Am I allowed to use childcare bubble if my son has to isolate?

[WillowSummerSloth]

Sorry this is probably a daft question but I can't clearly find the answer online. My son's class has been sent home for 2 weeks due to a covid contact at school. Am I allowed to use my childcare bubble (my parents) to watch him? I'm not even sure I'd do this even if allowed but I'm just exploring options. I'm a doctor in NHS so reluctant to miss work due to having to cancel clinics etc. Thankyou.

I don't think it'd be advisable given he might have it and pass it to your parents.

I think the answer is no to be honest.

No as he needs to isolate in his household. Sorry.

No

Nope

Why would you risk your parents catching it from him ?

You’re a doctor in the NHS and you’re asking for an interpretation of Covid guidelines on Mumsnet?
Bloody hell!

I don't think so - a childcare bubble isn't quite like a support bubble, where you essentially become one household for Covid purposes, it's more a recognition that informal childcare arrangements exist and should be treated in the same way as paid ones - and he couldn't go to a paid childcare setting if isolating.

I wouldn’t want to risk passing it onto my parents

Thanks to everyone. I won't use them. buggeration can you clearly link to the guidance that is so explicit regarding this? I couldn't see it? They are still able to have our other children as our other children are still able to attend school. So they remain within our family bubble. FWIW they are young and fit and have been very happy to be in our bubble as they adore the children and missed them very much in the early days of the pandemic. We absolutely rely on them. Ultimately if we can't use them, my husband will have to cancel 2 days (which, I'm sorry to say is 2 days of cancer list operations) and I will have to cancel 3 days of clinics and other stuff. Really not ideal for the patients on those lists which is why I'm doing everything to explore what my options are.

It's such an awful feeling when you have to explain to work you can't be in. It feels so shit. But I will do it to protect my parents. Thanks everyone.

I think there's no such thing as a stupid question, even if you are a doctor.

We are all humans, and trying to navigate this pandemic the best we can.

I hope you all stay well.

Thanks for your nhs input OP and hubby!

Thankyou. That's really kind of you to say. I've hit a wall with all this really and I was just slightly panicking. A constant feeling of guilt--about my parents, the kids, my patients. DH has worked insanely throughout this and it's just taking its toll. I've not missed a day at work in about 5 years so I really dread having to cancel things. And it's so shitty for patients that already struggle to get appointments.

Buggeration Why do you expect a doctor to be completely spot on with the guidelines when the rest of us struggle to make sense of many of them?

I still.used my child care bubble as i have 3 children and whilst 1 was made to isolate, i had 1 who had to go to the same school just different year and a 1 year old, i couldnt afford not go to work, my parents were happy to take the chance and come and take care off them both.

Hi,
Going against the grain here obviously...i am in same situation and, as you say, no clear guidance...
I am also NHS professional. Parents in law are our childcare bubble; they are fit and healthy and keen to carry on childcare so we have let them carry on looking after DS.
I think at this stage it's about making your own risk assessments and doing what you need to do x

We had a similar situation a few weeks back and we still used our childcare bubble. I asked the school when they rang to notify us and the teacher said they believed we could and when other children in different classes had isolated some had still had childcare bubble to care for them

Actually you can because if your son ends up with symptoms, the whole childcare bubble will have to isolate anyway. If you are comfortable that he could develop it and pass it on to you parents, then go ahead but it's a risk

If your parents are happy to take the risk, then I think you can.

Can your ds stay upstairs away from your parents?

I’m a childminder and can still work if one of my own children is isolating due to school, I just have to keep them separate from my minded children.

My understanding is that the home isolation rule of everyone in the household only applies when symptomatic or having a positive test.

Where directed to isolate large year groups etc, as a precaution, there is no need to keep your entire household home. Your DC should not go out in public, but the child care bubble makes you linked households.

Thanks. I appreciate this. As you say, it doesn't spell it out explicitly so it's about making the best, safest decision we can. And given the nature of our work, patients have to come into that too. DH has a home lateral flow testing kit so we can be more confident he's not an asymptomatic spreader.

Why not compromise and have a few days off yourselves between you, and then have your parents come in later. I know he could develop symptoms any time over 14 days but it’s more likely sooner rather than later. Just to diminish the risk to your parents a bit?

As long as your parents provide care in your home then it's ok legally as the child isn't leaving the house. Slightly more risk to them, but that's up to them. Good luck op.

How do your parents feel about it?

How close contact of the positive case is your child?

I suppose it's all about weighing up the risks vs cancelling your patients

www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools