Would you go to a hospital appointment in tier 3?

[elliejjtiny]

We live in tier 2, hospital (not our local one) is in tier 3. Dc (aged 7) and I are both CV. I am also an unpaid carer so really can't afford to be ill. Hospital appointment is for dc. Appointment is with genetics to give us the results of tests he had 6 years ago. So could be life changing or could be nothing. I've asked for the appointment to be on zoom or telephone but been told no. They normally do clinics in our local hospital but can't at the moment due to covid. So we have a choice of going to a tier 3 area or waiting for about a year for an appointment at our local hospital. Appointment is next week and I don't know what to do.

I would go. Some things are more important than covid and the tiers are all nonsense anyway.

Did they say why it can't be done remotely? That seems to have been the only way to see most doctors here for months, unless they really need to see you, so I'd be wondering why that was.

Yes as hospitals are set up to separate covid patients from other patients and if it is life changing to your child yes without a doubt, they won’t have called you in unless they thought it was important.

Go to the appointment. If it wasn't needed it would have been cancelled by the hospital

Yes if they want to see you I would go. They are taking all precautions I work in a hospital. It is obviously important for your child.

Hospitals are probably safer than anywhere else. Safer than travel in public transport, safer than shops etc.
The clinics are set up away from wards and there’s plenty of hand gel about.

Yes I would go, they obviously feel it’s necessary for DC to be seen.

At my trust everyone is in masks and staff in PPE, everything is cleaned endlessly, our waiting room is WELL ventilated ( wrap up warm!)
Patients are asked to attend alone unless carer needs to be present or one parent only and wait in the car/outside until appointment time.

Thankyou. @BecomeStronger they said they couldn't do it remotely because it's been 6 years since his last appointment with them.

I'd go. Hospital will be as safe as it can be. If you cancel who knows when you'll get another appointment.

Yes, I've had a couple of appts. Everything is wiped down to within an inch of its life to begin with.

Unlike usually, when going to an appt seems to be a family day out with some people, waiting is lovely and peaceful.

Yes definitely without a shadow of a doubt.

I've been in hospital with DS 6 times over the past 10 days, they're v v safe, clean and wouldn't have you in there if not necessary

I echo all of the PPs above OP.
Just to add, I work in a hospital and I'm also attending as a patient (pregnant).
As a staff member I have to have my temperature checked every day when I arrive at work. The same is done every appointment regardless of the fact I had it done as staff.
Everyone is working very hard to keep patients and colleagues safe.

Good luck. I hope the results are good news.

I would go. But, I don't think it is right to assume all hospitals are safe or clean. I regularly attend hospital at the moment and it is very obviously neither of those things.

Go.
CEV DH has been to 2 hospital appointments, due a third shortly. Lots of distancing, time between patients appointments & Covid areas are very separate. It’s probably a higher risk going to a shop.

I'd go otherwise you might have to wait ages for another one.

Thankyou everyone. @Honeybobbin the reason why we have waited 6 years for results is because it's a research study. We were initially told 6 months to 2 years for results but that's been extended a few times.

I think we should go but the cynical part of me remembers the few appointments we had with the neurosurgeons pre covid where dh took time off work, I organised care for our other dc, we travelled 90 minutes for an appointment with a registrar who was on call at the same time and spent most of the appointment on the phone. We went in expecting a plan, a decision about surgery and answers and came out wondering why we had bothered to go. We ended up going back to just seeing ds's local paediatrician who is less experienced in neurosurgery but genuinely cares about ds and we trust her. She keeps the neurosurgeons at the big hospital updated but we don't see them anymore unless there is a problem the paediatrician can't deal with.

I had a hospital scan in the summer and felt safe, my dh also had to go for something and was ok. However a family member caught covid in hospital this week after being admitted for something else.

Thankyou @AethelsWhiteGoose hope your family member is recovering now.

Go. I will be tier 3 and would go. Major hospital but it is all fine. I had a mammogram a few weeks back. (Though that hospital will be in Tier 2).

MIL has been having weekly hospital appointments.

I had a baby in September. We have never been out of lockdown in this area and will be back in tier 3 on Thursday.
I had the routine scans and then clinics, growth scans, consultants every 4 weeks (2 hours sitting in busy waiting rooms). I then had a c section and a stay on a post natal ward. I didnt catch covid.

Thankyou everyone. I have decided we are going. I phoned and asked if we could have the appointment on zoom or over the phone and the Drs secretary said no, it had to be in person. We will be going straight there and back though, no stopping for lunch out and a browse round Ikea and toys r us like we would have done pre covid.

Im in tier 3 and it's not that scary, I know about 3 people who are in Tier 3 that have has covid. I'd absolutely go.

I work in a hospital. This sounds important, I am glad you are going but you are absolutely right that you shouldn't go round the shops. However the appointment itself is important and I am sure there will be a good reason for them wanting to do it in person. Good luck