Do you take mindees to the doctors?

[littleoldme]

The mother of a child I mind asked me to make an appt for him as she thinks he has conjunctivitis. I have my 2 with me today as well as him so there is no issue re permissions from other parents.

It just somehow feels inappropriate and I didn't really like the assumption that it would just be ok. Also if I have to convey important info back to parents I'd worry that I might mis - hear while trying to manage the other children.

Any thoughts ?

Hi littleoldme,
If you don't feel comfortable then don't do it. Is it possible for you to book an out of hours appointment for her then she can take her own child.
We've been cminding for a long long time and have made/advised on many appointments but have always let the parents take their own children.
If he has conjuctivitis it needs to be seen to quickly and he shouldn't be in contact with your other mindees anyway.
Hope this helps

I never did, didn't feel comfortable doing so.

Re your mindee, is parent aware that the chemist can give OTC stuff same as they'd get anyway from GP, would save an appointment as they can pop in at a time that suits them.

No that's parents job, I would only take mindee to access medical help in an emergency.

Also I exclude for conjunctivitis so he wouldn't be in the setting anyway.

Can I ask why you exclude for conjunctivitis?
It isn't recommended to do that any more www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947358374 and most doctors won't suggest anything bar cleaning gunky eyes regularly with cooled boiled and cotton wool. + good hand hygiene.
Drops/medication are only advised for kids with other medical issues or if it doesn't clear up after a few days of the cleaning method - as medicine overuse can cause other problems.
Mum should be making her own appointment if she's still insistent it's needed but I wouldn't bother.

I would exclude too until it was ruled out.

I wouldn't take them to an appointment either, the only time I've taken one to the doctors was for baby clinic as I was taking me ds anyway ( they are roughly the same age) and the HV commented on his eczema and gave him a prescription but mum worked on that day and couldn't have taken him.

Exclusion advice from cm coordinator but interested to read the link wonky thanks.

Could the mum just call the doctor if she is worried - drops are not usually necessary. If it's so bad that the child is unwell, then should they be in your care?

As a nanny I have taken children to the doctors but you provide group care, not individual care for children from just one family, so I don't feel it is reasonable for you to be taking minded children to the doctors. Other minded children would have to come with you, not very fair on them, or for the doctor to be seeing you all - you could be taking 4, 5, 6 children!

Thanks so much for all of your excellent advice. I took him today and advised mum that it was a one off.

Thanks all b

I would not even ask a trusted friend or tbh the kids Dad to a doctors app. I am a control freak over my kids health though, so maybe abnormal, lol!!
I had conjunctivitis last week and was given gunk on prescription, but that may have been because I work in a care setting myself.