Hospital visiting

[Paper7i]

I am completely desperate to visit my adult child in the hospital. He was in a coma in November of last year and is starting to come round. I have not seen him since March. It's torture for me to not be able to see him. Does anyone know when hospitals will be likely open to visit patients? I have begged to see him but they say the hospital is closed to visitors. He actually got COVID on the ward and shook it off. I just need to see him.

Anyone?

Sorry to hear about your son. I dont think anyone knows when hospitals will open. Now that he is coming round will he be able to have help with a video call.

Can you speak to PALs about it? They may be able to discuss it with the ward manager.

I have video called. I realise I can do that, My issue is I want and need to be with him, Pals will not help either as the whole hospital is on lockdown. I have already thought of those ideas myself. So I am a bit irritated by the answers given here You cannot imagine how desperate .I am to see him.

My question is does anyone know when hospital restrictions are likely to be lifted please? just that.

I work in a hospital in the UK and as yet there are no plans to lift the restrictions on visiting.
This is due to obvious reasons mixing households unable to maintain social distancing.
I am sorry for you but right now the video call is the best that can be offered. I hope your son continues to improve and can be discharged home soon.

The short answer is no.

No-one knows when hospital restrictions are likely to be lifted.

Only the top team at NHS England, who determined and issued the non-visiting guidelines to hospitals, will know what circumstances are required for the easing of visiting restrictions. Even they will not be speculating on when those circumstances will be met so I think it highly improbable that anyone on the MN forum will have any idea.

www.matt-hancock.com/contact-matt

I have already thought of those ideas myself. So I am a bit irritated by the answers given here You cannot imagine how desperate .I am to see him.

People are just trying to help. You didn't mention you had video called or spoken to PALS in your op and sometimes when people are desperate they can forget things that seem obvious to other people.
I'm almost afraid to suggest anything now incase you bite my head off but could you suggest that seeing you would be part of his recovery?
No one here will know when hospitals will allow visitors.

At a guess I'd say that the rate of infection is highest in hospitals and care homes so these will likely be the last places to allow visitors.
They might be able to make some exceptions though if it aids a patients recovery so look into that. If you can make a case for it then that may help you.

Hospitals are able to make exceptions. In ours, no visitors are allowed but it says on a sign that exceptions can be made. I don’t know who you need to contact though, sorry.

That must be so tough OP I hope you can be re united soon with your DS.

Yeah, I thought they made exceptions in very extenuating circumstances, which is why I said for OP to speak to PALs but she already has. In OPs position, I'd raise it with hospital management highlighting my own mental health needs.

Anothernamechangeagain, visits are allowed in care homes in very exceptional circumstances: end of life, and mental wellbeing of resident as examples. Needs mgmt approval and risk assessment.

OP please know that I'm in the exact same boat as you. Could have actually written that post myself word for word.
Your son remains vulnerable to infection so they can't let visitors in during this CV crisis. That's for his own sake and that of the other patients and the staff looking after him. Video calling, telephone calls, cards letters and parcels are the only way for now. Very very hard emotionally but visiting will start again but we just have to be patient.

Big hugs to you and your son x
Ps fantastic news he's starting to come out of the coma. We're a wee bit past that stage but still very difficult x

@Hillowcrew

Thank you your situation makes me feel less alone (although I wouldn't wish this on anyone).The ward will not allow parcels or cards or anything to be posted at the present. You are right in that we just need to be patient, but the strain feels intolerable at times. I am a complete emotional wreck most of the time. If you hear that you might be allowed to visit before I can please can you let me know and I will do the same too if I can get any further information from the hospital .

Of course I will and thank you so much for offering to do the same, thats very kind of you x

Having a full-on major panic attack