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Original poster

Can we collect my dad from the hospital if we are self isolating?

33 replies

MissionaryMumtoOne · 13/02/2021 23:48

Hi all, I have a question regarding self isolating, I have tried to google this answer but can’t find anything -

I currently live with parents and my little boy. My father has covid so we have been self isolating as a household, but the rest of us don’t have symptoms.

Sadly my dad was taken into hospital earlier today because of his symptoms but he may be discharged soon, they are just awaiting one more test result. He is there in his own obviously.

If he is discharged tonight, my question is, can either me or my mother go and collect him from the hospital as we are self isolating? He won’t be able to get a taxi (and he is way too unwell for this) and technically if we were to ask my other sister or her husband to collect him, this would be a mixing of a household and they would then be in close proximity with my dad who is covid positive (and they work in people facing jobs), so how do we legally get my dad home from the hospital if he is discharged?
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
mnaab · 13/02/2021 23:53

hmmmm I think technically no but I can't see any other way without exposing more people

SaveMySkin · 13/02/2021 23:55

does the hospital have a process for discharging positive people?

Original poster
MissionaryMumtoOne · 13/02/2021 23:56

Exactly - this is why we are worried - there is nothing online I can find to make sense of it - whatever we do either me or my mum go to collect him, either we cal a taxi for him or whether my other sister from a different household collects him, we will be breaking the rules. Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
MissionaryMumtoOne · 13/02/2021 23:57

@SaveMySkin no, they just said that he may be discharged after the final result comes back and then did not give anything else

OP posts:
gettingfedupagain · 14/02/2021 00:06

Would a taxi take him knowing that yes covid positive? It seems unfair to not disclose this to the taxi driver

FossilisedFanny · 14/02/2021 00:08

Personally, I would mask up and go and collect him, keep him wrapped up and open all the car windows.

FidgetArse · 14/02/2021 00:09

Im sure, you or your mum is the easiest and safest way.
Do not get out the car, do not go into the hospital

FidgetArse · 14/02/2021 00:09

Do not let him go in a taxi.
He will be putting the driver at risk and anyone who goes in the taxi after that

Honeybobbin · 14/02/2021 00:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaveMySkin · 14/02/2021 00:12

I would go and not leave the car. I think that is the way with the least risk to everyone

dane8 · 14/02/2021 00:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Porcupineintherough · 14/02/2021 00:16

I'd ask for hospital transport, given that he is still sick. Otherwise I dont see how it would work. Yes you could drive to the hospital but then what? How would they know you've arrived? How would he find you?

SilverBirchWithout · 14/02/2021 00:26

The hospital will discuss this with your father when arranging the discharge - they will have encountered this scenario many times before. In the meantime contact the hospital to find out how the discharge of infected patients is organised.

Lotsalotsagiggles · 14/02/2021 00:32

Again if use taxi would be putting taci driver at risk

And if he's coming to stay with you, you'll be mixing anyway

I would mask up etc and go straight there abs back and ask nurse to bring him to door

AntiHop · 14/02/2021 00:34

You picking him up is better than a taxi. But don't leave your car.

converseandjeans · 14/02/2021 00:38

I hope he's OK. I guess technically you're not supposed to go out but it does seem silly for him to get a taxi and potentially pass covid on to someone outside his household.

The town near me are doing drop in testing now if you want one. So could you maybe find something like that and all get a test done?

You must be worried about him. But as poster above said the hospital will know what best to advise.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 14/02/2021 00:41

I would ring the hospital & ask what their procedure is.

You shouldn't be leaving the house really, but it does seem like the best option. It's a bit worrying that this must be happening up & down the country

Masks, windows open. (Take a blanket for him). & stay safe when you get him home.

alexdgr8 · 14/02/2021 00:50

if he was taken to hosp by ambulance, then they have to return him with hosp transport.
if he was not, then you need to ring the ward to discuss.
good luck.

Original poster
MissionaryMumtoOne · 14/02/2021 00:50

Thank you all for responses, I will ask about the discharge procedure when we call them - they said to call back in the next couple hours and that was about 11pm so we will be calling soon. They said he would not be able to take ambulance home.

Just to clarify we definitely weren’t planning on putting him in the taxi - we were just wondering how we could collect him when we are self isolating and my other sister is a different household, so we’re just thinking through the options.

If either me or my mum collects we will not leave the cat but my dad may need someone to help him walk out and find the car - the drop off and collection points are really far from the entrance because of ambulance bays. Oh gosh what a nightmare

OP posts:
Original poster
MissionaryMumtoOne · 14/02/2021 00:51

@alexdgr8 he was taken by ambulance but they have said there is no hospital transport to bring him home

OP posts:
FossilisedFanny · 14/02/2021 00:58

If he’s coming home to stay with you and there’s no hospital transport available, then I would say the best thing is for you to collect him .

Original poster
MissionaryMumtoOne · 14/02/2021 01:05

We live together - my son and I live with my parents

OP posts:
SilverBirchWithout · 14/02/2021 01:11

Double mask if you can, hand sanitizer, be as quick as possible. DF will be in Covid/red zone and they will have facilities do discharge through the zone. Be clear where you are going, and interact with others as little as possible. Hopefully at this time of night parking will be easier.

SilverBirchWithout · 14/02/2021 01:13

Good luck, it’s good news that DF is well enough to be discharged so soon.

OpheliasCrayon · 14/02/2021 06:26

I see absolutely no problems if you don't get out the car. Hopefully someone from the ward can bring him down. You're going nowhere other than your own home and your own vehicle and if he is going to be living with you then obviously it makes no difference.
I'm sure this will have been encountered many times before.