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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think mobile phones in hospital have got a bit out of hand

70 replies

Icouldstillbejoseph · 31/03/2014 20:16

I work in a maternity hospital. I did a shift today which typifies the type of phone use I'm talking about.
I had to perform a planned blood test on a baby. Less than 5 hours old. I walked in, mum was on the phone. So I smiled and waited, and waited. Then started to get a few bits together for the test - it became obvious she wasn't going to stop talking on her phone. So I said "sorry to interrupt, are you happy for me to go ahead with baby's blood test?"
I get a distracted "yeh" and then back to phone call.
First baby. Not interested in comforting baby. This is not unusual....

Now, I know, I really know it's a time of great joy and you want to tell people etc. and I know people get bored in hospital etc but this happens so much now. The obsession with mobile phones is just everywhere.

I think I am perhaps getting old and miserable

OP posts:

TheCunkOfPhilomena · 31/03/2014 22:04

YANBU

Maybe I am boring but just what do people have to say to each other at all hours of the day and night? XP was like this and was constantly using his mobile whilst on the loo (texting his OW as it happens). Oh how I laughed when he dropped it down there TWICE.

Sparklingbrook · 31/03/2014 22:08

In A&E people were ringing half their contacts to say they were in a A&E but 'hadn't been seen yet as it was so busy', important stuff like that.

Also they ignored the 'Gel your hands, stand behind the yellow line and wait to be called forward' sign and were just strolling straight up to the desk.

saulaboutme · 31/03/2014 22:09

That's just horrendous op!!

Mobile addiction (says me on MN from my phone) is a real thing!

how do you feel about actually saying to the new parent to stop the call as you need them to observe what you're doing with THEIR NEWBORN!!

Do you see what I mean? It is bad manners, it's quite disgusting. That as much as you want to use the phone there are times when you just shouldn't. Maybe people have grown out of basic manners because it's all just accepted.

Bunbaker · 31/03/2014 22:10

It's not just in hospital. In the office where I work there are a number of people - mainly the (young) recent starters, who seem to think it is OK to spend all day texting their friends.

At work they are pretty reasonable about having to make or take the odd non work related call, but texting your mates all day is not on.

saulaboutme · 31/03/2014 22:23

In a few.of our local shops there are signs saying you won't be served if you're talking in your mobile.
I think it's fair enough.
why aren't there signs in most places of work? Especially the health profession.
Come to think of it there's actually a sign in our Church. That totally gobsmacked me but people had to be told at CHURCH!!

sallysparrow157 · 31/03/2014 22:23

I was once talking to a lady about a blood test she needed.
She took a phone call whilst I was talking to her. I thought 'ok, maybe her partner o mum is worried about her, she will probably let them know she'll call back, I'll wait'
Til she started slagging me off on the phone whilst I was stood right in front of her. 'The doctor's being really horrible to me..... Yeah, she won't stop picking on me, she's being really nasty' and so on (I really wasn't being nasty by the way, just explaining what I needed to do and why)

saulaboutme · 31/03/2014 22:29

Sorry op your post was about in hospitals. I have noticed this alot and got in a rant...

Original poster

Icouldstillbejoseph · 01/04/2014 08:51

No need to apologise for any sort of rant on this subject!
There are signs in our hospital too, it means nothing.
And yes, you can ask politely for them to finish talking but, like the poster above says they normally then end up moaning about you, or complaining or some such. I guess those that have to be told to be polite aren't going to be the easiest people to deal with anyway...

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 01/04/2014 08:55

I am off to the Fracture Clinic with DS in half an hour. I will relieve the boredom of the wait by monitoring mobile phone use.

Original poster

Icouldstillbejoseph · 01/04/2014 09:12

Make sure you spend all the time constantly posting on here to let us know
Even if the doctor needs to talk to you or DS do not be deterred

< P.s good luck >

OP posts:

thebody · 01/04/2014 09:35

mmm yes I agree.

this needing to be told basic manners is usually but not exclusively to the young, who have an excuse, and the rude of varied ages and educational backgrounds who have no excuse.

I think the approach should be taught in all work places including hospitals.

if a member of staff needs to attend to you or your child they need your full and undivided attention for legal reasons so if you with to text it phone you will have to wait.

any new starter at a work place needs firm rules on phone usage. any shop worker can ask a customer to wait to be served to finish a call. money changing hands is a serious business.

in hospitals mobile phones can be used at night but not in the main ward for conversations, you would need to go outside or text. if you text it has to be on silent so your bloody tick tick doesn't disturb others.

I am afraid people need guidance. if they don't want to comply them they don't get the procedure/attention.

these days are so litigious anyway that to listen and understand informed consent is crucial. if a patient is signing a consent form while on the phone a good lawyer could drive a coach and horses through any complaints they might have post op.

I was a nurse in the 80s and things were a lot more strict then.

we need to re teach manners.

