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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Covid Isolation Hotel Nightmare

446 replies

Suppermumzy · 24/08/2021 16:18

Stuck in this London Isolation Hotel...food is terrible...if you are lucky to go out for exercise you are hurriedly sent back in as there is always a list waiting to go out and use the outdoor space which can safely have 4 people in at a time..i will add photos of food. Cost for 11 days £2285.

I asked today "Would they stop me if I wanted to leave?" Answer No..but you will be reported as an absconder and may face a £10,000 fine....Surely this is not voluntary nor is it fair...who is monitoring this system..we seam to be a forgotten minority rotting away behind fences..

I am coming back from Africa to bury my 99 year old father who died 1/08....and I couldn't have not gone...I had to see him through....Surely this is not voluntary imprisonment as without the hotel booking reference you are not allowed on your flight at the departure airport...

AIBU to feel aggrieved by the system..when i left England the hotel fee was £1750...when I went to book it had gone up £500....NHS nurse looked after British public throughout the Pandemic but I feel that I am incapacitated to look after my own..including my young kids...

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Clucket87 · 25/08/2021 17:50

I agree that the cost is astronomical and completely unjust. Fir what you have to spend you can get a luxury 2 week holiday in the Caribbean.
However I do think it is right you have to isolate, regardless of the reason for your trip. Having been putting staff out into frontline work for the last 18 months, I have seen the toil this pandemic has had on people, both inside and outside of the hospitals.
I’m sorry that your hotel isn’t great but I think it is the right thing to do.

Freedomprogramme · 25/08/2021 17:57

I am
pro lockdown
pro vaccine
pro quarantine

but think it is entirely rational to point out as Xenia does that all of these are fundamental attacks on our rights. It's a case of freedom versus lives.

PrincessLeiaInlockdown · 25/08/2021 17:58

I’m so sorry your facing this prison experience. The food looks all indian fare. I know India was on red list and ppl were complaining about veggie food that was served seems like they are now serving indian food when India is off the red list. Unfortunately you are having to eat this. Why can’t they give option surely its a hotel even schools manage it . Whole thing is shameful

mrsbyers · 25/08/2021 17:58

The costs still don’t cover the running costs of the scheme , remember the gov have to pay for the whole hotel regardless of how many people are in it. Security costs are huge , testing , docs at each hotel 24:7 and mental health teams available , transport , admin costs , airport fees , fees for card transactions , fraud cases - people just compare it to a holiday which is silly

Nocutenamesleft · 25/08/2021 17:58

@Milkbottlelegs

Trust that you would isolate at home should be sufficient.

Time and time again the British public has demonstrated they cannot be trusted. I know quite a few who didn’t isolate last summer when they should have done.

OP that does all sound (and look) totally awful, I’m sorry.

Same

A good 70% of people I know haven’t isolated when they were meant too. At one point it was recasting to our group as it travelled to our home town. All because the 20 off people who came into contact with someone who had covid. Knew this. Didn’t isolate. Went somewhere really public. That spread. Then before we knew it. Some 150 odd people had it.

Nocutenamesleft · 25/08/2021 18:02

@diddl

Maybe things have changed, but it was possible to leave isolation after 5days for a funeral-Prince Harry??

I watched my Dad's funeral by video link.

It depends if they’ve come from A red country.

Whu020 · 25/08/2021 18:05

Not necessary and disgusting looking food, the whole situation is out of control, far more than it needs to be. Try n get hold of a TV station or journalist whos not already been bought to over hype this situation.

callmeadoctor · 25/08/2021 18:06

Its obviously not the best, but its not exactly for long OP................................................................................................

Minitaka · 25/08/2021 18:08

Walk out now ! It is totally unlawful to keep you here if you want to leave.
They have brainwashed so many into believing that they HAVE to do this , like every thing else. I live in a small village where the old people still wear masks, as a doctor I know the harm these mask do , physically and psycologically so I tell them they are not obliged to wear them ( but they do have a choice) they all think it is the law and believe they will get arrested if they don't!! Thank you BBC for putting the fear of god into our people.

SuperstoreFan · 25/08/2021 18:13

@Minitaka

Walk out now ! It is totally unlawful to keep you here if you want to leave. They have brainwashed so many into believing that they HAVE to do this , like every thing else. I live in a small village where the old people still wear masks, as a doctor I know the harm these mask do , physically and psycologically so I tell them they are not obliged to wear them ( but they do have a choice) they all think it is the law and believe they will get arrested if they don't!! Thank you BBC for putting the fear of god into our people.

Will you pay the OP's £10K fine?

And what harm pray tell, are masks doing?

Maximum71 · 25/08/2021 18:16

Please leave the hotel. Be brave is all I can say! Xxx good luck - in case you do get find I will happily donate yo your gofundme page xx

cabingirl · 25/08/2021 18:23

Here's a couple of interesting pieces on the quarantine hotels and food in different places - it looks like all countries are struggling to deal with the food issue but some are better than others!

