how strictly do you isolate pre/post surgery?

[elliejjtiny]

DS5 (aged 7) has a squint repair operation coming up next month. He has autism and can't social distance, tends to lick people's faces etc given half a chance.

We have been sent a letter saying he needs to isolate himself from people not in his household/support bubble for 14 days before and after the operation but he should still go to school. I'm assuming that means that the hospital would rather him not go to school either but they will be in trouble with the LEA if they insisted that children take 4 weeks off school for minor surgery.

I can't take him out to places like the park/woods etc because he is a runner so if we followed the instructions to the letter it would mean staying in the house/garden for 4 weeks apart from going to school. I'm happy to do that if necessary but it seems a bit silly to send him to school but not go to visit grandparents etc. I suppose it's all about keeping the risk of him catching covid as low as possible without disrupting school and every little bit of contact should be avoided where possible. Just checking that this is what's required before I do it and then find out we didn't need to.

The letter also didn't say anything about me isolating (I'll be staying with him) just that I need to wear a mask in the hospital.

Ime isolate means isolate.
At best, if he picks up Covid, his op is cancelled and he has to wait for another date, at worst he infects hospital staff-causing cancellations and delays to other people’s surgery-and other patients. Ideally, as you will be with him in hospital, you should too IMO. It may be a standard letter they send out for adults too so they aren’t taking into account your situation?

Why don’t you phone the department/ward and ask for clarification?

It’s a complete farce with nonsensical advice and restrictions.

He has to isolate but you don’t. Think about that? It makes no sense.

That seems odd. We only ask that children isolate after getting their Covid test, until admission. Can't see any reason to isolate afterwards.

Thankyou. Isolating afterwards is so that he doesn't catch covid while recovering, but he can still go to school . I'm meant to be getting a phone call from a nurse to talk through the admission forms this week so I will ask then.