To advise my partner with copd to not go to hospital to get an X-ray?

[Justnot]

My partner has mild copd, hay fever and asthma and has had a chest infection he can’t shift for a few weeks ( although I’m not sure if it’s all the conditions not being managed properly) His GP who is generally rubbish, is telling him to go for a chest X ray and I am saying he shouldn’t go without speaking to his chest Dr - who we can’t get hold of. I am saying he is more likely to catch covid than not and shouldn’t go. I have tried to ring the hospital for days before posting here but can’t get through. We will obviously keep trying the hospital but in the meantime is he better staying away from hospital?

Presumably there’s a chance that his chest infection is actually Covid? I’d want to check with the hospital before taking him.

The Addenbrookes thing isn't true.

Many of my family members work there and I asked them, they had no idea where it had come from. They say the PPE situation is great there and they feel pretty safe so far.

My FIL has COPD. He put off going to the hospital when he really needed to until it got to the point his oxygen was so low he was blue lighted there. Once there he was tested immediately and isolated away from any Covid wards. The hospital was empty. He had his own room and received excellent care, far better than he normally does. He did not contract Covid in hospital. I understand your fears but if he needs treatment you really shouldn't put it off as he could deteriorate quickly

Hospitals are very good at containing covid now. He wouldn't be anywhere near the covid patients and all the staff who treat covid patients use full PPE.

OK, I have posted elsewhere but here we go.

Three out of four elderlies 85+ have been hospitalised over the last 6 weeks. All of them in the extremely vulnerable category due to COPD, Asthma, Heart Attacks, Strokes, Cancer Treatment, you name it..... One dislocated her hip and had to have an operation, one had another heart attack, and one has a pelvic bone infection. Two of them spent 2 weeks plus on wards, being treated by numerous different specialities, nurses, radiographers, physios, etc etc etc.

None caught Covid.

There is serious concern that some of the excess mortality during the pandemic is due to people who need medical care for non Covid conditions being too afraid to access that care.

Also the Addenbrookes thing is also fake news.

Many of my family members work there and I asked them, they had no idea where it had come from.

The Addenbrooks study I referred to was the one carried out by Cambridge University, the university Addenbrooks is affiliated with.

www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/testing-suggests-3-of-nhs-hospital-staff-may-be-unknowingly-infected-with-coronavirus

It was also been featured in the news as recently as 17th May.

www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-05-12/thousands-of-hospital-staff-carrying-covid-19-without-realising-they-re-infected-says-cambridge-study/

Can you post a link to the evidence debunking the study? I'd be very interested to read it.

The article in The Guardian in my previous post features interviews with others who are interested in the ‘nosocomial’ aspect of Coronavirus transmission as part of research being carried out by Public Health England.

And as for risks versus benefit analysis it's something we all should consider when deciding whether or not to have any form of treatment/medication etc. If nothing else it might mean that there weren't a number of GPs now taking courses on the over-medicating of groups such as the elderly. Doctors have opinions, particular expertise/or lack of, and often follow standardised one-size-fits-all guidelines, they can be right/they can be wrong, that's why second opinions exist.

I would be swayed by what's his o2 saturation levels? What are you going to do if he doesnt have the xray? What other treatments should be administered if he doesnt have it? My hubby currently has fractured ribs (we assume due to previous experience) and our GP has told him not to for an xray (due to covid) so his GP must think he needs one.

Which hospital has closed because 40% staff has it?

I didn't refer to this and can't see another post on the thread that has either, so think you might be recalling another thread? But off the top of my head I imagine that's a reference to the Weston-Super-Mare hospital that closed to admissions because it was full, that hospital incidentally is thought to have had a high percentage of infected staff, but it doesn't seem to have been actually verified:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8360767/Hospital-Weston-super-Mare-shut-new-patients-sees-40-staff-test-positive-Covid-19.html

I think it’s a perfectly reasonable fear, I read recently that a study at Addenbrooks’ showed that a large percentage of staff have Coronavirus but are asymptomatic, and there have been similar results at other hospitals.

Well I wouldn't call 3% a large percentage.

Nurses aren't drs. Ignore her

He has just been asked to present at A & E, precautionary as chest thing has been dragging on , his GP hasn’t seen him in 7 weeks or so - it’s a London hospital. Will look on their website and at the links you have all sent through but am still really hoping To speak to his consultant. Thanks again, have to go for a bit

The further study by Public Health England suggests a fifth of patients in hospital with Coronavirus caught it in a hospital, is that a big enough percentage for you?

And if the OP takes on board the numbers involved then, presumably, if she agrees with you that will help her DH with their decision. But it's not fair to suggest that there is no risk. Many treatments carry risks, antibiotics can cure one illness but many have possible side effects that can themselves need treatment...That's why taking decisions about health is about weighing risk and making informed decisions.

But you said ' I read recently that a study at Addenbrooks’ showed that a large percentage of staff have Coronavirus but are asymptomatic,'

That's what I was responding to. That's not what that study found.

Went to our local hospital today and I had to have an x-ray and see the consultant.

The place was spotless, there was sanitizer everywhere, chairs well spaced out.

I was given a mask and had temperature taken in every different room I had to go in.

People kept their distance.

If he needs to go, go.

The extra precautions currently being taken, in my hospital at least l, are immense. He's at very low risk of contracting it if he and they follow the correct PPE/handwashing process. He can wear a mask if he feels more comfortable.

If his GP has recommended it, he should go.

Potential worsening of COPD is something to be monitored. I work closely with chest physicians and they would advise he goes.

My GP recently told us that hospital is a pretty safe place to be at the moment with the obvious exception of covid wards as so many people are putting off seeking treatment, so most other departments are much quieter than usual and cleaning standards even higher. (I was seeking advice myself as due to give birth in a fortnights time)

I went through my local A&E a few weeks ago, temperature checked at the door, anyone with possible COVID branched off and the hospital split in two. He needs to go, you're realistically not going to be speaking to a consultant today.

Can catch covid in the supermarket.

I fell over a fortnight ago and sprained my ankle. My GP thought I might have broken a bone in my foot so I went for an X-ray. I was one of only two people waiting in an enormous waiting room. I had the X-ray, it was checked ( no breaks) and I was back outside within 25 minutes. It really was fine...a the hospital was deserted!