Blood tests

[raraB]

I took my 2 year old for a check up today, he has had a cold and cough for 4 days and has a temperature. I was sure it is just a cold virus but the cough sounded a little deep. The Doctor wanted to check his blood, l wasn't sure he needed to but went along with it, l was asked to wait outside whilst they took the blood. There were 3 Doctors holding him down and l refused to leave my child, it was barbaric, l was pushed from the room and told this was how they do things here(we live in Greece). The poor child was petrified and it took along time to calm us both down. When l complained l was ignored. My question is this: Is it not better for children to stay with a parent and has anyone else ever had this experience...is this normal, how do they do it in other countries? Be great to hear your views

Why do you have this in blogging? You'll get more responses in other parts, say parenting.

And when they had to take blood from my 3 week old son (who is now 22 months) they removed his father and I from the room because they had to hold him down and we were all hysterical. This was in Belfast.

How awful. I live in Northern England and my 3yo DS had to have blood taken recently. It was done in the most sensitive, lovely way, at our local hospital.

First, they put some local anaesthetic on the back of his hands, and he and I played with some toys in the waiting room for about half an hour while it too effect.

Then we went into another room with two very smily chatty nurses. They asked DS to sit on my lap, sideways, with one of his arms round my waist (so it was sticking out in a position where he couldn't see it). They put a noisy press-button toy on my lap and told me and him to play with it. While we were doing that, they were inserting the needle/whatever and drawing out the blood. They were chatty and praising him all along. DS gave a little cry after a few moments, and tried to pull away, but they kept praising him and I did too, and in another moment or two it was all over.

Then they produced a roll of stickers and asked him to choose one. He wanted two, so they gave him two. We left with him feeling very cheerful and pleased with himself. No tears.

Absolutely no need for the kind of treatment you experienced rara, I am very shocked. Your poor DS.

Thank you Tee2072 and wolfhound, new to the site and wasn't really sure where to post it.
rara

Not normal to do things this way, IME of England they let you stay in with the child, and often it's a phlebotomist (person whose job is to take blood day in, day out so are REALLY good at it) rather than doctor/nurse who does it.