A stupid rule like this should be broken

And if one had had an accident who would she have blamed dorset ?

It may have beena bit of a jobsworth situation but it is a tricky one. I offered to look after two children when a mother went into her doctor's appointment as she didn't want the children to witness a personal examination. They were about 5 and 7 and a real pair of little b**tards they were. As soon as she had gone they tore around the place like a pair of demented dogs. Refused to do as they were told, 'your not my mum' attitude. This went on for the full 15 minutes she was away , as soon as she reappeared they turned into little angels.
Haven't offered since.

Receptionists and nurses have their own jobs to do. If they start child minding in non-emergency situations they could be disciplined for breaking hospital rules and regs. Screening sometimes takes 5-10 mins but if the radiographer is not sure about the quality of the films they can end up repeating them etc.Sorry OP but apart from anything else there is not enough room in a mobile unit in Tesco car park for people to bring along multiple family members of any age. I agree the letter should make it clear that there is not room for kids or other escorts unless the woman has a disability.

bags one CRB check does not cover everything. You will be CRB checked for your Brownie (?) work but that wouldn't cover you if you wanted to work in school.
Nytsom exactly. This sort of incident gives grandmothers a bad image .. can't organise or plan ahead.

There were only two children but while the staff member was attending to a new arrival, or answering the phone, one or both of them might have decided to nip outside.
Should the staff member, who is supposed to remain in the unit, go after the child/ren, or leave them to play in the traffic?

Appointment dated, child care arranged, all bases covered! Life management; and that's how it should work.

I don't really blame the crocheter, but she could have explained in a pleasant way.

The thing is, there were only two children and, given how these units work, the several kids scenarios are highly unlikely.

It's true about the CRB checks though but won't nurses have had them because they will sometimes have to come into contact with vulnerable people who are not children?

Or one of them has taken off across the car park - ( these units are often in a car park) and got knocked down. Who is to blame?

So, jingls, you turn up for your breat screening with two Gcs, and find that two other women have done the same thing. The receptionist / nurse / radiographer has helpfully agreed to "keep an eye" on them.
Then there is a phone call and the staff member's attention is diverted to dealing with that.
Suddenly there are screams and you emerge from getting dressed to see one of your Gcs with blood pouring from their head, having fallen (or maybe been pushed by one of the other children).
Do you say "Oh well, these things happen." and happily leave the unit?

Or maybe it is one of the other children who is injured and an irate grandma takes you to task for your Gc who may have pushed them.
Do you say "Oh well, these things happen." and happily leave the unit?

Does any of this sound like a situation you feel the clinic staff should have to deal with?

To be honest screening doesn't take long so really it shouldn't be too difficult to find someone to keep an eye on the children before going to the screen. I've never had any family near by but a neighbour or a friend was always willing to help. I don't think one should rely on the screening staff to help out.

You are overthinking it.

There are legal implications involved in looking after someone else's child. There is a requirement to be CRB checked, to have insurance, to have the place checked out for H & S, and so on.

Had there been an incident then things could turn nasty. Suddenly there is a blame culture.

So while it was kind to volunteer to look after the children, I think it was unacceptable to expect anyone to take on that responsibility and I understand the radiographer not accepting that responsibility.

If we go back to the OP, I still disagree that it is a stupid rule. Sue was kind to help out and maybe the other woman could have done but I don't think it's fair to castigate her for not doing so. I'm sure there are circumstances where staff would help out ( ie you fell down those b*** steps) but this was not an emergency but something routine - and apparently she was a nurse - I wonder how much minding of other peoples children she does whilst on duty?

Rules and regs would probably forbid it now.

I must say that years ago I 'kept an eye' on often quite disruptive children in the clinic where I worked. However, I am not so sure that I would do so nowadays with so many rules, regulations, and H&S issues.

No this is a good space with two long benches and two undressing rooms which have a double door so you never come outside undressed just straight into the screening room when the radiographer knocks on the door. There are never more than one woman being screened and one undressing at a time. The whole process took less than 7 minutes. My point is if you are a qualified clinician in charge of a unit (there were no other managers present)as these two are they are quite within their clinical expertise and accountability to make a reasonable risk based judgement but this woman was a jobsworth- no doubt about it her crochet was more important than this patients needs.

Two kids - maybe. If six women turned up with three kids each (after hearing that the nice nurses in the unit looked after someone else's children) it would be mayhem.

Years ago I used to volunteer with the WVS who ran a creche in the waiting-room at one hospital department. There were toys and books, and the volunteers read stories and distracted the children when their mothers were in the consulting room. It worked well, but I think it has been discontinued. Being responsible for an indefinite number of children with no way to lock them in (!) took the skill of a nursery teacher.

I think it was really mean, them not keeping an eye on the two kids.

Where's their spirit of sisterhood?

Jobsworths.

If it is anything like the places I've been screened you go into a small room with just you and the radiographer. You strip to the waist (which you might not mind doing in front of grandchildren). Then the radiographer sticks your boob into the machine and has to retreat behind a screen. This is because of the radiation exposure which should be avoided if possible by non patients. Dentists often leave the room and press the button in the corridor. It would be a bit naive to think that you can take the kids in with you. Or leave them in the waiting room if they are under 7. Perfectly sensible rule.

It's unlikely that the hospital's insurance would cover them for child-minding duties; if either of the children had an accident and legal action was taken against the hospital, all hell would break loose.

I do think you were very kind to offer to look after them but there are times in life when it's a case of 'your children, your responsibility'.

By pure co-incidence my breast screening appointment arrived in the post just now. It's for next Thursday at 4.20pm. Not only will I have a 3-year old, 2x4-year olds, but will just have picked the 8-year old up from school.

I've decided to take them all with me in the car, plus a friend (who knows them well) and she will attempt to entertain them in the car for the few minutes I'm inside.

Same as here and boy, do I struggle with those steps

Different to the unit they use around here then sue There are only 4 seats in the waiting area and if someone is giving details to the person on reception then you have to stand on the steps and wait to get in !!

It's unadvisable to be left alone with a child who is not your own, but there were two of them and you were there as well. I don't think whatever rule they were following has been explained properly. What rules there are are for their protection as well as for the kids', but the rules are not cast in stone.