DP was asked if DS had a SOCIAL WORKER because he hasn't had MMR

[drosophila]

I posted this on another thread but I think it deserves it's own thread. DS was very poorly last night with breathing difficulties and was in A&E. During Triage the nurse very aggressively demanded to know why he hadn't had the MMR. DP explained that DS:

1. Is is severely allergic to egg
2. has had full blown measles (confirmed) at age two.

Nurse then announces that he could get measles again to which DP said 'well if that is the case then he could get measles after a jab'. She then proceeded to ask DP if DS had a social worker. Make of that what you will but in all the times I have been to A&E (lots) I have never been asked that question.

Your thoughts please. DP is black so there may be an element of racial stereotyping going on.

Message withdrawn

yes ime this is a pretty standard question, the justification being to try and improve communication across services.
it certainly doesn't indicate "problem family" in any respect. just a family receiving some support in the coomunity, which could be for a lot of reasons.

Very odd. DS3 was in hospital following a seizure a few weeks agi- he hasn;t had any jabs at all and all the doctors and nurses were very understanding (and believe me we went through it enough times). Even the scary consultants were fine about it. I started to explain to one nurse and she stopped me and said I didn't have to justify myself it was our decision.

Was quite surprised.

Didn't get asked about a SW- although we have with ds1 (who has a disability).

Message withdrawn

being asked whether imms are up to date is a standard question, but that shouldn't then lead to grief if they aren't. They are not compulsary in the UK.

I think DP found her tone to be suggestive of something and not having been asked the question the previous week with dd you start to wonder.

Message withdrawn

I think it can be a standard question. If you werre going to complain though then I think it would be worth complaining about the agression over the MMR rather than the question iyswim. IN the scheme of things probably not worth it though as they'll just assume you're a nutter for not vaccinating anyway! (When ds3 was in hospital he did become "the unvaccinated one" and people came to look - and talk to me )

When I took DS to A&E during his measles the Sister told me that I had done the right thing not vaccinating him as she had seen first hand the effect the vacination had on allergic kids.

it is a standard question...
been asked it every time we have been to a&e as part of the form filling procedure...just after the 'who is your HV?' question

I remember going into A&E with my three year old son who'd broken his foot launching himself down a flight of stairs. It was a really traumatic time for him and for me.

As we waited in A&E he was sick all over me presumably because of the pain and trauma. I still remember staggering into the patient loo covered in vomit whilst holding him and trying to get the worst off with loo roll. No-one helped. They all just watched me struggle. It was horrendous.

Then when we were finally seen all I can remember is the staff saying, several times, 'So how did you say this happened again?' with unconcealed suspicion. FFS!

Now, I understand they have to be vigilant and look out for children who are being abused but MOST of us aren't abusing our children and yet we are all treated as if we are - even at a hugely stressful time like this. My son and I desperately needed help and support. He was in terrible pain, I was worried and feeling awful for him and we'd both just spend an hour and a half, covered with vomit, and waiting in a roomful of drunks to get seen.

I was first astonished, then livid when they started cross examining me. What a crazy country that this attitude is the default method of dealing with parents and their children at times of such desperate need.

Oh, and that was before the barrage of questions about vaccination, which I have chosen not to do btw.

It obviously isn't standard in this hosp as we weren't asked it a few days earlier when DD was there who is vaccinated btw (I didn't bother to say it was single vacs)

ok so he's had measles but he could still get mumps couldn't he?

I was asked whether I had a social worker on each booking-in appointment for each pregnancy. I'd assumed it was one of the standard questions. DH and I are both white. I don't think the medical profession getting a bit huffy about people who don't just blindly take their advice is unusual either - a friend (also white and with a white DH) got a comment on her notes to the effect she had "refused" amniocentesis (surely "declined" would be a more appropriate word). As others have said, families can have social workers because of medical rather than social needs. So I wouldn't assume racial stereotyping.