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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to accompany daughter to x-ray?

51 replies

secretfreckle · 18/12/2018 19:28

Yesterday my daughter (13) had a routine x-ray at a small hospital near where we live. She has been getting leg pain and we were referred to a children's physio who said she should have an x-ray of her pelvis before he starts any treatment, just to make sure everything is OK.
When we were called through, I stood up to go with her and the nurse said "oh, she's just getting gowned up, you can stay there".
My daughter came out about 15 mins later and had had the x-ray. They had even showed her the x-ray, as my daughter said one side of her hip looked a lot different to the other and had asked her to take her pants off, as some weird shapes were showing up and the radiographer thought she had 'bling' on her pants that was showing up on the x-ray!
Of course now I am worried about the weird shapes and if I had been there, could have seen it for myself and asked questions. I appreciate I would not have been allowed in the actual room itself because of the radiation. Can anyone shed any light on this?! (Just to make it clear, I am not suggesting that anything untoward took place, just wondering why I was not allowed to go with her)

OP posts:
abbsisspartacus · 18/12/2018 19:30

Maybe they were asking if she was pregnant/sexually active and wanted her to answer honestly

Claireshh · 18/12/2018 19:31

Yes, I suspect it was the pregnancy question.

Flowerpot2005 · 18/12/2018 19:32

They should have discussed the results with you. I'd phone back to the department tomorrow & ask to speak to the radiology manager, not reception manager, to discuss further.

Worieddd · 18/12/2018 19:34

No there was no need for you to be there she’s 13. 5 year olds go in and have xrays on their own.

Worieddd · 18/12/2018 19:35

Flowerpot2005
They weren’t results - the result will be a formal report done by a radiologist or reporting Radiographer

CrabbyPatty · 18/12/2018 19:35

Hmmm, just thinking this one through as a paediatric nurse (albeit not had loads of x-ray experience). Where I have taken children to x-ray there's been a viewing bit behind a lead screen for parents. However, I've generally worked with younger children and that was in a specialist children's hospital - there may not be provision for this in an normal x-ray department. 13 is a funny age - so as long as she's felt to be competent to understand the situation it might have been appropriate. It may have been to preserve her dignity (yes even in front of her Mother!). Or it may have been an opportunity to speak to her on her own to rule out any safeguarding concerns (don't overly worry about that bit though, it could have been a precaution and you should know if they have concerns by now - I also think this is highly unlikely practice, but not entirely inappropriate if relevant). I can imagine a radiographer saying the 'bling' bit - its the kind of cringey language they use with kids. I'm assuming there were two members of staff in the room? I would argue this would be inappropriate if there was one person there.

CrabbyPatty · 18/12/2018 19:36

Agree with the asking about pregnancy hypothesis - that's what I meant by privacy and dignity!

Nellietheeuropean · 18/12/2018 19:37

You are not allowed to enter the xRay room as a non Patient due to the exposure to x-rays. The person taking the x-ray is also in a separate room. My 7 yr old daughter had to have an x-ray of her jaw (routine at the dentist here) and had to enter the room by herself. They should have explained that to you though.

Bunnybigears · 18/12/2018 19:39

If the weird shapes were anything to worry about or needed extra investigations they would have told you. 13 is fine to go for x ray alone.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 18/12/2018 19:41

They have to ask every girl over the age of 12 if there's a chance she can be pregnant, so they'll want to speak to her alone, and additionally the radiographers cannot report usually, so they wouldn't be able to answer any questions for you.

Flowerpot2005 · 18/12/2018 19:42

worrieddd

Many clinics are walk in & xrays are reported there & then. Only more specific, in-depth xrays are by appointment.

My DD is 13 & eprecently attended for an X-ray, the staff were more than happy for me to be with DD.

Discussing outcome, which was discussed with OP's DD, was not appropriate as a child can not comprehend clinic outcomes & ultimately cannot report adequately to an adult.

Flowerpot2005 · 18/12/2018 19:43

Yes you can enter an X-ray room as a non patient. There are screens to stand behind, as staff do & parents are asked to do the same.

Vegisgrowingwell · 18/12/2018 19:44

My daughter had an x-ray (she's 12) I went in with her and they let us look at the pictures on the screen after! I would expect to go in with a 13 year old!

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 18/12/2018 19:45

as a child can not comprehend clinic outcomes

Yes, they can, if they're competent. How do you think teenage girls get the pill?

chillpizza · 18/12/2018 19:45

They will of been asking questions about pregnancy and abuse. I get it with dh still the doctor left the room saw dh leave to get something and boom back in asking questions about my sexual health as in how many current partners and is he abusive even when I’ve given the ok for him to be there.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 18/12/2018 19:47

You usually can stand behind a screen and see the x-ray at our local hospital with children but I would try to encourage my 13 yr old to start going in alone. I give my 11yr old the choice. Part of preparing them for adult life. Taking knickers off sounds strange though. Did she feel uncomfortable with the situation?

Bringbackthestripes · 18/12/2018 19:47

The results/radiology report will go to you GP, they generally advise you to phone the surgery/speak to GP re the results in 7-10 days. There usually isn’t anywhere for you to “go with her”. Just a changing room then the room where they take the X-ray so no where safe for you to go. They showed her the x ray to see the weird shapes to explain why she had to take her pants off as they thought the shapes were on her pants.

Notacluethisxmas · 18/12/2018 19:47

I have never known an radiographer to also be the doctor. Or vice versa.

I doubt they gave her any results at all.

Becles · 18/12/2018 19:49

@Flowerpot2005

Discussing outcome, which was discussed with OP's DD, was not appropriate as a child can not comprehend clinic outcomes & ultimately cannot report adequately to an adult.

You're incorrect, at 13 if the staff deem the 13 year old to be competent, it is more than appropriate (and expected) for care & treatment to be discussed with the child; bear in mind certain 13 yesr olds can be judged competent to decline or consent to treatment irrespective of the parents wishes.

Flowerpot2005 · 18/12/2018 19:50

whywhywhy

For heavens sake, clinical interpretation of an X-ray is completely different! Children cannot interpret clinical information which is a completely different scenario to taking a pill so you don't have a baby.

rainbowunicorn · 18/12/2018 19:51

Perfectly normal to not be in with a 13 year old. My son has routine xrays and I have not gone in with him since he turned 12.
The results will usually be reported back to the doctor that referred her there in the first place and can be a few weeks later.

MozzchopsThirty · 18/12/2018 19:52

God there's some bollocks spoken on this thread

You can go into x ray room as a parent
The reason you didn't get asked in is probably because it's a non specific injury and this gives the child space to disclose any possible abuse
It also gives staff the opportunity to ask about pregnancy

It's likely the person conducting the x ray was a radiographer
Any diagnosis would need to be by a consultant radiologist

Flowerpot2005 · 18/12/2018 19:54

Becles

you are completely wrong on what a child can & cant be expected to comprehend. A large number of junior doctors, including registrars, can't interpret xrays, how on earth do you expect a 13yr old to understand?

WindyWednesday · 18/12/2018 19:59

My 5 year old had an X-ray and I had to lift her onto the X-ray table. She was terrified and I was there at all times, I stood behind the lead curtain wall with the radiographer while the x Ray happened. But at no time was I asked to leave so it felt like I was in the way.

Bringbackthestripes · 18/12/2018 19:59

They didn’t ask the DD to interpret the X-ray, they just showed her the image because of the shapes they thought were being caused by her underwear and then took another once they were removed. As far as I read it it was just a way of explaining why she had to remove pants and re take. The DD said one side looked different, she may have been looking at it at a funny angle. The radiographer didn’t say one side looked different.