To think people should be banned from taking someone with them to medical appointments unless they need assistance (and then just one person)

[CurdinHenry]

Sick of standing waiting for appointments while one girl sits on her arse with her five boon companions in the waiting room because people can't do anything by themselves.

I’m going to the GP today to get a lump on my breast checked and I’ve been told I can take someone with me. Not sure I will but I can see why it would be helpful. Obviously taking loads of people with you is ridiculous!

Yep!! I went for a blood test recently and it was a family outing for a lot of people there. All the kids with them and no seats left. Was a long time waiting, standing up for my turn, something I find hard with physical pain. I understand lack of child care but it was still annoying and very screechy too.

TBH I’m often a bit 😱at the expressions some MNers don’t understand/have never heard of. Is it because they never read anything except Instagram/other SM?

why being so mean?

You are unlucky people around you would be "passengers".
other people have actual support. It's not a flaw.

You literally just tell them ‘I’m going to the toilet, can you wait for me if my name is called’. I’m sorry but unless brother has learning difficulties etc that’s insane.

no, that's just you, but thanks for your concern.

😂

either you are on a wind-up because you are bored

or you haven't been in hospital

Having worked in the NHS, very few people attended appointments alone. I don't think bringing one person for support is unreasonable.

Attending appointments with many friends and relatives is definitely not unusual amongst certain groups.

Sorry, posted on the wrong thread!

Last time I was in A and E I saw some people with 3or 4 people with them. Taking up seats, chatting loudly, eating, being noisy .
i was feeling really ill, it was ridiculous.

No one's saying you have to go alone but it's not an outing, no one needs five people to keep them company.

I’ve seen this is in A&E many times . Baffles me that some consider this a family outing sat with their picnics or buckets of KFC and no I am not making this up

I had a Gynae appointment,the waiting room had 16 chairs, at least 10 chairs were taken up by one family, The Grandmother was the one with an appointment. She was accompanied by her husband, daughter, sil and 3 late teen grandchildren. All very very large and very loud. Nurse threw them all out bar the husband, told them to go and wait in the cafe.

Literally spent half my life in hospital, eye rolling at people like half of this thread taking up space and seats whilst I’m in agony undergoing endless medical treatments

A&E and maternity are a nightmare fir this.

People bring their whole village along, and a picnic.

Am the same as you. I remember being told that I probably have ovarian cancer, was going to be operated on quickly and my brother went with me (who had also had cancer in his 20's), and he just talked at me, telling me how I feel, what would happen etc. I asked him to be quiet as unlike him, I'd had seconds to get used to the idea and how my life was changing, it was really not helpful. From that moment on, all appointments alone. Need the space to process.

Wish you well going forward and hope all turns out ok. x

A&E is usually full of groups where one ill/injured person comes with 5 or 6 others. Usually a mix of kids and adults. Does it need that many? No one adult is fine. Another adult should leave with the kids. It’s unfair to make kids sit around for hours

You don't know why people are there. There are all sorts of medical conditions covered by each specialty. Just because you are there for something not serious does not mean that the person next to you is not there for something life changing and genuinely needs support. Or perhaps they have an issue with medical situations or communication that means they need a companion.

If the people there are genuinely affecting you, in that you need a seat or they're rowdy or eating in an area where patients are NBM then by all means ask them to stop / speak to staff. But if they're just existing in a space you're also in then mind your own business.

Ask them to let you have a seat OP.

Yeah also seen this. So infuriating. The last time a member of staff went on the tannoy to say anyone who wasn’t an actual patient had to give up their seat. Easily over half of the people stood up. They then proceeded to block corridors standing and sitting on the floor. It’s like a social gathering to some people I swear. Should be maximum of 1 ‘support’ person.

Actually OP is saying that. Her argument is people should be banned from bringing someone unless they need assistance (I’m assuming by the wording she means something more than general emotional support etc, but actual assistance due to medical need).

I was in A&E with kidney stones and throwing up with pain. I ended up sitting on the floor as I physically couldn't stand. Meanwhile a group of early 20ish people - there were 6 of them together and I wasn't sure who was the patient were all sitting together having a laugh.

I agree. I took DP to A&E as he had post surgery complications. The place was bunged. I stayed with him for half an hour as he was a bit anxious, but then he told me to go on. I texted him a couple of hours later and he said he had been standing since being triaged. There were big groups of people taking up loads of seats while ‘patients’ sat on the floor or leaned against the wall. I wish I had stayed because I could have asked someone to shift. He wasn’t in any fit state for confrontation. There should definitely be strict rules around this.

I guess I don't have any support because I'm so mean! 😎

Never heard boon companion in my life, every days a school day.

YABU.