Can't do right for doing wrong

[AngieT]

Our Nanny State tells us the country has a problem with childhood obesity & have introduced several ways to combat this - such as checking a child's BMI st school to see if they are obese & now making all children have school dinners. Meanwhile our Nanny State are also trying to combat criticism of Social Services inaction when it comes to caring for abused children & one of these is for hospital A & E staff to make parents feel mortified when they take their child to hospital after an injury.

Both my grandaughters are very active kids - the 10yr old plays football in the school girls team whilst the 9 year old is in the County Gymnastics Team, amongst their other loves of cycling, swimming etc.
Yesterday my stepdaughter had to take the 10 year old to A & E after she injured herself playing football in the school playground. Unfortunately, 3 months earlier, she had taken the 9 year old to the same A & E after she injured a ligament in a Gymnastics competition. My stepdaughter was mortified yesterday when she was asked by the receptionist 'Do you have a social worker?' She replied - 'No, I happen to have two very active children who, because they're not couch potatoes, are prone to picking up injuries!'

I know hospital staff have to be seen to be 'on the ball' but when they have been told the circumstances of the injury do they really need to carry on & ask such a question?

As for my grandaughter - her football days are on hold for a while after she had her broken wrist pinned in surgery this morning! We will have to spoil her even more now when we go to France at the end of the month - I think a few extra crepes should have the 'Obesity Police' rubbing their hands with glee!

[david63]

It's a very difficult one - the hospital/social services are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I'm sure that all parents/grandparents would feel the same in those circumstances but I suspect that the problem is that they have "heard it all before" - and some stories that we could not even think of.

Most of this type of behaviour is brought about by the media who are too quick point the finger when something goes wrong and I suppose that even though it is uncomfortable if it saves one child suffering then it is justified.

[welshynurse]

I can understand how upsetting that must have been, must have felt like she was being accuse of all sorts.
Unfortunately, the way society is these days, that is now a standard question for children coming into hospital, although there are sensitive ways of asking it of course, without insinuating anything
I hope your grandaughter recovers quickly, and you all enjoy your holiday...and your crepes!

[The Tinker]

I don't think this is a new thing that happens - my eldest son was forever injuring himself - he learnt to run before he could walk - and we were always visiting A&E - he is now over 25 - they had a register then that was always checked and the doctors were very firm in asking 'him' how the injury happened.