Wearing Masks at Doctors

[badamsgirl]

Hi,

Just a quick question. My 3 year old has her flu nasal spray vaccine tomorrow and the lady i booked the appointment suggested that both my daughter and myself would need to wear a face mask to enter the surgery (the lady was hard to understand, but i did try and verify this several times). I've not been to the doctors since march when no one, not even the nurse was wearing a mask and we all had to wait in the car park before getting called inside so really unsure if it is a necessity for a 3 year old to wear a mask at the surgery or not. Obviously since it's a nasal spray she'll have to take it off inside even if she would wear it for more than 1 minute. Has anyone else who's taken their child for the nasal spray (or generally) in recent weeks been required to put their child in a mask whilst waiting at the surgery?

Sorry that wasn't so quick!

Yes, wear a mask (unless you really cannot and there are medical reasons - which I guess your GP would already know about)

It is very important to keep all medical facilities as 'clean' as possible. And yes, normally everyone including DC is masked in medical settings these days.

I don't think it matters what has happened to other posters. Your surgery have told you what they expect you to do.

To clarify, obviously i would be wearing a mask, as i would wear a mask in any indoor/public area that requires it. I was just unsure on the 3 year old wearing a mask, as she is not required to wear one in any other setting and there is no information i can find on my surgery's site or generally which had rules for a child visiting a surgery. I'f it's required for her to wear one, i'll do my best to see she wears one when waiting, but i hadn't heard of it before which is why i'm checking.

I'd phone back and ask them to clarify if the 3 year old needs to wear one.

You checked with the actual surgery several times though. They know the answer, we don't.

Clinics are places where sick and old/vulnerable people go to. When they are not well. Try not to get to your appointment early, find a cool mask for your 3 year old, practice beforehand for a bit. With luck, he/she will only have to wear it for a few minutes. The nurse that will be giving the spray will have proper PPE so they will be ok, dispose of their gloves, etc. But people in the waiting room may be in a more vulnerable position.

Yes if the clinic asks you to make sure your child wears a face mask, then please do.

Soynds weird for a 3 year old. Ive been to the Drs and hospital with my 2.5 yr old a lot over the past few months and she has never had to wear a face covering. I haven't seen any kids under about 10 there with face coverings

You could make it a great adventure that she gets to be all grown up and wear her mask,

I don’t think there’s any point in ringing back, when you’ve already been told repeatedly that they want everyone who enters to wear a face covering.

I had to take DS for a hospital appointment the other day and he didn’t have to wear a mask (he’s 4 with ASD, so I don’t think we’d have managed very well if we’d had to try). He’s also been briefly into the GP’s with me to collect a prescription, again maskless, and I got no disapproving looks or anything like that. I wouldn’t expect to have to try and get a three year old to wear one, TBH.

Thanks for the advise. I did think it was strange, but of course if she is required to do so then of course i will try and get her to wear it before we enter and i will double check when i arrive. Hopefully we shall just be in and out with no waiting around so it won't be an issue.