MammaTJ · 01/04/2014 09:44

I don't think the phone is the issue as much as the mother. If I had been a mother in this situation, I would have put the phone down after a brief explanation to the person I was talking to as soon as you walked in.

shouldnthavesaid · 01/04/2014 10:01

I'm unfortunately in the position of being main carer to two adults, next of kin for one, and point of contact for both, plus an alarm contact for one as well. So 99% of the time I need to have my phone on and answerable. Most doctors and nurses would understand that, I'd hope. Thankfully I've not yet had to answer it during an examination or such like (!) but have certainly had to use it while seeing the GP a couple of times.

I've used it far more often when actually in hospital though, including whilst waiting for surgery and that. The last surgery I had I spent the 4 hours waiting on the ward, on the phone to my mum and on here, I don't know what I'd have done without that distraction.

TheDoctorsNewKidneys · 01/04/2014 10:18

I work in retail and I refuse to serve customers on their phones. It's so rude. I use my phone as an mp3 player so I probably look like I'm texting more than I actually am, but I always put it away in shops and I would NEVER get it out at the doctors!

ikeaismylocal · 01/04/2014 10:21

When my ds was a newborn he had to have a blood test, my hormones were all over the place and the idea of someone hurting him ( even for a very valid reason) was too much for me. Dp held him and I looked out of the window crying. I could well have been looking at myphone, if I'd looked at ds I would have grabbed him and run away with him.

I'm more rational now and manage to hide my own emotions in medical situations but those first few days after the birth were emotionally really difficult for me and if the woman op met was feeling the same I can see why she would distract herself with her phone.

liquidstate · 01/04/2014 10:34

My Dh is rather attached to his phone. If anything happens (eg the postman delivered a parcel he was waiting for) he calls his parents.

Am expecting our first baby and its on the birth plan - Remove phone from father .

Although I do agree the phones are useful when you are feeling isolated in hospital, it is quite rude to continue a conversation when someone is waiting to do a blood test.

blueballoon79 · 01/04/2014 10:54

I have a friend who when she comes over to visit will stop mid conversation with me to answer her mobile, then will start a conversation with the person on the phone whilst I'm left sitting like a lemon!

I've started to just do odd jobs round the house whenever she does it. I find it so rude.

QuinionsRainbow · 01/04/2014 10:55

A little bit off-topic, but not so long ago I saw a sign in a shop that said (approximately) "we understand that your call is important to you, so we will wait until you have finished before serving you".

Sister77 · 01/04/2014 11:16

I was in a hospital where someone unplugged the TV in the waiting room to plug their phone in to charge!
The sister in charge came out and confiscated it until the visit was over!
The relative (of a patient) ranted and raved but this old school sister was having none of it and stated she would send it to lost property if he didn't calm down. It was hilarious and all of us who were po faced but too wimpy to say anything got to watch the end of family fortunes!

jeee · 01/04/2014 11:27

My sister spent a year in hospital. At the time phones were still banned in hospital, so she (along with other long stay patients) would sneakily use phones behind curtains.... the nurses would cough loudly to warn them to get off the phone. The phone was a godsend. Without it my sister would have been very cut off from the outside world.

But when phones were banned, people didn't chat loudly on their phones at 2 in the morning. I was in hospital with one of my DC last week. At 11 at night, when the mother of the child in the next door bed finished one phone call, and then started another (and no, they weren't essential calls, they were about plans for her anniversary dinner!) my daughter started crying.

So I guess I'm on the fence here. Phones are great... but some people are bloody thoughtless.

drspouse · 01/04/2014 11:40

Come to think of it there's actually a sign in our Church. That totally gobsmacked me but people had to be told at CHURCH!!

Baptisms seem to be the new Big Fat Gypsy Weddings in our neck of the woods, and our vicar offers all families the choice of a separate ceremony or a ceremony during the main service. We suspect that it's usually Granny who wants the service, Mum and Dad are happy with it and umpteen cousins think it's like a wedding where you must appear in clothes that would enable you to pull at a nightclub, and if it's boring then, like any other party, you get out your phone. The clothing is, er, special at times. Particularly special for 10am on a Sunday in daylight.

jeee · 01/04/2014 11:48

I was at a funeral when a phone went off. Fair enough, we all forget to turn off our phones sometimes. But the owner of the phone answered it, and then proceeded to have a conversation. Which was whispered, but included the words, "yes, I'm at the funeral now."

MiaowTheCat · 01/04/2014 11:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaucyJack · 01/04/2014 11:58

I've never used my phone so much as I have during the few hours I was on the post-natal ward with DD3. I must've looked like one of "those" types. Oh dear

angelos02 · 01/04/2014 12:21

Answering a mobile in a funeral. Doesn't get much lower than that does it? Even if you are waiting for an absolutely urgent call. Put your phone on silent, sit at the back and sneak out. Some people are disgusting.

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