3 children and one on the way, I have a heavy 7 month old sitting in a Bugaboo Donkey which is big but wait until it goes into duo mode! If they dare ask me to leave it outside with a newborn, 1 year old and two other children in tow they will hear the sharp end of my tongue, our surgery is big enough to accomodate it.

So far no problems anyway so I cant complain

i have had a smear with a toddler and baby strapped in a pushchair, no choice as no childcare and i value my health so wasnt going to not get a smear! they faced the other way, baby asleep and toddler had snack and toys, he was fine, it was good for me to relax actually as i kept chatting to him to reassure him i was just behind the curtain and fine so i didnt concentrate on the smear being done iyswim?

but at my surgery there is no way any member of staff will watch, hold or entertain children for you!

and i repeat my point from earlier, who are all these buggy wielding maniacs!? as i said everyone i know is courteous, takes their child out when they can, moves it out of the way and does everything not to get in the way or cause a nuisance, i dont actually know any mothers that act like some evil buggy demon and get in they way or dont move, arent polite and courteous etc!

She said she had two.

I don't know what the point is though.

Just because one person managed, doesn't mean that another can.

Policies that reduce or remove access for parents with young children / with additional problems are a problem. It is not acceptable that there are women with young children who feel / are unable to access the doctor. Post-natal depression is very common, standard "not coping" is very common, physical problems post birth (often temporary) are very common, many women have pre-existing conditions. I do think that women who are going to struggle need to have access, in the same way that other people who struggle do. It seems nonsensical to make things difficult or impossible for people to be treated when they are (by definition) in charge of young dependants.

"Dont you think everybody who has an issue with a buggy ban will contact their surgery if they have a problem and explain, and get a solution?"

You have not read the thread, have you

QS

There you go

Freddo says that my solution is unacceptable, for a start.
For further examples see the rest of the thread.

"dont you think everybody who has an issue with a buggy ban will contact their surgery if they have a problem and explain, and get a solution?"

no i wouldnt have, in the midst of pnp followed by pnd i simply wouldnt have gone, it was hard enough to phone up and get an appointment let alone to have to wrangle with a receptionist about the possibility of bringing a buggy!

It is difficult to get the good bits in-between the headless rants.

By the length of my previous post, and the speed this thread is moving, do you really think I saw Freddos post seconds before my epic?

It is still my opinion though.

freddos you realise that you have just told anyone with accessibility issues who is reading this thread, not to bother talking about them with their Gp surgery, as that would be out of line.

Did you mean to say that? If not it would be good to revise it as you might have a real impact on any lurkers here.

5mad, was there a buggy ban in place at the time, or are you speaking hypothetically?

WHAT is still your opinion?

The stuff about not having children?

Policies that reduce or remove access for parents with young children / with additional problems are a problem. It is not acceptable that there are women with young children who feel / are unable to access the doctor. Post-natal depression is very common, standard "not coping" is very common, physical problems post birth (often temporary) are very common, many women have pre-existing conditions. I do think that women who are going to struggle need to have access, in the same way that other people who struggle do. It seems nonsensical to make things difficult or impossible for people to be treated when they are (by definition) in charge of young dependants.

There you go again, banging on about "unacceptables" and "nonsensicals" without ever seeming to get your head around why there is a problem in the first place, and who is going to pay for fixing it.

That's the unacceptable and nonsensical part of this thread.

i am speaking hypothetically as i have said my surgery does not have a buggy ban, thank god! they do have an utterly crap appointments system that makes it a nightmare to get appointments and virtually impossible to get the so that i can arrange child care tho.

i have already said my gp surgery doesnt have a buggy ban, but yes its a lengthy thread.

and given that i have been accused of making up my past mh problems on this thread i have no idea why i am bothering to post on it tbh.

If you had read the thread you will know that people have tried to talk about it with surgeries and have been told to bog off.

That is on top of the fact that
Many people with mental health problems do not feel up to discussing / negotiating / begging with doctors receptioniss, even on the phone
Many people read a sign which says "No buggies" and assume that YES it applies to them and YES it is a rule and so understand that for the moment (a year or 2 or however long) they are not going to be able to go there

These things are happening and they are problems.
If doctors surgeries had leeway for discretion and made it clear on their website / in their information and said who to speak to about it then that might just help some people who are really struggling.

"It seems nonsensical to make things difficult or impossible for people to be treated when they are (by definition) in charge of young dependants."

Explain why you disagree with this.

"I think that surgeries should be aware of these accessibility issues and advise parents that if they need assistance with access then to speak to X and they will find a solution."

Explain what is wrong with this.

So you call the practice manager and discuss it. Now people are even saying NO this is not acceptable? Mind-boggling.

SQ,

You are quite impossible.
You are so hung up in in one tongue in cheek statement from over 24 hours ago, that you are coming across as rather unhinged.

5mad, I dont think there is much point in discussing hypothetical situations. You simply dont know, the receptionist might have told you not to worry about the buggy ban, on account of your issues, but you dont know that, because it is hypothetical.