Many parents take their young children along with them to their doctor’s appointments without considering some of the drawbacks in doing so. In this article, we will look at some of the reasons why it might be beneficial to not take children along to doctor’s appointments.
At my local hospital there is a rule that bans parents from bringing their children along with them to their doctor’s appointments.
Parents, particularly stay at home mothers, often find it much more convenient to take their young children along when they have a doctor’s appointment rather than deal with the expense of hiring a babysitter for an hour or two. This is understandable, especially if there is just one income coming into the home.
However, many doctors are not in favour of having their office taken over by a pushchair, pram and 3 children in tow. Children can become bored and distract the doctor from his or her job. Even if children are well behaved, they will still have personal needs that will have to be addressed, such as changing and feeding. A mother who then proceeds to take her children out while she cares for her children will be wasting time away from her appointment.
Doctors have a certain amount of time allotted to them for each patient, and if the patient leaves in order to care for family responsibilities, the doctor will not be very happy about this. This issue cannot be solved by running over time because there could be another patient waiting to see the doctor straight afterwards.
A further point to bear in mind is that a hospital or doctor’s surgery (office) is not an appropriate place for children. They are not day care centres where parents can leave them while they go inside the office to speak to their doctor. The medical team is not responsible for caring for patients’ children. Many hospitals now have toys on hand to help occupy children, but they are intended to do so until the appointment.
If the patient will be having invasive procedures performed, such as a well women’s check up, children should not be brought along. They can become distressed and wonder what is happening to their mother. As a result, this can make it harder for doctors and nurses to perform their job properly.
It is important to consider whether it is wise to bring young children along with you to your doctor’s appointment. Sometimes, it is best to hire a babysitter or friend to care for your young children while you visit your doctor.
