Will I be allowed to bring someone to my hospital appointment?

[Uhtredwaere]

I was urgently referred to a gynaecologist following an ultrasound and elevated CA125 Blood test. I'm really scared.

My appointment is in a week and a half and I can't bear the thought of receiving bad news without my DH there, but he won't be allowed will he?

I think it’s unlikely. My DD is only 15, and she had to go to her recent outpatient appointment unaccompanied.

Nothing like your appointment but I have a hospital appointment on Monday I'm allowed a family member/of household with me so your husband should be able to go with you,

Ah 2 separate answers you probably should contact the department and ask, have you had a letter?

I have a letter and it doesn't mention it at all. I can ring the number and ask though, I just thought I'd ask on here first. If not he's going to sit in the car outside.

Phoning is going to put your mind at ease what if you were desperately I'll and couldn't manage on your own?

I'm surprised your letter doesn't say. However DH had a procedure involving sedation last week, and wasn't allowed someone with him. He was also given the results immediately (fine in his case, but could be very bad news for others), again without a family member permitted to be present. He wasn't allowed to leave on his own though (due to the sedation), he was handed over at the door.

It may depend on the Trust. I went with my mum (big London hospital) to an appointment last week.

I was quite surprised that she wasn’t allowed a chaperone (especially as she isn’t old enough to consent to treatment). Perhaps it’s because her appointment was with the maxillofacial and orthodontic clinic - which may be seen as especially high risk (It must be impossible to avoid airborne saliva). She wasn’t nearly as bothered by the restrictions as I was - fortunately she knows her way around the hospital having been going to regular appointments for the past 5 years.

This is such a difficult one isn't it??

I work in a hospital and currently nobody is allowed anyone with them unless they require a carer/ translator or are in active labour and therefore can have a birthing partner so I'd say unlikely but each NHS tryst has its own policy

Moving forward our trust will be limiting the number of people/ footfall so if people are coming the rules are likely to stay the same to reduce the numbers of people coming in for infection control.

EG Lockdown Leicester would take a different view to somewhere very rural with very few cases.

Phone them up and ask them tho

Sending big hugs, not a nice thought but hopefully they will say yes to you xx

@oubliette I'm pretty sure 15 is old enough to consent to treatment

Not at my hospital. They have guards on the entrances

@CorianderLord - she had to bring the paperwork out to the car so that we could sign it and then head back in for the appointment.

Haematology and oncology outpatients are currently patient-only here, because it's such a highly vulnerable group of people.

They've moved as many patients as possible to telephone appointments, to reduce that have to go in at all.

We had to go to A&E recently, and only the patient went in to the clinical area, but anyone accompanying them could wait just outside.

You need to find out what is happening in your specific hospital. They may have some other arrangement, depending on their layout. But restrictions are because of the need to keep safe the exceptionally vulnerable people who have to attend.

So start working out what you need to help you cope alone. DH can wait outside as close as allowed.

And

As said before, phone and you know where you stand

My 18 year old had to be admitted for emergency surgery recently though. She had to walk into the hospital with her bag in considerable pain. It's wasn't ideal, but I'm grateful she was operated on that day during such a hard time for staff.

If he’s not allowed in perhaps he can wait in the car.

Is it for initial appointment, or diagnostic tests? You could ring up and ask whether it’s likely you’ll get test results/a diagnosis at the appointment.

Our hospital is not allowing any non-patients in, with the exceptions of 1 parent accompanying children and 1 birth partner for women in labour.

I guess you'd need to check your own hospital rules.

Thinking of you OP. I was diagnosed with womb cancer at the end of May and I wasn't allowed to take my DH in with me. I didn't know beforehand what they'd called me in for either.

When I had my diagnosis there was a specialist cancer nurse in the room too who was absolutely amazing as I was very tearful. She was there to support me with information and advice. It wasn't the same as having someone you love with you, but she managed to calm me down, and gave me the information and reassurance I needed.

I ended up having a hysterectomy at the beginning of June and at every hospital appointment I didn't have anyone with me, but I was treated with care and kindness which made such a difference.

Thinking of you OP.

I had an xray this week and was told not to bring anyone else when I booked the appointment unless absolutely necessary eg a carer. It's probably worth calling to check your own hospital's rules.