Father's consent - need advice on NHS policy

[kellyannlondon]

Meant to post this sooner but have been away - apologies if it's a bit long.

We (myself, DH & DS) took DD to the surgery a few weeks ago for her 1st set of jabs. As we were called in to where the nurse was my DS (2.4) started screaming and was really upset (think he remembered from when he had his jabs). DH suggested I take him into the waiting area to calm down as there were some toys to play with. I was fine with this as not great with needles anyway.

About a minute later my DH came into the waiting area to tell me that the nurse was refusing to vaccinate my DD on just my DH's authorisation and that I needed to authorise it. I went in and said to the nurse what's this all about, he's her father. She then said it has to be the parents' consent. I then said to her "so if I turned up on my own with DD would you insist on my DH's permission?" She said no and I then argued the point that it's not parents' permission, but mothers' permission they're asking for. She then said again, it has to be parents' permission, especially for the 1st set of jabs.

I then said "so can DH bring her for subsequent appointments" She then said "no, he can only bring her if he has written permission from you". She then argued the point that it would be the same if an aunt or a grandmother brought DD for the jabs but I pointed out that he's her parent and not an extended family member but she still wouldn't have it.

We were of course quite upset and angry at this, particularly DH who is very much a hands on dad. When we left I asked at reception if it was a practise policy and they said it was an NHS wide policy. Now I have since spoken to a HV who said that this is rubbish and as we are married he has the same rights. I managed to find this on the government website www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/ParentsRights/DG_4002954 which basically says that if both parents are married the father has 'parental responsibility' which includes giving medical consent. Have also found more or less the same info for a couple of PCTs but can't find any info for mine (Newham)

Does anyone know if there is such a policy or if this nurse is talking rubbish?

Tell the practice manager.

Nurse clearly has it wrong. The dimwit. Does the NHS not enough paperwork to deal with, without getting consent from BOTH parents for every medical procedure?

How odd. Tricky though as the practice probably doesn't ask mothers if they are married, so presumably they wouldn't know who had parental responsibility and who doesn't, so a blanket consent for anyone who isn't the mother would make sense.

But in this instance, consent would have been implied as you were there anyway, albeit in the waiting room.

The nurse was wrong.

We have to get consent each and every time from a person with parental responsibility. That is always the mother, and can be the father, as per the link above.

If a father brings the child/baby alone, we have to clarify whether he has PR which can be embarrassingly intrusive but we always try and ask in a respectful manner and explain why we are asking!

I would recommend that you send the Green Book pages on Consent (especially note page 10) to the practice manager to pass along to the nurse to update her knowledge.

To clarify, the Green Book "is the popular name for Immunisation against Infectious Disease which is a publicly available document on the principles, practices and procedures of immunisation in the UK, with particular emphasis on those immunisations that comprise the routine immunisation programme from birth through to adulthood." (C&Pd from HPA website)

It is our 'bible' for immunisation in primary care.

Thanks everyone - confirms what I suspected i.e. she was talking rubbish.

Sidge - that's great thanks - I will print that off and send it in with DH.

ilovemydog - As you said I was there and the nurse saw me there until I walked out with DS so it was obvious I didn't object.

Also, as a friend of mine pointed out afterwards, how did they know I was the mum and not an aunt/friend etc? My surgery is one of those large practises where you never see the same doctor/nurse twice. They didn't ask me for any ID so just made the assumption that because I was female I must be the mum.

This kind of thing just infuriates me. There's always attention on fathers not being involved in their kid's lives and when a dad tries to take an interest, this sort of thing happens. It was the same when DH took DS to a normal HV check up and weigh in whilst I was at work and as soon as he walked in the room was asked suspiciously "where's the mum?"

Im my experience, the NHS hates men. I don't think they do this on purpose, more a case of ignorance and a lack of understanding. Anyway, my interpretation is that either parent can give consent, however if they believe that one parent (or person with parental responsibility) dissents, then they cannot proceed with the vaccination without a court order.

And surely the child's medical records should state who has parental responsibilty - so if the nurse is refusing to take the father's consent, then are the child's medical records correct? Or perhaps the nurse just thought the mother was dissenting or still thinking about it, and was requiring that the mother stated that she wasn't dissenting?

It is just in practically every dealing I have with the health service, I end up leaving with more questions than I go in with.

lol @in my experience the NHS hates men! What a ridiculous yet fabulously emphatic sweeping statement.

Why is it ridiculous?In it is my experience, so how can you comment on what I have experienced?

Sorry to pass on my opinion and experience.... people like me should remain in silence and let the NHS just carry on with its attitudes...