‘Er … no, mate, we can’t see you’
‘I’m sorry; I’m the only one available.’
Children presenting at night were not unusual, whether that was in A&E, primary care out of hours, or even in the practice, a long way past bedtime.
Bright and welcoming during the day, waiting rooms used to have toys, books, and coloured pictures. Children’s attention was divided between the doctor looking in their ears and Winnie the Pooh books and pictures. It was a welcoming place and, despite the seriousness of the occasion, it felt like it was saying, ‘It’s OK, we understand you are worried, but we know children.’
However, when the sun goes down children can feel like they are being smuggled in to see the doctor or nurse, swaddled in blankets or wearing shoes and coats over pyjamas.
Interacting with children had …