Leaving kids unsupervised at a hospital appointment

[ChumpyWumpy]

I’ve had a hospital appointment come through on a day in the half term holiday and I can’t find anyone to have my two children on that day. They are DD, aged 12 and DS aged 7. I was thinking of taking them with me but leaving them in the reception area cafe while I have my appointment. They are both sensible kids but DD is definitely more sensible than DS. I would take them both up to the actual department with me but I don’t want my daughter seeing where I’m going as she’ll worry (unnecessarily). I really shouldn’t be longer than half an hour but am still nervous about leaving them. WWYD?

I think if you ask some of the Mums at school and explain you've got a hospital appointment and ask if one of them could have your 7 year old that should work. Or if one of them has an older sibling 14 or above they would probably babysit for £10 for 2 hours and probably if you explained one of the Mums would offer for free. I normally find one child is easier to get on a playdate than 2 but always had Mums that would help out for hospital things.

If you go to the hospital with them I would go for the waiting area rather than the café.

Mine are 12 & 7 & wld have zero problem leaving them in the hospital cafe. 12 year old has a phone if there was any problem. A cake & a drink & they will sit there happily.

I have done it when I had no choice (no country, didn't know a soul, ...) but outside the doctor's office not cafe at the ground floor. There is a bit of everything in a hospital (junkies, very angry people) and you never know how long it will be before they call you , even with an appointment , sometimes you have to wait for hours.

Of course you should be able to leave them for half an hour at their ages. It’s a cafe not a bordello. I wonder why your daughter doesn’t know why your going though?

None of my 3 closest hospitals (large city) allow children to wait unsupervised in any of the waiting areas, and will rearrange your appointment if you turn up with them in tow.

It has been a real PITA for me trying to organise my appointments around the kids but logically the staff cannot be held responsible for your kids whilst you are out of sight.

Rearrange your appointment op.

Play date for DS and DD in the cafe/reception would be fine.

Or a paid babysitter.,

You could maybe ask the hospital but I would say there's a slight risk they would report what they will class as an unsupervised 7 year old. Don't think much will happen but it's hassle you don't need if they do.

This is ridiculous. You would have to tell her where to find you if she needed to anyway so you are not going to be able to hide which department you are at by leaving them in a cage

Yes, the hospital does have a cafe and my DD does have a phone

I wouldn’t rely on phones too much signal in most that I have been to is patchy at best!

what’s your plan for when the appointment over runs?

We got left when my grandad was dying. Wrvs ladiea kept an eye but we were exactly that age and fine. Hospital security is good. I would do it.

They can wait right outside the room your appointment is in, then can knock on the door if they need you. Just explain to your daughter that it's a routine Appt

The only possible issue is the 7 year old. Most 12 year olds go to cafes on their own. Could you bring the 7 year old up with you but let the 12 year old go to the cafe on her own?

Absolutely not allowed in hospital where I live- signs up to say this. In your position I’d either take them with me or rearrange

This wouldn't be allowed in the hospitals near me either. Not in the cafe or the waiting rooms. Too many strangers, too much chaos, too many unknowns, too many delays, too unpredictable.

For me I think it would be fine, they are not little children. Let your son bring his ds/tablet/magazine etc they'll be fine