Are you allowed to accompany relative to chemotherapy?

[hollyblueivy]

I think it differs from place to place so just trying to gauge any kind of norm. Do you know if you are allowed to sit with a relative while they have chemo?

If you are allowed and have first hand experience of this, did most people take someone along every time?

I would really like to support my relative and attend with them for moral support. There is a chance this isn’t allowed at our local place, but they may allow us for the first session.

@SureLook

Oh right. They didn't on my unit. Also you are mixing with loads of people who are unmasked in the waiting room. I had to sit on the floor sometimes because people bought two people with them!

I wore a mask in the waiting room and chemo room but at most I saw one other patient doing so at each appointment.

@tothelefttotheleft that is shocking that you had to sit on the ground!!

I could have 1 person with me for mine. London.
most people had someone with them but not all.

A picc line is generally quicker than a drip.

I could bring who I wanted to any of my chemo sessions so had a friend, a family member of otherwise. Sometimes I went alone and chatted to other people who were also having the chemo depending on my mood. They had magazines and I sometimes brought a book or iPad. I had the picc line and definitely would recommend it x

That was Warwick hospital

Yes to Southampton General. But depends on space and chairs sometimes with chair allocation but didn't mean couldn't go in and out. But as previous posters said. Based on trust relatives were healthy accompanying relatives having treatment but never had any problems. Family took turns though and magazines, books etc good idea.

Yep and that people who didn't have cancer would watch me sitting on the floor from their chairs. With the delays the unit always had I could be on the floor for a long time.

Northampton hospital, a decade ago. No restrictions that I knew of. I sat with DH every time, and sometimes one of our DDs would come too.

Their chemo suite was basically one large room with beds for that that needed then and reclining chairs for those that didn't. Plenty of room, and seating provided for those accompanying the patients.

@tothelefttotheleft that is appalling. Shame on those people!

Second time round on chemo.
I go alone, my parents live miles away and everyone else is working.

Space can be restricted. Also depends whether drip or injection.

This is a few years ago (pre pandemic, London) but I drove my DH to nine months of chemotherapy appts, stayed for the six hours (usually popping out for lunch) and drove him home again. I was often offered tea/food but didn't usually accept as I didn't want to use NHS resources - but there was no issue with me being there.

I could have one person with me for mine at Clatterbridge. DH attended with me for my 16 treatments. The staff were amazing. I also had a Picc line which saved me a great many jabs.

Leeds. Yes. With my mum every chemo. Staff were lovely.

Same here. Before Covid, they allowed someone in if it wasn’t too busy/crowded. Since covid, they’re strict that you can only be accompanied for the first session. People having chemo are immune compromised, so it’s a risk for them to be in a confined space with lots of people, hence restriction on people who dont need to be in there.

West mids - not any more.

My son received chemo treatment in Leeds but was an inpatient for all of his treatment and was 8 at the time so I obviously stayed with him.

I always assumed that adults would be allowed at least one person with them.

I took somebody with me every time I went and they sat with me. Most other people had somebody with them too. This was at the Christie.

This was 9 years ago though...

It’s just feels to me like a scary and daunting thing to have to do on your own.

I’m currently undergoing a lot of chemo (16 sessions), some people have people stay, most don’t.

It’s not encouraged to have people stay.

I prefer to be alone, to be honest.

That’s me, everyone is different.

If my DH had his way, he would want to stay with me, but he understands that I want some time to speak to other people. It’s not a depressing place for me, it’s full of hope and cheering each other on.

Voice that, they’ll arrange something.

Please don’t be worried to ask.

We are all different.

@hollyblueivy I know, it's crap. I hate that my Dad goes in on his own. But as a pp said, ask them. They might be able to make arrangements.

But ultimately the rules are for their benefit. If I was immunocompromised I’d be glad i wasn’t in a room with more people than necessary.

I finished chemo in January, and was allowed someone with me. A couple of times a friend came for the entire time, more usually someone turned up about an hour before the end (treatment took 3 to 3 and a half hours). I was okay on my own, I read a lot! Slept sometimes. I took snacks but chemo destroyed my appetite, so I rarely ate anything at all