Comparing a quarantine hotel in Hong Kong with one in Sydney

Quarantine meals: The 2020 food trend no-one predicted
www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55362464

Hotel quarantine: Isolation and brown paper bags (this woman's food looks moderately better than the OPs)
www.bbc.com/news/uk-56212665

Shell4429 · 25/08/2021 18:25

Not sure why some posters think YABU. The incarceration and crap food is akin to a short prison sentence! Make sure you give the hotel a review on Trip-advisor - I bet they haven’t considered the bad reviews, and how it will affect their business long term. Let’s hope they go bankrupt.

Nocutenamesleft · 25/08/2021 18:25

@Minitaka

Walk out now ! It is totally unlawful to keep you here if you want to leave. They have brainwashed so many into believing that they HAVE to do this , like every thing else. I live in a small village where the old people still wear masks, as a doctor I know the harm these mask do , physically and psycologically so I tell them they are not obliged to wear them ( but they do have a choice) they all think it is the law and believe they will get arrested if they don't!! Thank you BBC for putting the fear of god into our people.

What kind of dr?

Shell4429 · 25/08/2021 18:27

@Minitaka

Walk out now ! It is totally unlawful to keep you here if you want to leave. They have brainwashed so many into believing that they HAVE to do this , like every thing else. I live in a small village where the old people still wear masks, as a doctor I know the harm these mask do , physically and psycologically so I tell them they are not obliged to wear them ( but they do have a choice) they all think it is the law and believe they will get arrested if they don't!! Thank you BBC for putting the fear of god into our people.

A doctor who can’t spell psychologically

cabingirl · 25/08/2021 18:30

@Shell4429

The problem is it's not necessarily the hotel itself that is responsible for this. The government has set the amount of time needed for quarantine and they have contracted out the running of the quarantine system to private companies.

These companies get a budget to provide some parts of the system - for example they negotiate with the hotel for the room and then they negotiate with a catering company for the meals.

And that's part of the issue - the private company is not doing it out of the goodness of their heart. They want to make a profit and the bigger the better. So they take the budget from the government and work out how to get the cheapest deals on food etc to maximize their profit margins.

And there's so little transparency with all of this because it's a private company that we (the tax payers who are contributing, plus the travellers who are paying this 'fine') can't see exactly how the money is being spent and whether it would be possible to do a much better job, a healthier and more substantial menu for example if there wasn't a need to create a profit.

SallyB392 · 25/08/2021 18:30

I'm speechless! I'm so sorry for your loss and for the way in which you have been treated. But beyond that, as I say I really am speechless. What happens if you have medical problems which would make the conditions in which you are having to live for albeit a short time, dangerous? Is everyone served up the mess that you are being fed? It's beyond describable.

Greyhare · 25/08/2021 18:31

So did we ever find out what the breakfast was?

knittingaddict · 25/08/2021 18:32

@Minitaka

Walk out now ! It is totally unlawful to keep you here if you want to leave. They have brainwashed so many into believing that they HAVE to do this , like every thing else. I live in a small village where the old people still wear masks, as a doctor I know the harm these mask do , physically and psycologically so I tell them they are not obliged to wear them ( but they do have a choice) they all think it is the law and believe they will get arrested if they don't!! Thank you BBC for putting the fear of god into our people.

I'm struggling to accept your word that you're a doctor. Not a qualified medical doctor surely?

Sydendad · 25/08/2021 18:33

Your not being unreasonable. Some people here suggest it's as a deterrent and to cover cost. Going by the history of the government I am sure that these hotels are run for profit and that what is provided is of minimal standard to maximize profits. It should be provided with at least a reasonable standard and any profits going to research or to pay of this countries mounting debt. Instead I am sure some chum of Boris or one of his ministers is taking it in. That's what's disgusting.

FoxInABox · 25/08/2021 18:34

I don’t understand why people can’t be tagged and isolate at home. Just pay a fee for the tag fitting and removal.

shewalkslikerihanna · 25/08/2021 18:35

I’ve signed the petition
There’s no reason at all to do this to people with homes to go to and people without a home here
Ought to be treated better

Lucyk1 · 25/08/2021 18:40

You chose to go to a red list country and know the rules so deal with it!
Why on earth did you think this was a voluntary thing? Most people can't be trusted.... Cause let's face it, this virus wouldn't spread if people actually lived by the rules.

cabingirl · 25/08/2021 18:41

Norway's current Covid hotel system is you have to do three days at about £41 a night and if you test negative on day three you can do the rest of your 11 days at home.

But even if you had to do all 11 days in the hotel then £451 is slightly better than over £2000.

The food looks like airline or cold sandwich food though.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 25/08/2021 18:43

@DoraDont

Sorry for your loss.

That dessert is kheer, actually very nice of you like milk based rice pudding style food.

It’s only eleven days, read a book.

And what does she do then for the remaining 10.5 days?

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