17 year old on an adult ward

[Cliff1975]

My 17 year old son has been admitted to hospital with tonsilitis. They were worried about his airway and have given hi fluids, iv antibiotics and steroids. I can't fault the care A and E were amazing. The issue is that they have put him on an adult ward so we weren't allowed to stay with him, which was fine although a bit scary for him and me. The issue is that we are only allowed to visit him for a 1 hour visit which we have to book in. As he is under 18 A and E said that on the ward we would be able to stay with him but the ward are adamant. So should we be able to visit more because of his age or AIBU|? Anyone know the rules legally as he is still a child?

Are they taking his tonsils out?
I have huge issues with my tonsils, I constantly have reoccurring infections and they always say they won’t take them out yet.

I had Quincy a couple of years ago and like your DS they told me my airways could close; and to return to a&e if it didn’t feel better within 24 hours.

I didn’t get admitted though.. I don’t think. Although they were trying to find me a bed there wasn’t one so I was hooked up to a paracetamol drip that was tied onto the visitor magazine rack in the waiting room which is where I sat until they decided to just prescribe me antibiotics and send me home. I was over 17 at this time, may 20/21 and my mums stayed with me whole time.

^mum not meant to be plural.

We have two a and e hospitals one for kids one for adults

I was on an adult ward 40 years ago after major surgery. I was 8. I coped just fine. ( not saying it was right, but it was what it was)

Is it kids today who need to get a grip or their parents who were born in the 80s and 90s onwards?!

I was in hospital at 17 and they put me on an adult ward. I was so relieved.

I would have hated to be kept awake by toddlers and the extra bodies of parents that accompany them all playing with toys ....

He will be glad. Also he's 17 you don't need to be sleeping next to him. He will be fine

I think you’re trying to use his age as an excuse to get special treatment tbh, he’s 17, not 7, there is no reason for him to have extra long visitation just because he’s not 18 yet. When I was 17 I was working and going on foreign holidays alone.

'unfortunately most still do... hospitals here still only allow 1 parent with child or on adult wards 2 guests pre-booked for a 1 hour visit.'

I can understand allowing only 1 visitor but why for an hour only?! It's jobsworthiness without any rationale. If someone has covid it makes no difference if they are there 1 hour or 3hrs.

Op I'd ring the ward, say fine as he's on an adult ward you can't have unlimited visiting but as he is only 17 you want more than an hour. If they won't budge ring PALS, say his mental wellbeing is as important as his physical health and he needs more than 1hour visits.

'When I was 17 I was working and going on foreign holidays alone'

We probably all were, however the op isn't asking if he should get a job or go on holiday, she's asking if they should be allowed to see him more as technically he's a child. Yes they should.

When my sister was in For a prolonged period last year she used to come and meet us either in the garden or the coffee shop.

this sounds like a really good idea

Why though? Why does she need to visit him more because he’s 17 and not 18? That’s the point people are trying to make when they’re saying “I was holidaying abroad alone at that age”. There’s no reason why her visits need to be 3/4 hours rather than 1 hour just because he’s 17.

YANBU for wanting to visit more, 17 isn't an adult yet

My ds had surgery last year aged 17. He had a 3 night hospital stay on an adult ward and I was allowed to stay with him.
I kept the curtains closed because I was conscious of the other patients privacy but everyone was very friendly whenever I popped out.

Our son had abdominal surgery just before the pandemic when he was just 17 and was placed on the male surgical ward. He quite liked it as he was in for four days and made friends with the elderly gentleman in his bay, they talked endlessly about football.

However, we had to get permission to stay with him when he was admitted on the day of surgery. He hadn’t been in hospital before and was very nervous and wanted someone there with him and we were initially told that we would have to drop him off at 7am. The ward manager relented and allowed one person to stay until he went to theatre but it had to be a male so my husband stayed.

Visiting though, even pre-Covid, was only between 7 and 8 at night.

I know it's tough but he can contact you through texting at least. Last year my then recently turned 17 year old was in hospital with Covid on an adult Covid ward so no visiting at all. He got through it, was able to rest and we messaged a lot.

Is he able to leave the ward and meet you somewhere quiet, does he want you to visit for more than one hour.

You do also need to remember other sick patients need to have peace on the ward too , some may be very ill . The last thing they need is next bed's Mum telling him to change his pants .

When my 14 (at the time) year old son had to have emergency surgery he was in an adult hospital in a male ward. The other patients made sure he was looked after and gave me reports when I went in to visit. In fact, on the first night they insisted that the staff wheel his bed out a little so that he could see the football on TV better. They all really did take him under their wing. I wouldn’t worry too much.

I’m not sure how long ago you’re talking about but parents stay all the time, we encourage it. They don’t have to of course but the majority do and I’ve been a nurse for 20 years. I also stayed with my children when they were in.

In my trust, teenagers generally get a choice to go to adults or Paeds and a fair amount choose Paeds so their parent can stay. However though if they aren’t known to Paeds already or aren’t in education then they go to adults. We do have an issue with ED sending 17 year olds back round to us because they’re teenagers, which is frustrating. Especially when we need the beds for our younger patients.

My mum thinks it's really odd that we allow parents to stay. It would be a nightmare if they didn't. I couldn't cope with 16 kids crying for parents on top of what procedures they've had!

Oh my days he is 17 not 7.

16yo Dd was on an adult ward pre covid. They did initially say we had to stick to visiting but I pointed out I needed to be there for dr round in the mornings as she did not understand what tests and investigations were being offered, etc. she couldn’t advocate for herself. So they backed down and said we could visit whenever.

I quite like it when we have teenagers in, it’s nice to be able to chat them!

Over 16 is usually the adult ward, it has been from when my DD has been in regularly. Stop babying him, he'll survive without you clinging to his bedside.

I was on an older person's ward at 15. Can't recall how long I stayed but I was wheeled around on a wheeled toilet to talk with the elderly. One of whom died. Was not fun at all. I kept my head in a book. This was a few decades ago.

This!