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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hospital not allowing visiting at the weekend

149 replies

cheerypip · 10/02/2024 15:58

A close family member is a long stay inpatient in psychiatric hospital. He has just been moved to a new ward and I have been informed that they don't usually allow visits at the weekend.

It's a 5 hour round trip to visit and I work full time, so weekends are all I have.

I thought family contact was supposed to be an important part of mental health recovery. AIBU?

OP posts:
bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:00

has he been sectioned?

TheSnowyOwl · 10/02/2024 16:01

Not all family contact is beneficial. Why don’t you contact them and explain your situation to see if there is a mutually convenient time for you to visit. Otherwise you might have to wait until further down the treatment process to visit.

ADoggyDogWorld · 10/02/2024 16:01

Is there a visiting policy online that you can consult? It could be that a visit straight after a move is not in the patient's best interests and each request to visit is considered separately? IDK.

Original poster
cheerypip · 10/02/2024 16:04

Yes he is under section. But he is stable and is allowed visits. This isn't to do with his individual circumstances - the ward policy is no weekend visits.

OP posts:
doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:08

When my brother was sectioned, there was very strict rules around visits, the security was very high, for everyone's safety. Maybe they just don't have enough staff to ensure the safety for all at the weekends? Having said that, it seems extremely difficult for you.

Hopefully he will be someone less secure and with more visits soon?

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:10

cheerypip · 10/02/2024 16:04

Yes he is under section. But he is stable and is allowed visits. This isn't to do with his individual circumstances - the ward policy is no weekend visits.

Can't you take him out somewhere or meet him somewhere?

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:11

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:08

When my brother was sectioned, there was very strict rules around visits, the security was very high, for everyone's safety. Maybe they just don't have enough staff to ensure the safety for all at the weekends? Having said that, it seems extremely difficult for you.

Hopefully he will be someone less secure and with more visits soon?

Just because someone is sectioned doesn't mean the hospital they are at is high secure.

Do you know what level it is OP?

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:12

cheerypip · 10/02/2024 16:04

Yes he is under section. But he is stable and is allowed visits. This isn't to do with his individual circumstances - the ward policy is no weekend visits.

so he’s recently moved ward?

or same ward as always but they’ve introduced a new policy?

ASandwichNamedKevin · 10/02/2024 16:12

It doesn’t sound like a very person-centred approach, nor in the best interests of patients if it is a blanket ban on weekend visiting. I’d ask for more information to see if there is any flexibility and if not I would complain (assuming your visits would be welcomed by your relative). Or ask them to complain if I’m a position to do so.

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:12

This isn't to do with his individual circumstances - the ward policy is no weekend visits.’
every patient on that ward will have been sectioned

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:12

@SummerDays2020 sorry where did I say it did? I was explaining the situation that I experienced!

Why so bloody touchy?

Poppins2016 · 10/02/2024 16:14

Assuming that it actually is ward policy as opposed to an excuse for whatever reason...

That seems utterly inhumane. Assuming most people work, it would mean that patients often only get to see visitors outside of working hours on a weekday (therefore not for long and/or limited by practicalities such as travel time/dinner time). And then no social time at the weekend... I wonder what the reasoning is (skeleton staff at the weekend, therefore lack of supervision, I guess)... it seems counterproductive (potentially slowing recovery) to limit external support and social contact (assuming a healthy relationship and that the contact would be viewed as beneficial)...

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:15

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:11

Just because someone is sectioned doesn't mean the hospital they are at is high secure.

Do you know what level it is OP?

Show quote history

my father was sectioned

low risk ward

BUT very much rules around visiting time. And too bloody right. Plus security was tight.

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:16

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:12

@SummerDays2020 sorry where did I say it did? I was explaining the situation that I experienced!

Why so bloody touchy?

You're the one being touchy. I was posting to the OP so she knew being sectioned didn't mean the security would be high as she might have assumed from your post. The point of a thread is to help the OP and it's a conversation. Perhaps don't post on a public forum if you can't handle any comments being made about your post?

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:17

@SummerDays2020

that poster was trying to help by posting her experience

as far as I can and see your contribution has been nothing more than to harangue this poster

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/02/2024 16:19

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:10

Can't you take him out somewhere or meet him somewhere?

Show quote history

If someone is under a section, then their dr needs to agree to give a certain type of leave for that patient to leave the ward (even for an X-ray or something), you can’t just take them out.

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:20

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:15

my father was sectioned

low risk ward

BUT very much rules around visiting time. And too bloody right. Plus security was tight.

Edited
Show quote history

It isn't usual for visiting to not happen at the weekend. Weekends are the most boring time on a ward. Many wards just have hours like 10-7 all week, visits don't have to be booked (if you need a room you have to book, obviously) and well, it depends what you call 'tight', I suppose. Low secure is not tight security in my eyes.

letstrythatagain · 10/02/2024 16:21

@SummerDays2020 think you need to relax a little here. Stop jumping on people.

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:21

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:17

@SummerDays2020

that poster was trying to help by posting her experience

as far as I can and see your contribution has been nothing more than to harangue this poster

Exactly!

@SummerDays2020 I was offering a potential reason, is that ok with you?

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:22

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:17

@SummerDays2020

that poster was trying to help by posting her experience

as far as I can and see your contribution has been nothing more than to harangue this poster

Of course she was and I was doing the same. Harangue the poster?! 😂 I only replied to her because she started on me! I've not spoken to her until then!!

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:22

@SummerDays2020 if you're posting to OP, no need to quote me, you can explain your own situation.

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:23

letstrythatagain · 10/02/2024 16:21

@SummerDays2020 think you need to relax a little here. Stop jumping on people.

Quite agree! So OTT!

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:23

Muchtoomuchtodo · 10/02/2024 16:19

If someone is under a section, then their dr needs to agree to give a certain type of leave for that patient to leave the ward (even for an X-ray or something), you can’t just take them out.

Show quote history

@SummerDays2020 has approached this thread like a bull in a china shop with what is clearly bugger all knowledge

bestmoment · 10/02/2024 16:24

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:23

Quite agree! So OTT!

Show quote history

and fundamentally wrong

take him out for day trip FGS! 😂

SummerDays2020 · 10/02/2024 16:24

doilooklikeicare · 10/02/2024 16:21

Exactly!

@SummerDays2020 I was offering a potential reason, is that ok with you?

Show quote history

Why would I care what you do? You're the one who has a problem with me also sharing my experience. Is that a problem for you me sharing my experience? I haven't spoken to you until you just started on me once I'd offered my viewpoint.