Do you have a Coronavirus Hospital go-bag?

[Merryoldgoat]

My son was hospitalised unexpectedly last year - all fine now, but at the time we were woefully unprepared for the stuff we’d need in hospital etc.

We’ve been thinking that we should have ready hospital bags Just in case. Do you have one? What should go in it?

When in hospital do you have to wear a gown? Or your own stuff? Obviously no visitors so books etc (assuming one isn’t ventilated)?

I’m anxious as I have a few underlying risk factors so being properly prepared would be help me stay calm. Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks.

One can assume that no one is going to be unexpectedly blue lighted to hospital with Covid. Mainly because you will have already have Covid and been unwell for some.days.

If you are in hospital with covid you won't need anything, they won't want things potentially contaminating the hospital!

Try not to worry OP. If it helps, I recently had a hospital stay and only had my phone as I'd gone by ambulance alone. My husband was allowed to drop a bag off for me and when I needed other items the staff were happy to pop down to get them, obviously not asking every day though.
The food was plentiful and good. I had chocolates put into my bag but I didn't feel like snacking between meals and slept a lot too.
Books were allowed and gowns and towels provided if you needed them. They even gave me a face mask and ear plugs.
My one tip would be an extra long lead for your phone charger as the plugs are usually behind the bed and don't reach far, phone kept unplugging from charger which was annoying as it was so important with no visitors!

@QueenOfToast

I volunteer at my local hospital. If I had to be admitted I would prioritise what to take in the following order:

Phone and charger - this is THE most important - if you can contact the outside world, and have some form of entertainment, your stay will be much easier.
Headphones
Books
iPad
Moisturiser
Underwear
PJs
Slippers
Socks

In our trust hospital gowns and PJs are provided if you need them.

There are also biscuits, fruit and hot and cold drinks available all the time on all the wards.

Your relatives/friends can bring anything you need to reception and volunteers will bring them up to the ward. Large fluffy dressing gowns are discouraged, but most other stuff seems to be OK.

Children (and some people with learning disabilities) are allowed to have a parent/guardian visiting or staying with them in the hospital.

Thank you very much for this - this is very helpful.

I mean eye mask not face mask! Although face masks were obviously readily available too. Didn't have to wear one on admission to the ward once I'd tested negative.

Seriously, OP?

(Thanks for the laugh though)

I’m someone who averages 4 hospital admissions per year. I don’t get those who think they need books and notebooks. Generally, you’re too unwell during emergency admissions for this. It’s just not a priority. Hospital has most things you need including towels, soap and gowns etc. I get why you’d be desperate for your phone and charger.

If you’re not usually at risk of serious illness and/or extremely clinically vulnerable, I think it’s overkill but if it makes you feel better, go for it.

I always wear a hospital gown and slippers round the house, just in case.

I always wear a hospital gown and slippers round the house, just in case.

I have always got a hospital bag ready. Nothing to do with CV, but health conditions. I've lost count of the number of times I've woken up well and admitted the same day.

I have spare charger for phone and tablet.
I get my meds every 3 months, and so I keep a months in there.
Pj's especially bottoms
Toiletries
Underwear
Loose change
Spare headphones
Earplugs
Water bottle (I cannot always hold a cup steady enough)
Did also use to take pads and tampax
Boiled sweets
Chewing gum/mints

I've been admitted since March and was able to take my bag with me.

It is particularly helpful with kids (especially when your kids have medical needs/special needs) - being able to have familiar stuff, having a feeling of control, being able to focus, and not be thinking, 'oh shit I haven't got any sanitary towels/contact lens fluid etc.'!
If your child does have sn, having a simple hospital passport is also a really good idea (some hospitals have them, and you can Google various templates)

With Pj's you have to request them and of course priority goes to the men.
Females usually have two choices - the tied ones we all hate, or an actual dress type with a split that isn't as revealing.
They all usually have the grip slipper socks
Towels are also provided on a daily basis.
In the bathrooms there's usually some shower products and shampoo.
As an emergency there's also toothbrushes, toothpaste and sanpro.

Some wards also have "welcome packs" and inside hospital info, notebook and pen, sleep mask, slipper socks and ear plugs.

REalistically the only thing you need is a change of underwear, change of clothes to go home in, your chargers, bank card/loose change. But the more we take in things like toiletries and sleepwear, more is available to patients without visitors.

Way too over prepared. Unless you're already unwell you don't need a to go hospital bag. Saying that I do have a hold-all bad in the boot of my car which has a spare change of clothes, i'm honestly so clumsy and when i'm out with the dog tops and jeans quickly become filthy.

Yes. But nothing to do with covid.

Just ready, because iv had to go in suddenly afew times

2 x pjs
2 Knickers
2 x Socks
Slippers
Hair brush
Hair band
Deodrant
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Mini mouth wash
Mini shampoo
Mini conditioner
Mini body-wash
Wet Wipes
Sanitary towels
A weeks supply of medication
Phone charger
Paper and pen
Antibac gel
Slippers

Set of clean clothes for coming home

Ooooh
I forgot... also

Eye mask
Ear plugs
Change of about a tenner

Except for essential medication etc, I dont think you will be allowed to bring much to the hospital if you get Covid

Also headphones....

Iv added face masks to the bag since March and gloves and dettol wipes

If you google, most hospital websites have advice about what to put in a bag and bring if admitted. Age UK have a list, and suggest having a bag packed. We were advised to make sure we have a bag for ds and I.
...even if it is with Coronavirus.

No but I am packing to move home and tbh packing a hospital covid bag has not occurred to me to do at this point.

Thank you for the helpful comments. I can only assume that the snarky ones are from people who have never had unexpected hospital admissions.

I’m not madly anxious but we ARE in the middle of a global pandemic, it’s not outrageous to think I could catch it, and since I have two underlying conditions it’s not unreasonable to think being prepared for hospital might be sensible.

I haven’t used hyperbole, I‘ve not said I think I’m going to die, I’m not in a state. Just asking, on a forum ABOUT THE FUCKING ILLNESS, what I might need for hospital and whether anyone else has prepared.

I have been admitted to hospital with nothing but a handbag after going from feeling a bit iffy to extremely unwell in an hour.

My son has gone to bed fine and woken 2 hours later needing an ambulance with breathing difficulties.

Both of those happened in normal times when it’s easy to get childcare and have visitors, and it was completely painful trying to get everything sorted and to me at hospital.

This is a situation we CAN prepare for so I’m going to do that.

I don't have any bag ready, I am terribly disorganised at the best of times and lucky to find half the things I need when I am at home. But this thread has really made me determined to get a small hospital bag ready, not particularly for covid but for other risks too. I have a chronic condition and have had traumatic emergency admission before. DP had to go and buy me some things but it was stress he didn't need at the time, and since my stuff is not well organised at home it would be hard to find the right things, clothes that fit etc. Of course we all hope it's an abundance of caution and won't be needed, but if you've had emergency admission before you know why it could be helpful. Having your stuff is hardly the most important thing in a crisis, but why not?

@Merryoldgoat come over to the preppers forum

I agree with most of the above especially phone and spare change.
Attending our local NHS frequently ( social worker visiting clients in
there) over the last 10 years I find the hygiene there very poor.
We take anti- bac wipes anyway to wipe surfaces such as loo seats, door handles,. lift buttons and handle rails in high traffic areas as a minimum.
Last time I was there examination cubicles covered in blood and left all day like that (before Covid)

Oh yes And masks and gloves!