Argh, feel like crying

[elliejjtiny]

Sorry for first world problem, I know other people have had it worse. I don't need answers or anything, just need to get this off my chest. Ds aged 7 has glue ear and has his 2nd set of grommets in the process of falling out. Last June his hearing started to get worse so I phoned audiology to get an appointment. Massive delays due to covid so he was eventually seen in December. His hearing had got worse but not bad enough for them to do anything. I explained that because of his learning difficulties he was already struggling at school and he really needs to be able to hear properly. Audiologist said there is nothing can be done so she will repeat the hearing test in 3 months.

It has now been 4 months and his hearing test is booked for tuesday next week. We have just got an email from school to say his bubble has burst and he has to self isolate. I'm so frustrated. He has been struggling for so long and I really thought he was close to getting help. We had to wait over a year between his first grommets falling out and the second set going in. He then got 6 months of being able to hear properly and now it's been 10 months of not being able to hear again.

It's not a first world problem. It's a problem that should have been dealt with. This is really, really shit. Kids have been utterly shafted, in so many ways. Sorry OP.

I know I'll be shouted down for this, but book DS a test (say he has symptoms). If it comes back negative, just take him to the appointment. His hearing is frankly more important and all the (adult) vulnerable have been offered a vaccine.

I would also get a test booked quickly in the hope it comes back negative before Tuesday.

Call the hospital, explain the difficulties he's having and discuss it with them. They won't make him wait months longer.

Please don't take in a child who might be infected, you don't know who else he could infect and a PCR is no good if he's still in the incubation period. If audiology decided to see him on Tuesday anyway (fairly unlikely) then they would set up to do it in a covid secure way so that he can't come into contact with anyone else. More likely they'll squeeze him in right at the end of his isolation period so just one more week.

Has the bubble burst with a positive test or symptoms?

Someone who has been advised to self-isolate due to being contact traced is allowed to leave home to attend medical appointments, including audiology.

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made

(b)P may not leave the place specified in sub-paragraph (a) except where necessary—
(i)to seek medical assistance, where this is required urgently or on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, including to access—
(aa)services from dentists, opticians, audiologists, chiropodists, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health practitioners, or
(bb)services relating to mental health

Please don't book the test 😣. Unless it's done exceptionally close (within an hour) of the appointment time, it's not reliable.
Between getting the test and going to the appointment, he might start to become infectious if he's caught it from his classmate (there's an incubation period from exposure to when you start shedding the virus of a few days) and you'd be putting the staff and other patients at risk!

By Tuesday next week do you mean 13th? Surely he will be out of isolation by then

But it's Tuesday next week his appointment. He only needs to self isolate for ten days, so he will be ok by then

Thankyou everyone. It's a positive test in his class and the appointment is on Tuesday 6th. I'll talk to the hospital and see what they say, hopefully we won't have to wait months for a new appointment.

When is the SI supposed to finish? (I'm not presuming when they broke u as it does differ)

@MooseBreath

I know I'll be shouted down for this, but book DS a test (say he has symptoms). If it comes back negative, just take him to the appointment. His hearing is frankly more important and all the (adult) vulnerable have been offered a vaccine.

Yep I would do this too.

I've just checked the appointment letter and it said to cancel if you are isolating because you have been in contact with a positive case.

I've just checked the appointment letter and it said to cancel if you are isolating because you have been in contact with a positive case.

Hope you're able to get another appointment soon.

My daughter has had years of painful ears . I'm another who would be tempted for an immediate test today, plenty available

@ProfessorInkling

Has the bubble burst with a positive test or symptoms?

School bubbles only close for a positive case here.

@MooseBreath

I know I'll be shouted down for this, but book DS a test (say he has symptoms). If it comes back negative, just take him to the appointment. His hearing is frankly more important and all the (adult) vulnerable have been offered a vaccine.

^This

No nhs doctor or hospital has fitted in any of our appointments missed due to isolation. In fact I got threatened by the orthodontist that if we missed another appointment and he went higher than the eligible age of nhs help, we’d be taken off the list! That’s the last time I “do the right thing” and get punished for it.

That's awful @Lemons1571. We shouldn't be punished for trying to do the right thing.

Appointment has now been rebooked for the middle of May so just over a month to wait.