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.

I used the first pocket high chair in all kinds of settings - wasn't as good as a proper high chair but was brilliant because it was so tiny and didn't weigh anything and worked okay, a friend had the second one linked and it was well used too (and I borrowed it sucessfully at her house) - that one works more like a normal high chair because it's boosted, but is bigger to carry around. So a couple of options there, either would prop a weaning age child into a chair in the exam room

of course no once solution is one size fits all, but there is something that most (yes not all) can do in place of bringing their whole buggy into the GPs surgery

Touché!

I surmise that claire must be taking the piss. No-one would seriously tell a person with mental health problems and physical problems that combing two bags is the answer to all their problems. Are they? Mind you I have seen some strange things on here in the past

You brought up the burden of the two bags, SQ. If they were trivial, why mention them?

sardine Im with you on this - I had suspected appendicitus (sp?) 4 weeks after having DD, I don't have a car and live in a hilly area. I was told to come in (before appendicitus was diagnosed) as they thought it sounded like an infection. I lugged newborn in pram to GPs. I was allowed to take pram in with me. I was struggling to walk without pram to lean on. I was helped onto the bed and examined while pushing pram back and forth to keep DD asleep. If I hadn't had pram I

1. Wouldn't have been able to walk into examination room without help/support let alone with a baby
2. Was in so much pain anyway that I could barely lift DD and wouldn't have been able to hold her throughout
3. Had no way of attaching or carrying seat etc on the travel system.
4. Didn't own a car seat as borrowed one to bring DD home from hospital - no car and so didn't purchase 5)Wouldn't have been able to keep hold of DD while lying down
5. Wouldn't have been able to put DD down to play (obv!!) or anywhere else
6. Would have been screwed!

I was sent home and an ambulance ordered (one of the non emergency ones) and after an overnight stay in hospital they decided it wasn't my appendix. Cue 5 more GP appointments over the next few weeks with me in agony again. I wouldn't have coped with the no buggy policy and can't imagine what I would have done with DD. In some cases there are workable solutions but not everyone just pops along to the GPs with a cold. Im there quite regularly between me and DD who has had a nasty spate of illnesses the past 4 months and it wouldn't be possible to access the same level of care with pushchair bans.

I hope you get somewhere with the complaint OP.

I can push a buggy. I can't use a sling.

Reading reviews of pocket highchairs, it is clear that they still require vigilence and constant supervision. Just looking at the link you posted, I can see that my DD would probably injure herself in that 'pocket highchair' in under five minutes. I can't imagine you would suggest that someone could leave a child in that while they are lying on their back, out of grabbing distance, and unable to intervene when the kid inevitably starts squirming, kicking and tipping. That is if there were a place to safely attach it in the first place. Portable highchairs are not as safe an option as being restrained in a stroller or buggy.

As I said above, these options are not options for me. And I am certainly not nearly as difficult a case as some mums, who actually have multiple children or more mobility issues.

"Is anyone arguing that this is good?"

no, but IMO there are very few things that are a greater evil than being trapped in a fire!

Ideally this would be considered when practices are in the design/planning stage! but that is clearly not the case (who the fuck thought that the treatment rooms would be best positioned on the second floor?????) But until they are floored and build PROPERLY, then at least they can be safe-ish!

brdgrl all the treatment rooms I've been in are so tiny that everywhere is in arms reach! couldn't swing a cat! But it might not work in your surgery, something else might!

Because when you are suffering from anxiety, it's another thing piled on top of all the other things.

And the fact is that with young children you need stuff. Lugging stuff around, in however many bags, and newborns (possibly 2 or even 3), and wrangling toddlers, even without any health issues is a big ask. Throw in some general not coping very well, or mental or physcial issues, and it's a real problem.

I think the problem is the ridiculous size of modern pushchairs.

I always had a teeny-tiny Maclaren for circumstances where a big pushchair was going to be an inconvenience (buses, metro, aeroplanes).

I think it would also be really bad for an elderly person, perhaps with poor eyesight, to trip over the protruding wheel of those anti-social three-wheel buggies, possibly fracturing a hip.

For the sake of the elderly, we should keep waiting rooms as clutter-free as possible.

You don't need to lug a lot of stuff around. That is simply not true.

It's quite liberating once you realise this.

I am baffled that people are suggesting chairs (pocket chairs, folding chairs etc)
I live in a city and very few people drive to my GP surgery. I am trying to imagine all the mums I regularly see at my surgery struggling in with multiple DC, trying to keep hold of DC while putting pushchairs out of the way, getting out a variety of chairs and restraints and lugging them through to the waiting room and then on into the consultation room. That is a nightmare scenario and something I would never attempt with my one very well behaved DD let alone multiple DC!!

Couldnt let this comment go "Most GPs are open well after 6pm so perhaps it is possible to go when DH gets home?"

so for those without DHs???
Or those who have DHs who are never home till 8pm? Or who work away from home a lot?

We are allowed buggies at our surgery - but I always take our tiny, cheapy stroller rather than my enourmous off-roader 3 wheeler because I'm aware of taking up space.
perhaps if more people were considerate with their pram usage theyd be less likely to be banned.
OP YANBU

Someone donated the sperm...

"You don't need to lug a lot of stuff around. That is simply not true.

It's quite liberating once you realise this"

It is!
one bag is enough, wallet doesn't need to be in separate bag to nappies!

So Claire you suggest that I tell my DH he has to leave work 2 hours early so I can go to the doctor because he "donated the sperm" ???? hahahahahahahah

Or perhaps my friend's DH should just pop home from Afghanistan so she can go to the doctor?

Maybe instead of building new grammar schools they should be providing safer, accessible buildings for gp surgeries instead, I agree that the saftey of everyone needs to be at the forefront of regulations, but why does it have to be at a cost to a large section of users? Gps need patients, they need tobe flexible, blanket bans are not.

I am a big fan of pockets and would manage to fit a nappy, wipes, keys, purse and phone into the pockets of my jacket.

For many families, the hubby is able to be flexible:

"Hey honey, do you mind coming home early because I have a doctor's appt at 6pm."

I really try to not pack too much, but if you have children with medicine, asthma pumps, diabetic medication, a baby bag gets filled rather quickly, and you need to take it with you.

Just to be pedantic, I can't stuff my reusable nappies, the liners, nappy bags, and wipes too into any pocket.

OTTMumm, in practice I think it's a bit like mobile phone bans in hospitals, its not a real blanket ban, but it's called a blanket ban so that it can be used against the inconsiderate people who can't use sensible discretion. If you or Sardine (with limb problems) were at my GPs you'ld be allowed in with your buggy. Asking nicely for those who can manage to do without doesn't work so they need stronger words, like blanket ban, to get the majority who can make do, to make do!

You do need to lug a lot of stuff around

Nappies
Wipes
Nappy bags
Changing mat
Couple of changes of clothes in case of explosive poos
Wallet
Keys
Mobile

I think that is a lot of stuff.
And am baffled that someone in agreement that you don't need a lot of stuff is suggesting that people take car seats, bumbos and pop up highchairs (never heard of one of those either). They sound cumbersome, unsuitable for young babies and very trip-hazardy.