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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find this revelation from an NHS carer shocking?

421 replies

Lizzie523 · 19/12/2020 19:50

I have a very vulnerable family member that I have not seen since covid. She is now in the late stages of alzheimers and have been starting to wonder if I will ever see her again.

Recently her carers had been visiting her whilst also going to look after a person with covid at the same time. Their highers up explicitly told them they must not inform us or other family members this was happening/the risk to her.

So far she has not caught covid but I dont feel confident about it not happening in future. AIBU to be beside myself with worry?

OP posts:
1FootInTheRave · 19/12/2020 19:57

They will be using ppe and the covid positive person should ideally be the last visit.

People with the virus still need care.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 19/12/2020 19:59

But we might have decided to change how she is cared for and the care package. We have the right to know.

To me the fact they were told NOT to tell us very firmly is the issue I am having. As POA we make best decisions for her with her health and wellbeing in mind at all times. We therefore deserve to know if and when this happens surely?

OP posts:
JacobReesMogadishu · 19/12/2020 19:59

It’s not great but I’m not shocked.

There are covid positive inpatients in hospitals all over the U.K. who are on covid negative wards as no space on the positive ones.

ForestNymph · 19/12/2020 20:00

I'm not surprised. I know an NHS worker who's colleague tested positive. They'd been working together the day before. She was still told to come to work and to only isolate if she had a positive test, and to only test if she was symptomatic.

1FootInTheRave · 19/12/2020 20:01

I'm not sure they need to inform you of another clients medical information.

I wouldn't dream of disclosing this when I visit patients. I'd be struck off!

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/12/2020 20:02

They will be wearing ppe, the same as they will be wearing ppe when visiting your relative.

EddieBananas · 19/12/2020 20:03

I'm not sure that sounds right but I am sure someone will be along shortly with more knowledge than me.

I would definitely be flagging this up to the powers that be. PALS? Are these NHS community carers?

Sorry you are having to deal with this.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 19/12/2020 20:03

It's very upsetting

OP posts:
Leaannb · 19/12/2020 20:04

They are not suppose to be telling you others medical info. You have no right to that info

LoveMyKidsAndCats · 19/12/2020 20:04

My partner works for a care company. Same thing happening there.

GarlicMushroom · 19/12/2020 20:05

I'm a community midwife. We visit women at home that are covid pos and those that are covid neg. Ppe is the same. And wouldn't ever tell another patient personal medical details of others. Yabu

SaltyAF · 19/12/2020 20:06

I'm afraid that if it's ok for the carers to look after a Covid patient, it's also ok for them to look after your relative. If we assume it's reasonable for them to take that risk, we also accept it's safe enough for them to go on to care for non Covid patients.

Bargebill19 · 19/12/2020 20:06

Not surprised you weren’t informed. Suspect it was down to the bottom line (££££) not a morally based decision.
Personally I believe you have every right to be angry and should have been informed. This happened in my ex care home - I whistle blew and lost my job.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 19/12/2020 20:06

We arent asking for details of specific patients confidential information. We would want to know if they are treating someone else with covid on an ongoing basis, going back and forth between their and her homes.

It is hugely distressing to heard to have been told this tonight.

OP posts:
Leaannb · 19/12/2020 20:06

@1FootInTheRave

I'm not sure they need to inform you of another clients medical information.

I wouldn't dream of disclosing this when I visit patients. I'd be struck off!

Its definitely a termination offense and those care workers would be fired if they were my employees. No warnings, no there there. Immediate termination with a conversation with the State to make sure they never work in the medical field again
vodkaredbullgirl · 19/12/2020 20:07

I work in a care home and we have to inform relatives, that we have had a positive test. We can not tell who it is and we follow all precautions.

Leaannb · 19/12/2020 20:08

@Bargebill19

Not surprised you weren’t informed. Suspect it was down to the bottom line (££££) not a morally based decision. Personally I believe you have every right to be angry and should have been informed. This happened in my ex care home - I whistle blew and lost my job.
You deserved to lose your job. People deserve privacy of their health i formation. OP does not work with the patient with Covid and does not have a right to that info. Its a law. We jave to follow the laws regarding private medical info.
AgentCooper · 19/12/2020 20:08

I think you need to flag it up. My FIL passed away in hospital this week, not of Covid, but with it. He tested positive his first night in hospital so we can only think it came from one of the many carers coming in and out of the house in the weeks before. He had been ill a long time and tbh the Covid made no difference, he was asymptomatic.

However, he passed it onto DH, who passed it onto me, who passed it on to my parents who were providing childcare while I worked. Fortunately they both seem to have it mildly but I doubt I’ll sleep until their isolation period ends on Monday. I really hope your family member doesn’t get ill, and I think you should say something.

Bargebill19 · 19/12/2020 20:09

@vodkaredbullgirl

I work in a care home and we have to inform relatives, that we have had a positive test. We can not tell who it is and we follow all precautions.
Which is morally the right thing to do.
Elsiebear90 · 19/12/2020 20:09

I see patients at work in a hospital who are Covid positive, then ones who are Covid negative, as long as they follow correct guidance with PPE and cleaning any equipment etc there’s no issue and no need for anyone to be informed.

Bargebill19 · 19/12/2020 20:11

@Leaannb

Only to glad to go. He’s subsequently had six homes forcibly closed thanks to other like me who chose to whistle blow.

Original poster
Lizzie523 · 19/12/2020 20:20

I'm a bit shocked here to read this is deemed perfectly acceptable.

We want to do everything we can to ensure that her end of life care is the best possible. We don't want her to die from this awful disease. How can we continue making those decisions if we dont even have that information to begin with?

OP posts:
cansu · 19/12/2020 20:25

I think the care company should be open and honest with you. They should tell you how they are mitigating the risks. You need to know what level of PPE they are using. It doesn't surprise me though that the company are lying to you. My ds is in supported living and I am fairly regularly lied to about what has gone on.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 19/12/2020 20:25

The only way you have be in entire control of her care is by taking responsibility for your family member's care yourself. Otherwise you are always going to be dependent on the care practice of whoever you delegate day to day care too.

ekidmxcl · 19/12/2020 20:26

It’s unacceptable IMO, no matter how it is justified. My fil has several carers in per day. He’s over 80 and his GP won’t vaccinate him because he’s housebound and the vaccine isn’t transportable due to not remaining stable. Well he’s housebound NEXT DOOR to the fucking GP. And they aren’t going to vaccinate him due to this red tape. He’s a few feet from where people are being vaccinated. Nobody is able to use their own brain, all we do is follow procedures. Terrifying.

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