Anyone had a scan appointment of any kind during the pandemic?

[Friedbluetomatoes]

I have an appointment at my local hospital tomorrow to have a urinary tract ultra sound scan for a problem I have on a kidney (I have to have a scan every 6 months).
I also have really bad anxiety and am feeling so very anxious about going especially as I will have to use the toilet because I will need to have a very full bladder for the scan (and I hate using public toilets at the best of times!)
Has anyone had a scan or been to hospital recently? How did it go?

[pianopants]

I've had around four during the past two months. It's absolutely fine. There was loads of hand sanitiser available, socially distanced waiting rooms (that were very quiet anyway) and toilets were clean. The sonographers, and most staff for that matter, were wearing PPE.

[bogoblin]

I have, I've had one ultrasound at the beginning and one just a few weeks ago (pregnancy)

Both were fine. The first was in March just before lockdown and the chairs were already spaced out etc then and only 1 person allowed in. The second one was also fine - at the hospital there was 2m marked out away from the reception desk, the staff had masks and gloves on and there were lots of hand sanitiser boxes on the walls. The chairs were all spaced out and when I used the toilet there was hand sanitiser, soap, paper towels and signs reminding everyone to wash their hands.

It was very quiet as well - I only saw two other patients. All in all it was fine and I barely came in contact with anyone. The ultrasound technician wore gloves and a mask and did all the usual cleaning procedures.

Lots of scans won't be going ahead so I think you will be OK - they are staggering appointments and moving people around (I went to different hospital for 2nd scan) - and it will be quite quiet! There won't be any covid patients hanging around the scan department.

I hope this reassures you somewhat! Good luck

[Chanel05]

I've had a pregnancy ultrasound and it was very quiet. Social distancing adhered to in the waiting room and staff in PPE.

[Bluebelltulip]

I've taken my son to a few scans and been on a ward since lockdown. All staff treating him had PPE, some places I had to wear a mask too, plenty of hand washing. Didn't come into contact with many other people.

[Sparklingplasters]

I had ultra sound mid April, after being recalled after a mammogram. Security at the door, I had to go in on my own. Hospital was really quiet, Minimal waiting, Specialist met me in radiography to reduce movement around hospital. Everyone wore masks, hand gel Units everywhere. It was a really big hospital, fastest appointment ever.

[HarrietM87]

I’ve had 3 scans in lockdown (pregnancy). I had to show evidence of my appointments to get into the hospital, everyone maintained social distancing, hand gel everywhere. All of mine where at 9am so hospital very quiet when arrived (less so when I was leaving). I felt fine and it’s been more than 14 days since my last one so I seem to have escaped without catching anything!

[peperethecat]

I've had tons of (non urgent) medical appointments, at the blood lab (in big queues of people wanting to be tested for Covid), at the doctor's office and in hospital (where I had to use the toilet to provide a urine sample).

It's fine. These places are cleaned every day. Distancing is enforced. People are wearing masks and washing their hands.

[NotMyUsualNameNoSiree]

I had a soft tissue ultra sound in a busy London hospital on Tuesday.

It was quiet. The waiting room was quiet (I was none of three people waiting). The sonographer was masked.

What annoyed me is that the reception staff weren't masked and one had a cough (she could easily have hay fever, or have had a sip of water gone down the wrong way) but without knowing what it was it made me tense. She also coughed into her hand. Which even my 3yo doesn't do at the moment.

I took and wore a mask when I was anywhere crowded (on the way to the hosp on a busy street).

Aside from coughing receptionist (a weeks outlier), it felt safe.

[NotMyUsualNameNoSiree]

*a WEIRD outlier

[Friedbluetomatoes]

Thanks everyone, that’s put my mind at ease, well a bit! I’ve been told to come alone to obviously narrow down the people in the waiting area, so hopefully everyone will be spaced out.

[Friedbluetomatoes]

Notmyusualname I’m taking a mask with me, I know they are controversial but it’ll make me feel a little calmer.

[Hoggleludo]

I've had a load

Nothing massive. You go in. You're social distanced. I see maybe 5 patients?

It's all done very well in my local hospitals

[Hoggleludo]

Also. Our local hospitals make you wear a mask

So don't feel weird about wearing them

[Friedbluetomatoes]

Hoggleludo thanks that’s made me feel a little easier.

[EinsteinaGogo]

I'm at one now in a London hospital.

It's extremely calm with very few people. Almost everyone (myself included) is wearing a mask.

There is lots and lots of sanitiser around and enough chairs in the waiting room for people to sit far apart (and labels on the seats that are to remain empty for distancing).

[Hoggleludo]

No worries. I’m just on my way to get another one myself!!

[Friedbluetomatoes]

EinsteinaGogo That’s reassuring, hope it went well.
Hoggleludo Hope it went well.

[Satwatchinganotherswimlesson]

Good luck today. I’ve had two hospital appointments during lockdown and required scans. I was amazed at how well looked after I was. Hand gel on arrival, given a mask to wear in the department. Someone stood outside the scanning department asking everybody that entered questions about their health eg any temp, cough etc. I actually felt really safe. I felt safer in the hospital than I would in a supermarket. They are really on this. Good luck x

[zingally]

My mum had to go in for a spine x-ray a couple of weeks ago. She said it was incredibly quiet everywhere, hand sanitiser everywhere. She felt very safe.

[SparkyTheCat]

I've been in hospital for scans and then a procedure, and as PP have said it was quiet, clean and well organised. I felt much safer there than at the supermarket! Nearly 3 weeks since my last visit, so I'm assuming I didn't catch anything. Good luck.

[Friedbluetomatoes]

Thanks all. Well, I wasn’t overly impressed tbh. I live between a large town and a much smaller one. I opted to go to the hospital at the smaller town thinking it would be quieter but it was surprisingly busy. Only myself and two other people had masks on, the waiting room was really narrow and busy (every two seats were marked off) I gave up my seat for an elderly lady and luckily then got called in but it was getting quite full by then. I had to wait 30 mins and only then when I was entering the actual scan room was I asked to use hand sanitizer. Anyway, all done now so 🤞