Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can they actually stop me

307 replies

Rosebel · 21/06/2020 10:56

I've been in hospital with pregnancy problems since last Sunday. Had the baby on Wednesday and every day they say I can go home tomorrow but still can't.
They are waiting for a Covid result which might be tomorrow but probably not. This is for the baby not me.
The doctor said they can't let me go but I'm sick of being in hospital. Every day is a reason why I can't go home. Can they actually stop me leaving with my baby?

OP posts:
PanamaPattie · 22/06/2020 18:52

Cancel the cheque!

user1490954378 · 22/06/2020 18:58

Just to add, the post natal ward was absolutely horrendous with my first. Literally no privacy with breast feeding, no bf room and I was stuck in the day room doing it during the night, as my baby was quite shouty and waking the other ones up, much to the annoyance of the other mums. Dads to be were wandering in and out of the day room to check the snooker results on the telly, while I was there struggling with latching on... The general hygiene of the ward was appalling, and I won't go into details, but it was bad. I was then vegetarian and the vegi meal options were truly awful, next to zero nutritional value. A nurse then had the nerve to question the nutritional value of the vegi sausages, beans and chips that my hubby said he was going to cook for me, the afternoon I was going home. I felt like screaming, 'well it's better than the shit you've been feeding me here!' But I bit my tongue. It's awful being stuck in, and my baby was awaiting test results from being very badly jaundiced, and trauma following the birth which was very difficult, so I couldn't just walk put with him. It wasn't long before we were both home though, thankfully.

user1490954378 · 22/06/2020 18:59

Ok, the OP left. It's still a beautiful day in my neighbourhood!

Shaz1970 · 22/06/2020 19:08

If a doctor sees it as you could be of harm to yourself or others he can section you. Not sure if this would fit the current situation as its normally for mental health patients. But as Covid can harm others the doctors might class this as same. A loophole. I would suggest you take note as you are both in the best place God forbid if the baby did have it she/he would be seen to straight away. Hope you are both healthy and congratulations.
#staysafe

Superleo837 · 22/06/2020 19:18

Yes you can leave and take your baby it’s the moral aspect that’s the issue

FelicisNox · 22/06/2020 19:21

I will be frank: you're being utterly selfish.

The Covid screen is in your babies best interests. You're in hospital not HMP.

The absolute silliness of this post pisses me off to be quite honest.

What is it with patients these days that they can't just be in their hospital bed, do as they're told (and what's in their own best interests) and be discharged when it's appropriate? It's so bloody hard to get a hospital bed: if you're in one it's because you need to be.

FFS.

InfiniteGerbils · 22/06/2020 19:22

FUCK MY LIFE THE OP HAS LEFT SHE WENT HOME YESTERDAY

MilesJuppIsMyBitch · 22/06/2020 19:49

FelicisNox Dfod

Redjoy · 22/06/2020 19:54

Hi. They cant stop you without the local authority having a court order.

Barney60 · 22/06/2020 20:25

Thy can not stop you if you sign yourself out, but problems down the line not sure if you will be put "to the back of the queue" why would you want too, surely you want to know if baby has it, anyway enjoy the rest.

iklboo · 22/06/2020 20:42

Hi. They cant stop you without the local authority having a court order.

They can't stop her BECAUSE SHE IS ALREADY HOME!!

Arkenfield3001 · 22/06/2020 20:45

Am at a loss to understand why you would even consider leaving when your child hasn’t been medically discharged and even more horrified of reading of stories of tags being snipped off and Mums simply leaving. Aside from obvious fact that you are then putting staff in that awful position of having to refer you to social services for the sake of babies welfare, why put baby in that position ?!?
You could simply adopt a more positive slant about staying in hospital - you well never ever get this well looked after again with a newborn in tow. So just enjoy, relax, have a hot bath /shower and rest, read a book or watch a film whilst baby sleeps. You will have all the time in the world soon at home.

SandieCheeks · 22/06/2020 20:51

@Arkenfield3001 have you ever been on a postnatal ward? Being looked after, resting, relaxing, hot baths, reading books??
Generally wards are hot, noisy, understaffed and dirty, and you risk picking up Covid in a hospital right now.
No one in their right mind would stay longer than necessary.

GabriellaMontez · 22/06/2020 20:52

you will never ever get this well looked after again

Hahahahah!!!!!

Have you ever been on a post natal ward??!

Fortunately the OP is safely home where she is much less likely to catch covid and has a chance of good food and some sleep.

Lone4anger · 22/06/2020 21:18

No they can’t.. discharge yourself, the results will miraculously appear..

