DS needs to go into children’s hospital, should I keep him off school?

[Whatdoido214]

Hi all

Don’t want to give too many details but my 6 year old needs to go into a children’s hospital in 2 weeks time for a procedure, he will be put to sleep for 10 minutes.
It is something he has been waiting for, for a few months now, and the problem whilst in no means is life threatening, has been causing him pain so he needs it sorting. He has managed to be put in quickly due to a cancellation.
Myself and DS will have to have a covid test 3 days before to check we haven’t got coronavirus so the procedure can go ahead.
Child’s class has already had to isolate before because of a positive case and we are in a high risk area.
Should I keep him off school for the next 2 weeks/ ask the school to send work home? The thought of his procedure being delayed is crushing, & he will likely have to wait months or until a cancellation again.

Any advice?

I recently had major surgery. The protocol was isolate for 14 days prior ONLY IF you are vulnerable, otherwise from the Covid test, which is 3 days prior. Then 7 days after. I couldn’t have isolated for the 2 weeks anyway as it wasn’t booked that far ahead.

Tbh with your ds I wouldn’t for such a small and low risk procedure if the cases are low in your area. Bear in mind whatever you do for your ds you will have to do as a whole household.

If you can do it you might as well

Call the hospital. It's normal practice to isolate before surgery. You too

Call the dept and check OP, the rules are changing imminently in our hospital dept to a 2week isolation period ahead of GA.

Presumably if his covid test is positive they will cancel the operation?

I wouldn’t risk sending him to school, it’s spreading like wildfire and most kids don’t show symptoms.

We visit a children's hospital and they are no longer requesting the two week isolation prior to procedures for various reasons but do test prior to admission.

I think you would need to assess the risk at school and go from there.

I'd go with the surgeon's advice. That's what I'd do, especially in a high risk area. If there is the opportunity to get a procedure done in the next couple of weeks, seize your chance! and good luck with it!

Most hospitals for a minor procedure are doing tbe swab 3 days before and then isolate for 72hrs. Im assuming as its only 2 1/2 weeks away they dont require 2 weeks official isolation

However tbh as hes only 6 I would keep him off for at least a week maybe 2 before as I wouldnt want the op to be cancelled due to a positive covid test.

I would want to keep him home too.
Tell the school and hopefully they will be ok with it as you are in a high risk area.

I'm not usually one for keeping kids away from school but I would do if I were you. I wouldn't like to see it delayed , especially if this second spike is going to get worse -- if you ended up not able to go and the nhs started limiting stuff you may find it gets pushed back again....

Can you speak to your teacher and ask for some work - I can't imagine that they wouldn't be understanding to the situation - I teach primary and I would certainly be willing to provide all the school work I was doing in class for your son so he could have his procedure