Would you attend a routine hospital appointment now??

[Rollercoasteride]

Myself and my child, both have Asthma. We haven't left our house since March 22nd. We live in the middle of nowhere and get our shopping delivered.

My child had his appendix removed before xmas, and went into anaphylaxis shock in theatre....so he was referred to a large city childrens hospital for allergy testing. He has had some tests (household allergies and anesthetic), in February.
Now the hospital want to test him with penicillin, in the next few weeks.

So my question is would you attend an appointment in a high risk area or would you try and defer the appointment?

The nurse said it's very safe and people haven't got it there! But you can't guarantee this.

I know he needs it doing but will it be worth the risk right now.

Most 'routine' appointments have been cancelled. I wouldn't consider an allergy test for a child that has gone into anaphylactic shock 'routine' - it's vital and potentially lifesaving.
Follow social distancing, hand sanitising etc and you will be fine. A friend is mine was referred to hospital for test in a potential emergency situation and the test centre was empty - probably safer than a supermarket

(Tho I realise you don't go to supermarkets - was just making the point)

I would go. I am currently working in my local hospital. It’s very quiet, excellent control measures in place and I feel more ‘at risk’ in the supermarket than I do there.
This is coming from someone who was absolutely petrified of covid a few weeks back.

Yes of course. Now good time to go. My sister been waiting for op for long time, suddenly got called last week for op this week. All done, very well looked after she said was v quiet there, room to herself etc.

If the appointment is going ahead, your child's consultant will have decided that it is necessary. An awful lot of work has gone on in hospitals to cancel clinics and to hold them remotely where possible. They will have looked at your child's record individually and decided to go ahead. Please phone the number on your hospital letter to discuss your concerns with them if you feel you need to.

I'd definitely take my child for that. It's probably a great time to go given it will be quiet and loads of protection. And it's really important to find this out.

I would go. Your child needs these tests doing.
I understand why you are worried but like others say the hospitals are very quiet and running smoothly.
If it makes you feel better in the last 10days I have had to take my dc to the GP, walk in centre, a&e and then a 4 day stay in hospital. Each time very few people and felt very safe.

P.s my dc has a penicillin allergy and it was awful seeing the first time

Yes go. If they’ve invited you now it’s because it’s important. Please go.

Thanks all, we have been in a 'bubble' for so long, it's hard to think rationally sometimes

Penicillin would be worth knowing about. I do understand though, it's a bloody scary time to enter somewhere with your child taking onboard potential risk. I'm not sure what I would do in your situation, I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide.

I would regard that as an urgent appointment - they need to work out what caused anaphylaxis, because until they do, it could be anything. You can't protect him unless you know what you're protecting him from.

No I wouldn't. DD13 has an appointment with her cardiologist on Friday and it will be done by phone. They said the risk of attending hospital right now is too great.

Yes, it sounds important.

Hospitals will be one of the safest places.

One of my dcs has a penicillin allergy. He was ill the first and only time he took it. Good to have it tested in a controlled way.

Yessssas! Of course

We have been in a bubble too as dh is vulnerable but I was so reassured by the efficiency of all the staff and how empty everywhere was.

Also, they were giving out face masks to anyone who didn’t have them, as soon as they came through the door.

Use hand gel regularly whilst there, don’t touch your faces and have a shower and wash your clothes as soon as you get home.

I am in and out of hospital a lot currently due to cancer treatment (and this has been across three large hospitals). I haven't at any time felt compromised or scared. They are very quiet, Covid areas are entirely separate, staff are separate, I haven't seen anybody without PPE. I really don't have much choice currently but even if I did, I wouldn't be remotely concerned.

I should add that anything my Oncology team have felt could be done over the phone, then it has been. However, if they have asked to see you, then you need to go.

Yes. Hospitals are generally a lot quiet at the minute. Go now before things start to get busier with the lockdown been eased.

My son had a routine op last week. We were in an area away from high risk patients and there was provided PPE and procedures in place to minimise risk. I felt we were in safe hands and if went smoothly.

I’m a doctor. Absolutely not. There are NO ‘green’ zones or clean zones in a hospital as you have no
idea which staff or ‘well’ patients are carriers are not aware of symptoms yes.
Why take a child into an area with lots of people. Hospitals are getting rapidly busier.

I’d ask if the appointment could wait and discuss if face to face is required. You may he offered a telephone or video conference .

olympics amazing how many MN HCP want to keep people out of hospital. How else will this test be done? If OP child developed any kind of infection, wouldn’t it be handy to know if a penicillin based antibiotic could be given?

@olympicsrock if you're a doctor, how can you suggest they ask if they can wait for an appointment re a potentially fatal allergy? And how on earth can they do that over the phone???

I wouldn't, not for that.
It can be done in 6m or whenever. There is no urgency for that type of test, just don't give penicillin in the meantime!

It’s best to go now. So many appointments are being cancelled and they won’t be able to keep on top. The virus isn’t going anywhere at the moment. Just go to your appointment.