Taking baby to hospital scan?

[Roundgreysoft]

I'm not sure what I expect from this thread but I am really stressing and DH is asleep/has said "talk to me in the morning please"....

I have an scan at the hospital tomorrow after being in the emergency dept this weekend. Scan only booked today. I was hospitalised for a week recently and symptoms came back quickly after discharge. Home with antibiotics, and scan tomorrow (ultrasound). When the consultant asked what days I could do I said "I literally have absolutely no childcare options on Tuesday and Wednesday so Monday, please, as I have options on that day".
They couldn't fit me in on Monday (today). I explained I'll have to bring my baby (4 months) with me because I really have nobody for tomorrow. Eldest can go to work with DH (who can't take any more time off as he's been off for ages with me being admitted) but nothing for baby. They said if I had no childcare then I didn't have another option so it was what it was, but in my experience the admin staff say different things to clinicians.

I am seriously concerned they're going to turn me away, because every email they've sent me today says "NO CHILDREN CAN ATTEND" in big bold writing...

Are they likely to turn me away? I'm really worried! I can't wait for a new date because of the nature of the appointment. Has anyone else been in this position? Appt is early so baby and I will be on the way as phone lines open.

That's awful yet some how not that surprising.
I have seen 'computer says no' mentality so much over the years mainly social services & elderly care when trying to sort out my mum who has Alzheimer's also when navigating my own long term chronic disability.
I have been lucky in that I have healthcare connections, experience, am fairly intelligent and very bloody minded but it's always a fight and it shouldn't be. If there was a little bit of judgement and flex allowed there would be better outcomes for all. Yes some people do take the piss but why should they make life so much harder for those who are already vulnerable and suffering.

I mean why is the default position always to 'punish' those people?

I’m glad common sense has prevailed, OP, and you can be seen.

@TheTorturedPoetsDepartment your patient’s case is outrageous and absolutely heartbreaking. Poor mother and child.

What a relief!

Ultrasounds are usually very quick I think you will be fine

I'm here now still and the staff have been fantastic and very accommodating. Everyone was fussing baby while I had my observations done, sonographer positioned him right next to me during the scan so I could put my hand in the pram and keep him happy (he was asleep but woke up as they're running behind and we have been here for two hours), just waiting for the dr. So grateful for such understanding.

How lovely. I'm glad that it turned out so well after all the worry.

Pleased for you. Rules in times like this should only for guidance. Rules are meant to help organise, make sure things run in an orderly smooth manner so that everyone gets sorted out pronto not the opposite.
In times of emergency like the OP, the rules should not be a barrier to her getting life saving check ups at the hospital. She is not gaming the system. She is trying to save her life with very little means. Well done to the hospital staff for using their common sense and not act like robots.

I don't think they can legally turn a woman away for bringing her baby? Say she was single and had no money for childcare, would she be denied use of the NHS? I think it means older children that could feasibly be in school or nursery. There would be limited space and they could be disruptive. Even that seems a bit out of order, though I guess it could be havoc if everyone brought their entire family.

Honestly wish I could have foreseen how brilliant they all were going to be and I wouldn't have stressed so much last night! We ended up there for a LONG time but one of the doctors even hung about whilst another one did what they needed to do and rocked baby in the pram for me (I didn't ask for this, he just stayed and took it upon himself, I did say baby would be alright). Baby was an absolute super star, 5 hours in there with me (in and out of different consults & exams), all smiles and happiness the entire time. Obviously not all of that time was spent in consults, he was out of his pram lots looking around and all needs met etc.

I have some follow ups scheduled but all with plenty of notice for arranging childcare.

So so grateful for such understanding today! Thank you all for your support last night when I was very worried.

The good news is I had no dreadful results today. The bad news is is they haven't worked out what is wrong yet. But they're keeping an eye on me and I have follow ups in.

@Roundgreysoft That's great about the appointment. Out of interest, were there any children there other than babies? They seem really nice anyway which is fab. Sorry they haven't given yo a definite cause yet, but these things can take time. I guess they have to eliminate lots of things sometimes to find what is wrong? Best of luck to you and your baby.

@Roundgreysoft glad it all worked out
Hope everything goes well from here on
There are still good people who can make the system work for you rather than against you. Good to hear a positive outcome.

Out of interest, were there any children there other than babies?

No just babies. Only one other person with one.

That's great you had no problems either with baby or bad results OP. And that's staff were so accommodating for you. DH and I had to bring DD1 to an anomaly scan as no childcare for her that day. DH had to wait outside with baby. DD was fast asleep in buggy but ultrasonographer wouldn't allow her into the room. I was really upset. I understand it's a professional setting and inappropriate if an accompanying child was disruptive but it was unexpected and unavoidable, she was asleep throughout and it was a worrying time with that pregnancy. I just remember crying during the scan alone.