Children in waiting rooms

[BigRedLondonBus]

Dd has some regular hospital appointments at the moment but I have no child care so it means taking all 4 children to the hospital with me. It’s abit of a nightmare what age would it be acceptable to leave children in the waiting room whilst we have the actual appointment?

I wouldn't even have given it a second thought, my eight year olds after have to wait in drs, hospital dentists etc waiting rooms. With earphones on a Nintendo ds they are fine.

I’d be more concerned about the children’s exposure to antibiotic resistant organisms in the hospital environment. Hospitals are not healthy places.

Unless the kids are immune deficient, or have gaping open sores or go around licking the floors, they will be fine.

They are always very quiet, so if any odd character started talking to them, the whole room would hear. They are also enclosed room rather than big sprawling places with separate sections so they can't run off to a different part. And there are staff in every room if something did happen.

Lots of assumptions. Sometimes there are no other patients when you go in, so when the oddball comes in there’s nobody else around. Or the people who are around (who aren’t responsible for your children) are ill, and shouldn’t have to intervene because a weirdo is targeting the children in the corner. Or the staff are dealing with patients.

Etc.

The reason I wouldn’t do it is because there are situations which could arise where a stranger could be forced to parent my children.

Can you get the appointment slots for when they are at school?

In reality, My reality there just isn't anyone who can watch my kids during these appointments or any other time they have always come with me. Age 7 and under they came in with me, older they wait in tne waiting room. Nothing has ever happened in the 10 years I've done this. Scare mongering on this thread is not helpfull. If you have people who can watch your kids you have tne luxury of creating non realistic scary scenarios while the rest of us just get on with it because we have to.

No they are urgent appointments.

Is it one of those waiting rooms for children? Lockable and with CCTV etc?

Only you know your children but I would leave my 7 and older kids in the waiting room with their 'phones' (they have no simcards so are basically tablets) and headphones, no volume issues there.

Children can go into a swimming pool by themselves from age 8 so I think sensible 7 & 8 year olds would be fine. I'd let them see which room you go into so that they can come and get you in an emergency.

They are also enclosed room rather than big sprawling places with separate sections so they can't run off to a different part. And there are staff in every room if something did happen.

I never understand why some people think that their ‘normal’ is the same UK wide. I have been in many hospital clinics in the past ten years and not one was an enclosed room. They were all open plan leading to other areas.

No not lockable but im not concerned about that, don’t know if there is cctv but again it’s 10 minutes and I’m not highly paranoid that I worry about something happening in that small space of time. I wish I didn’t have to take them all but there is no other option, just wondering if it’s ok to do or unacceptable.

The vast majority of people in a waiting room are just normal everyday people, most will be parents or grandparents themselves and whilst they aren't there to parent your children, they are responsible members of society who wouldn't either put or see a child in danger without taking sensible action.

We need to stop seeing bogeymen round every corner. The reality is that you will be waiting in the waiting room far longer than you will be in the actual appointment most of the time so they will be fine sitting for the 10-15 mins you are away.

Well, only you can say whether you find it acceptable. I don’t. If there is no rule against it, do what you think is best.

WaxOnFeckOff

The OP has said she doesn’t expect anybody else to be responsible for her children.

I'm not the most tolerant person on earth, but two well behaved kids sitting in a waiting room would not even get me off zero on the annoyance scale.

If the kids were at an age where they had to come along with you rather than stay home, then I don't think its ever appropriate to leave them in the waiting room when you go in for appointments to be honest.

Herculean, that's great. But what do you suggest those of us who don't have childcare/family etc on tap to actually do? We get on with it, you may not agree but frankly that's not my problem.

WaxOnFeckOff

No, they wouldn’t annoy me. But I presume if I am there, it’s either with my own children or because I need to be seen myself. It’s not really on to assume other patients or parents can be the safety net.

Our surgery waiting room has a notice stating that children are not to be left in the waiting room unsupervised and on several appointment letters I’ve received it has stated that, if you are bringing a child with you, you must bring another adult to supervise them. However, if that’s the case, you will just have to take them in with you.

my2bundles

Well, no, I wouldn’t make my kids your problem, because they aren’t. They’re mine, and I would take them in with me.

I'd make the receptionist know you are going to leave them for the appointment and that if they need you to go to the desk.

At that age they should be fairly sensible for 10-15mins.

I know hercule, i was responding to the "what if there is an emergency" posters. The chances of there being an emergency is minuscule but if there was one, anyone/everyone else in the waiting room is not going to ignore that there are vulnerable people there. I know that I would assist anyone falling into that category if I was there, e'g, someone with mobility issues etc. I wouldn't voluntarily take responsibility for someone else's children at random, but I wouldn't see them stuck in a crisis.

WaxOnFeckOff

That is the same as expecting others to be responsible for them.

Great. What if u have an appointment whete it's not appropriate to take them in? Like zip said I've left mine in waiting rooms for 10 years with exactly zero issues.