To object to a 'no children under 16 on the premises' rule at a clinic?

[FannyBazaar]

I had to make a booking for an ultrasound scan and was really shocked to be told that children are not allowed on the premises.

I generally take my DC with me wherever I go if I can't arrange things around school time and have done since I became a mother. Last time I had a scan this was never mentioned and was at a place I have regularly taken DC with me although last scan was during school and work hours so it didn't matter to me.

I am appalled at the blanket ban policy because I think it makes life extremely difficult for single parents or anyone who doesn't have anyone else readily available to take the DC.

I also don't get it because every day hundreds of women have ultrasound scans in other places and with their DC present in the room or even leaving them in the waiting room.

I dare say they've had their fair share of unruly children but then again, that happens everywhere.

IIRC it's because the staff won't want to be disseminating bad news in front of children

Well I think yanbu. It excludes people who don't have good childcare, family support etc.

It depends what kind of clinic it is I suppose. In theory I agree though. I had to fight hard to be able to access a health service here because I have no one to leave dd with.

There is always the chance with any scan that it will be bad news. Having children present makes it much more difficult for the mother to process that bad news, and it is distressing for the children.

They aren't trying to be difficult, they are trying to avoid distressing anyone unfairly.

Some places just aren't suitable for children. That's how it is

PedlarsSpanner I can't imagine there being any bad news, it's just for a look, if that was the case then I would expect to put DC in the waiting room or outside the door. I'd hope that in cases where you might possibly have bad news then they might suggest you bring a partner or friend.

It's the whole 'children under 16', thing I don't get, who would object to a 12 year old, for example, sitting in the waiting room?

Can't you imagine any scenario at all where bad news might need relayed? Ok then!

I took dd who was 4 at the time to the EPAU when I started bleeding at 9 weeks, I simply had nobody to leave her with, dh and I were allowed to bring her. As it was, it was goodnews. I also took dd to my 12 week scan as we had nobody to leave her with.

Could you leave your 12 year old in the car with a book / radio on? Or just ask to reschedule for another time?

If they are the rules I don't see you being able to change them and challenging it will probably get you eye rolled at.

It's not just about you though is it? Imagine being told your baby had died or was likely too due to some abnormality and waking out to a room full of children. It'd be awful.

You really can't imagine what bad news there could be? I think you're being very naive. Scans aren't just for a look, they're medical appointments which can have dreadful outcomes, as we have found out. Also, the sonographer must actually concentrate on their job , not on worrying about distressing a child.

Walking

The problem is...People going for scans are looking forward to a look at their baby...The reason for scans are to look for health concerns...

I went for my 20 week scan and came out 4 days later due to health issues so you never know

Wouldn't it be upsetting for the 12 year old in the waiting room to see other people coming out of the scan room having been told bad news and being clearly upset?

I would be horrified if I came out of a scan having been told bad news to find that I can't react the way I want to because someone else has brought their child with them and they are sitting in the waiting room that I have to walk out into.

You don't know what other people are there to have scans for, any number of them could be about to receive bad news and having your children in the waiting room could make that bad news more difficult to face.

Exactly my point, Fifi. It's not fun.

I'm asassuming this is not a pregnancy scan then and for a n other body part? I guess that is pertinent to your problem.

I don't see why a 12 yr old shouldn't be in the waiting room.

What kind of clinic is this?

PedlarsSpanner I can imagine in some scenarios that this could be a possibility but this is just a scan to have a look and anything they find would require further tests AFAIK. At least GP never mentioned anything further.

The no children thing apparently applies to the whole premises and not just the type of scan or whatever else they do at the clinic. Oddly enough the place I went last time was a polyclinic where children or all ages are allowed for other things.

Brian, a twelve yo shouldn't be in the waiting room as it is an adult environment. There are a number of threads on here at the mmoment saying gosh my 12/15 year old is a nightmare. Exactly why you wouldn't want them there, who's to say which ones are well behaved and which are not?

The sonographer also has to concentrate which is hard when children are around . I work in this area and often end up baby sitting patients children while they are scanned which means I am unable to scan myself resulting in delays for other patients.

What about pregnant under 16s? A few of my classmates had babies at school, one of whom is now pregnant herself as an under 16. Where can they have scans if they are not allowed in? Or if their partner is also under 16, or they need to take a friend, are they not allowed support?

It might not be you that receives bad news but other patients may have been given distressing results .

It's listed as a Diagnostic Centre, the same company operates in Health Centres and a variety of locations.

Anywhere I've ever had a scan before has children on the premises anyway. Last scan I had was at the GP surgery. I take DC with me if I go there and there's every chance of people coming out with bad news there too. Even the childminder I used to use would take my DC with her to the GP.