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Original poster

Have you been to the hospital since COVID began?

154 replies

AnxietyDrivingMyLife · 27/02/2021 13:12

I keep seeing threads where people have commented how the NHS is currently a COVID only service. Is this the case? Have you had procedures which have been cancelled etc with no sign of when the services will resume etc?
It sure how A&E functions but my guess is that if it’s life threatening and you are presented in A&E they have to treat you.

OP posts:
Samanabanana · 27/02/2021 15:12

I had keyhole surgery during the pandemic. Much needed but it probably could have waited a bit longer. I think more is going ahead than isn't!

IpanemaNova · 27/02/2021 15:15

Abdominal scan. Hospital was very quiet and I felt quite safe. My dh has had two chest scans, all safe and fine. Having said that, a few months later an elderly relative had a two day stay, caught covid there and died.

ofwarren · 27/02/2021 15:17

A few times yes
A&E once, urgent care once and I have had hospital appointments for maxillofacial and MRI.
All carrying on as normal where we are.

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mindutopia · 27/02/2021 15:18

Yes, had several hospital appointments and went to A&E once. All normal but A&E was much less busy (I suspect because all the idiots who otherwise end up there for silly things were sorting themselves out at home). It was otherwise no more or less busy than it’s ever been. I’m waiting on a consultant referral at the moment and it’s probably going to be a few months but I think that is also pretty normal from what I’ve been told.

YukoandHiro · 27/02/2021 15:19

No this is bullshit. I've been in hospital twice - once with pregnancy complications and once to give birth. Maternity services running normally.

Then I had to use paediatric a&e twice when my newborn had jaundice. Also working well.

NoParticularPattern · 27/02/2021 15:20

A&E will still treat you, of course they will. The problem we have found is that cases which should have been GP treatment and sorted, are ending up in A&E because you can’t actually see a GP. Take my grandma for example- she has had a UTI for several weeks and no amount of daily calling would persuade her GP (or any of the GPs there) that she needed a face to face appointment and that the treatment they had prescribed over the phone was not having any effect. She’s now been in the hospital 10 days with sepsis as well as all the usual symptoms associated with old people getting UTIs. The one and only GP appointment that was face to face was actually with a nurse and resulted in us being told just to take her to hospital. A&E were fantastic (the hospital in general are somewhat less so, but A&E we have no complaints about).

tisonlymeagain · 27/02/2021 15:21

Yes, I've had an ultrasound on lymph nodes recently (took 1 month from referral to appointment), my MIL has been going regularly for gastro issues and my son went today an out of hours.

Oldraver · 27/02/2021 15:22

DS did have his appointment cancelled last August with no idea when it will be rescheduled

I've been to the eye hospital and it was a very quick service

thismeansnothing · 27/02/2021 15:24

I've not had to for me as my endocrinology appointment was done over the phone and I was discharged.

But I had to take DD November last year for her annual cardiology check up. And DH has had several appointments, blood tests and had to go in to start a new treatment for his chrons.

MrsWooster · 27/02/2021 15:30

Several times-for a liver scan, three separate visits to minor injuries with accident-prone ds, including x-ray. They’ve been brilliant every time.

teenagetantrums · 27/02/2021 15:33

I went to minor injuries problem. They sent me to neatest big hospital.had excellent service. They saw me and Lasered my retina that same day. hospital was very quiet guess people staying away.

Crunchymum · 27/02/2021 15:38

All my appointments (I see a rheumatologist every few months) have been telephone but oddly blood tests are at the hospital so I've been once every 2-3 months and its been fine [my GP don't do blood tests and I'm enrolled electronically on the hospital system for automatic blood tests and then my medication is dispensed]

DC3 is disabled and all her appointments - barring private physio - have been telephone or Zoom calls. She hasn't seen anyone in person since December 2019.

MarshaBradyo · 27/02/2021 15:39

A visit for dd on a Sunday

Very well organised

minniemoocher · 27/02/2021 15:43

Yes we have all been for different reasons and referrals were actually quicker than normal for tests

Woeismethischristmas · 27/02/2021 15:44

I had to take dd to a and e as she fell and cut her face quite badly. It was dead in comparison to normal times. Only a couple of other people in the waiting room. We were in and out in about an hour and a half. Staff were nice, they even gave dd a selection box as she told them I’d be taking her to choose sweeties since she was so brave. Mid December.

TweeterandtheMonkeyman · 27/02/2021 15:49

Yes A&E with DS for 6 stitches in his knee. It was fine but very very long waiting time . Worst bit was wearing a face mask for so long. Felt very sorry for the medical staff (who were as lovely as always)

tinytemper66 · 27/02/2021 15:50

Had a mole removed at the beginning of February.

tiredmum2468 · 27/02/2021 15:52

Yes I work there but other services are operating just on slightly reduced timetables

studentconfused · 27/02/2021 16:16

I had urodynamics in July and a catheter trial in August .

The nurse at the first appointment had to break bad news - ie that my bladder is never going to get better and will always need surgeries and treatment, lifelong .

She came into the toilet with me, gave me a huge hug and made sure a volunteer came down with a wheelchair to help me up to the front door of the hospital .

No waiting time, everything very clean, and at the first appointment I had four nurses just for me alone!!

WeAllHaveWings · 27/02/2021 16:19

Haven't been myself but know some who have

Someone who went in with heart problems and for a pacemaker fitted

Niece in twice ulcerative colitis flare ups for 4-7 days each time

Bosses mum in with water infection needing iv antibs

I haven't heard of anyone being turned away for essential treatment.

Cherrysoup · 27/02/2021 16:20

I went during lockdown #1. Thought I had a clot. I did. Bloody glad I went, had a sonograph the next day, clot was superficial but I had phlebitis, inflammation of the veins too. Go if you need to, just due to people working from home, it may be slower than usual.

Stripyhoglets1 · 27/02/2021 16:23

Relative diagnosed with and being treated for cancer. All going forward very quickly so don't think there's delays due to covid at all.

Macaronirabbit · 27/02/2021 16:25

Ive been to hospital (just before and just after xmas) for blood tests and ultra sound (not prgnancy related) and both times were much quicker than anticipated. Waiting times were a few minutes rather than 30-90 minutes which Ive experienced pre covid.
MIL is currently having cancer treatment and has had regular hospital appointments although some were at a different hospital further away.

DwangelaForever · 27/02/2021 16:25

I'm currently on a waiting list to get my gallbladder out and the hospital who's waiting list I'm on has turned into a covid hospital 🙃.

Arrierttyclock · 27/02/2021 16:26

I've been to AnE and I've got an outpatient app coming up that was made in Jan. things are still running and have been for a long time