Collecting clothes from hospital if shielding?

[Ataxicbrother]

My brother has been in hospital for ten months after suffering some kind of brain damage.

He is currently in a rehabilitation hospital, 20 miles away from where I live and my parents live.

I'm trying to shield myself as much as possible (husband is a key worker, but don't know how much longer for).

I have severe asthma (been intubated a few times in the past). I take Seretide 250, Atrovent, Ventolin and Montelukast, which, according to Asthma UK, means I'm in the extremely vulnerable group, and should be shielding (I haven't received a letter or text saying this though).

My parents are both in their late 70s, and my dad has terminal cancer, CKD stage 4, one kidney, diabetes and COPD, he has, of course, received a shielding letter.

They've asked me to get my husband to drive me (I don't drive) to where my brother is, to collect his dirty washing (incontinent in both ways), and deliver some clean ones.

I'm not happy to do this really. It doesn't make much sense for DH (if I didn't go) to be interacting with health care people (he is NOT healthcare, but in a very public facing position), and I don't want to be going out if possible.

Secondly it doesn't strike me as an essential trip. Surely the hospital should have some kind of procedure in cases like this.

I also don't want to be washing shitty pants.

I know I'm probably being unreasonable, but the cost of travelling back and forth for clothing is something we're also not able to do, because whilst still working, DH's hours have been cut dramatically, with a fall in wages.

We have a young daughter as well, and I'm already worried sick about getting ill, as there is no one to have her.

I guess I just need to suck it up, and if I can't get there with DH during the day, will have to get a bus.

Is it your parents who have asked you to do this or the rehab hospital?

It is my parents that have asked me to do it, I've never even been to the rehab hospital

I would say this is a non essential journey. Ring the rehab facility and ask them, surely they have sone emergency laundry facilities. I dont think you should go.

You shouldn’t go. Ring the hospital and explain.

You could ask the staff in the rehab facility if they are able to arrange for you brothers laundry to be done although I'd imagine at this time they have more than enough on caring for their patients who may well be symptomatic plus the additional laundry with towels and bed linen trying to keep the unit clean.
If your husband is still able to go out he could arrange for the laundry to be ready for collect at the main entrance of the unit, you wouldn't need to go and that would reduce contact.
Hope you get sorted, it's a stressful situation all round x

I would phone rehab ward OP and explain the situation.
The may not have laundry facilities for personal laundry but I'm sure (assuming NHS) that they will have spare clothes that your DB can use until such time that someone is able to get a fresh supply of his own to him.
It's not ideal but in the sceme of things, not worth anyone risking their health for.
I used to work in rehab and would have had no problem with this.

Thank you all for your comments. The hospital is now sending him to a care home (which may well be miles away), as they need to re-purpose the hospital as an emergency one.

Thank you all

Hope it doesn't end up being too far away, it must be a very difficult time with COVID to deal with as well. Sending best wishes to you and your family x