Picking someone up from hospital

[gingajewel]

So my partners mom was took into hospital with suspected Covid but it turns out she has double pneumonia and has tested negative for Covid. When the time comes for her to come out of hospital is it safe for one of us to pick her up or should we ask for patient transport.
For context she spent three days on a Covid ward and although we have been in the house and practicing social distancing we have still been going food shopping and a few of the family are still at work. What would be the best solution here to protect her (she is on the shielding list) and us also.

Pick her up. Inappropriate use of transport. Why should someone else carry the risk if you don't want to?

@floatyboat that’s not what I said at all and you have totally taken it out of context, I didn’t know what the best thing to do was which is why I asked, no need to be rude, I didn’t say I wanted to use patient transport I didn’t no what the best thing to do was.

The premise of your question is that picking up the relative might be risky for the driver and should that risk be given to someone that is not your family?

Sorry, I wouldn't risk it. The virus lives for many hours on hard/soft surfaces- blotting, etc. Your MIL might not have CV but she could carry it on herself and easily pass it on to anyone else she comes into contact with- touching the car door handles/car seat, et.

@titnomatani

Nice, so an NHS staff member or zero hours taxi driver can take the risk. That isn't what patient transport is for.

I’m more worried that one of us might give it her without knowing when she is already so weak, contrary to the mil bashing threads on here, she is a lovely lovely woman and like a mom to me! I just didn’t know what to do for the best that’s all.

Why would you be more risky than someone possibly meeting multiple similar people a day?

Honestly, just pick her up and enjoy her recovery.

Agree, it's your partner's role to pick her up

You are getting a rough time here. Is she coming home to stay with you or to her own home? If the latter I would say hospital transport, if coming to you pick her up. Hope she is well on the mend now have had that myself it’s bloody awful

She is going back to her own house but lives by herself, I genuinely didn’t know what to do, I didn’t think I would get flamed for it!! I was just worried about her catching it off one of us/her other children if they picked her up that’s all!

Wow people are touchy on here ! Nothing wrong with asking a question.

OP, if you're worried about the risk to her, why not just ask her what she's comfortable with ? Say you're willing to pick her up if she wants but it's up to her. Presumably she can ask a doctor/nurse at the hospital if she isn't sure herself what's the best option.

Just been in exact situation with my mum. She got hospital transport home. She had a emergency op due to a bloody clot but we were not allowed in to be with her. She is on 3 weekly dialysis 49miles away so can’t stay with us. Hospital transport is there for those that need it you shouldn’t have got a flaming here x

Well just an update, I called the hospital to discuss and they said no, we shouldn’t pick her up, it should be patient transport as they are equipped, I clarified this a few times and I said to ring my oh and he would pick her up, a few hours later mil called and had been discharged and was at home, they didn’t even call us! so no the flaming was totally unjust and not called for when I was only asking for help!

Seems strange. Are they arranging transport for all patients being discharged?

@floatyboat I have no idea at all! This was just our experience!

@gingajewel glad she is home safe and sound. Times are hard and you absolutely did not deserve any of the above

Glad you phoned the hospital. I did read something a while back about transport being provided in certain circumstances. Guess whoever does it will be provided with any PPE to protect both sides, also the correct wipes/solutions to clean transport between patients.

Hope your MIL is ok