Can you travel from a place in lockdown?

[fedup2345]

My gran is moving into a care home in 3 weeks . She’s very elderly with Alzheimer’s .

I live 20 miles north of Aberdeen . We aren’t restricted but told not to travel into Aberdeen unless essential .

I don’t drive, and to get to my gran’s in Dundee I’d need to get the bus from Aberdeen . Haven’t got anyone who’d be willing to drive me down to Dundee !

I’m guessing that isn’t allowed at all - to travel from Aberdeen for non essential reasons even if it’s just to stop over for 10 minutes either side? She isn’t dying as such but she hasn’t got much longer left . Not likely I’ll be able to see her at all once she’s in a care home sadly .

Would you just go for it? I’ve got four weeks before she goes into a nursing home, so I suppose a lot could change ...

Urgh this is a rock and hard place one. Whilst I would do it.... I would be concerned about the remote chance of giving her covid.... Unless its going yo be a distanced meet?

And I don't know why but I'd feel safer to travel via train. Have you looked at that?

A taxi would seem best to me.

It wouldn’t be distanced no - would be in her house . She wouldn’t understand social distancing sadly . Have talked to my uncles about that and they’ve said they’re not concerned about that at all - said quality of life vs quantity . She’s 90, she’s had a very good life and we don’t want her to die alone (but safe from covid), think they’d rather take the risk and her be happy/surrounded by family .

Once she gets to care home they won’t be allowing visitors, so they said to get as many family to see her and say goodbye now rather than later regret it .

Ignore my comment - I didnt read the OP carefully.

The last thing you'd want is for her to potentially take Covid 19 into a care home, which is what could happen if you visited.

Wait and see what NS says tomorrow - I’m in Aberdeen and the daily cases are declining. My hunch is that she will only extend the local lockdown until the beginning of September, which would give you two weeks after that to play with.

Is there a bus round the awpr to stonehaven if you could connect to it? Maybe the airport bus? You could get the train or bus there instead of going into Aberdeen. Shire folk aren't supposed to go into the city except for essential travel, which is supposed to be work and hospital. Easier said than done when almost all north south transport goes through the centre.

She’s isolating strictly for two weeks prior to admission, and then on total room isolation for two weeks once arrived at care home - they know we’re trying to get to visit her/have encouraged us to do so .

Yes I would go. From your second post this might be your last chance to say goodbye.

I totally get your uncles POV and that would be me so I would go. Essential travel is scewed but I'd take my chances of a fine regardless.

You should do it. You will only regret it if you don’t. Sounds like they are hot on minimising risk at the care home.

I’m going to - I’ve booked a bus for 1st September but spoken to taxi company and told they would charge £300 for door to door and one hour waiting whilst in Dundee . I’m fairly convinced I’d be better off doing the taxi . I think it is the case that I wont see her again after this, yes .

£300....i'd do it for £100 as long as it covered my fuel!!

You will be fine rules wise by 1st September; don’t think you would have any problems connecting buses in Aberdeen now.
Bear in mind if there was an issue, the buses would not be running out of the city.
I am sorry this is happening now under these restrictive circumstances. Hope you are able to enjoy that visit.

Taxi round the bypass to stonehaven, then the X7 to Dundee? There used to be a 747 (I think) that went kingswells to stonehaven, where you could connect with the X7, but I don't know if it's currently running.

From what you've said in your OP I don't see why you can't get a bus into Aberdeen to change buses and come straight out again , assuming you are in a mask and gelling your hands etc
The home will test and isolate her on arrival and the chance of you catching and passing virus on to her is minimal unless other areas of your life are high risk

How much longer will it take you to go around via Inverness? It might be an hour or two more each way, but means no need to worry about the Aberdeen change.

Depending on bus timings and exactly where you are, it might be quick without being extortionate to get a taxi to Elgin / Inverness and then take trains around to Dundee.

@fedup2345

I’m going to - I’ve booked a bus for 1st September but spoken to taxi company and told they would charge £300 for door to door and one hour waiting whilst in Dundee . I’m fairly convinced I’d be better off doing the taxi . I think it is the case that I wont see her again after this, yes .

This is ridiculous and nowhere close to the going rate for a taxi from Aberdeen to Dundee even with the extra 20 miles added in.

I would get the bus tbh as you are allowed to travel if you are helping someone vulnerable and nobody is policing the buses anyway

If you do go for a taxi call around for a better price. £300 is absolute extortion.

Oh my sorry I misread the Taxi part. Ignore me I didn't pick up on the wait and return aspect. In that case the fare is slightly more reasonable, although they should really only charge half the standard fare for your return portion, but you still might get it cheaper. A lot of 'out of town' fares off meter are open to mispricing by greedy operators. Definitely ring around.