Transport home after GA

[Tempusfudgeit]

My child is soon to attend hospital for a minor procedure under GA. The paperwork says very clearly we must have a second adult in the car on the return journey.

I just cannot work out the logistics of this. I will be driving my child to the appointment very early. My husband will be at home with our two smaller children. He doesn't drive and we only have one car.

Due to Covid and our current geographical situation we have absolutely no family members that can come on the day. Only elderly neighbours who I wouldn't ask to watch the children for a couple of hours (the hospital is a fair way away).

The only solution I can think of at the moment is my husband gets a taxi to the hospital with our two children and we all come back in the car together. Am I missing anything obvious?

He’ll be fine with just you in the car.

I spoke to the admissions people and they said they may refuse treatment if I don't follow the instructions!

Can you get a taxi back with the child? Then you’re giving them full attention

Then my car will be left at the hospital and I'd have to taxi back to get it.

Taxi to and from the hospital?

I have previously just revealed my lack of chaperone when they are ready to discharge and they have been fine in the past. I don't really know anyone who would have a spare adult around to chaperone things like this!

Is it a long drive?

Could your husband be the parent who stays at the hospital? You drive everyone there and drop them off, then take younger children home then either husband gets cab home with your son or you drive and pick them up.

Could dh drop you both off with the little ones and then you get a taxi/ hospital transport back?

Sorry missed that dh doesn't drive, you drop them off and he stays with ds.

That's bizarre. We don't insist on That. And since only one person is allowed to
Accompany a child at the minute, and other people waiting in the hospital is discouraged, I don't see how that is practical.

That's a new one on me. Have driven my DD home on my own after day surgery a number of times including from Regional Centres over a 1 hr drive away.

Due to continuity of care (I have taken him to all his other appointments for this issue) plus me being less anxious than DH, it would definitely be better if I take him. It's a half hour drive away, and DS would be next to me in the front seat. I can't really see they would refuse to discharge him? Surely due to Covid that particular rule should have some leeway.

Know any local 18 year olds who you could pay for a few hours sitting around?

None that I would trust with my 4 and 2 year olds! We only moved here last year and the lockdowns have massively stymied our making of friends!

That is very odd, and utterly ridiculous. I might be tempted to ignore it on the day and just not draw attention to that.

Or say that your DH will come when you call him and wait outside because otherwise he would have to bring two other children in. Then just go. No need for them to know that he doesn't drive.

Just tell them he's waiting in the carpark for you?

Just to update:

I drove him in, he had the procedure and when recovered they said we could go. It wasn't mentioned at all!

Note to anyone else - if you can have someone else with you, then do. Five minutes from home he threw up spectacularly all over himself, the bag of spare clothes in the footwell, and the dashboard