Original poster
Rosebel · 22/06/2020 21:32

I'm glad I didn't stay as the test still isn't back and would still be there. So yes once again it would have been a waste of time. I don't even know if it'll be back tomorrow.
I don't think it's selfish to put my mental health first or to consider the needs of my older children. I'm happier being at home with more support than I had in hospital.

OP posts:
ArthurMorgan · 22/06/2020 21:32

"So just enjoy, relax, have a hot bath /shower and rest, read a book or watch a film whilst baby sleeps"

And the award for the most idealistic view of hospitals goes to...

CherryPavlova · 22/06/2020 21:44

@Shaz1970

If a doctor sees it as you could be of harm to yourself or others he can section you. Not sure if this would fit the current situation as its normally for mental health patients. But as Covid can harm others the doctors might class this as same. A loophole. I would suggest you take note as you are both in the best place God forbid if the baby did have it she/he would be seen to straight away. Hope you are both healthy and congratulations. #staysafe
You really can’t detain people who are not seriously mentally ill. A section has to be a last result. A junior doctor on an obstetrics ward can’t detain someone. There must be two people, one of whom is an approved mental health professional. We’re not yet a police state. Anyone who is competent may discharge themselves against advice and don’t even have to sign anything.
Arkenfield3001 · 22/06/2020 22:12

@SandieCheeks
Yes as a mother of three I had the most amazing time on the postnatal wards both at the PAH in Harlow and the hospital in York.
I did all those things - rested, read books/watched films and enjoyed not having to be at home cooking & cleaning on the farm! I was thrilled when I was allowed to stay for 5 days whilst my last daughter was on SCBU. So relaxing 😎

@Rosebel
Anyway huge congratulations! Glad you’re back where you want to be with your older kids. I was fortunate when I stayed in for 5 days with my youngest that the others were being well looked after so I enjoyed my break but everyone is different. It sounds super inefficient not having the result back yet. Good luck ...

iklboo · 22/06/2020 22:21

If a doctor sees it as you could be of harm to yourself or others he can section you. Not sure if this would fit the current situation as its normally for mental health patients. But as Covid can harm others the doctors might class this as same. A loophole. I would suggest you take note as you are both in the best place God forbid if the baby did have it she/he would be seen to straight away. Hope you are both healthy and congratulations.

As PP has said there is pretty strict criteria for Section Orders these days. It's not the 1950s where she can be detained for being 'hysterical'. The OP had capacity under The Mental Health Act and so discharged herself.

CodenameVillanelle · 22/06/2020 22:31

@Arkenfield3001

Am at a loss to understand why you would even consider leaving when your child hasn’t been medically discharged and even more horrified of reading of stories of tags being snipped off and Mums simply leaving. Aside from obvious fact that you are then putting staff in that awful position of having to refer you to social services for the sake of babies welfare, why put baby in that position ?!? You could simply adopt a more positive slant about staying in hospital - you well never ever get this well looked after again with a newborn in tow. So just enjoy, relax, have a hot bath /shower and rest, read a book or watch a film whilst baby sleeps. You will have all the time in the world soon at home.
I am a social worker and whilst I can't say no hospital has ever referred a baby for discharging before a test result was due, it has never been and never would be a reason for an investigation, unless the baby had an extremely serious health condition which they were likely to die from or be seriously ill. Just wouldn't happen.
CodenameVillanelle · 22/06/2020 22:32

@Shaz1970

If a doctor sees it as you could be of harm to yourself or others he can section you. Not sure if this would fit the current situation as its normally for mental health patients. But as Covid can harm others the doctors might class this as same. A loophole. I would suggest you take note as you are both in the best place God forbid if the baby did have it she/he would be seen to straight away. Hope you are both healthy and congratulations. #staysafe
Jesus Christ the utter gullibility of the general public. No she can't be fucking sectioned for not waiting for the results of a Covid test. Jesus wept I really despair.
CodenameVillanelle · 22/06/2020 22:35

I'm amazed that people think hospitals don't keep people in without reason. I've sat in the children's ward for hours on end with teenagers who are more than ready to go home but if no doctor is available to sign the discharge plan they don't get discharged. That's how it works. Doctors don't prioritise discharge over treating patients so patients waiting for discharge can wait a long long time.

keffie12 · 22/06/2020 22:42

You could end up with a visit from the child protection services and children's social services. I wouldn't take the risk. That info is not an opinion. It's a fact.

If a Dr/nurse decides to report the situation you could end up with aggravation you don't need.

Believe me I wouldn't take that risk. Once the children's social services become involved in this country it is very hard to get rid of him

BeamerTown · 22/06/2020 22:43

@Arkenfield3001 how many years ago was this?

Swipe left for the next trending thread