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Original poster

Anyone know about isolating before surgery?

35 replies

Lemons1571 · 09/05/2021 17:33

Son has a covid test booked, then an operation scheduled three days later. Anyone know if he can go to school in the intervening days or does he have to isolate? Hospital secretary didn’t know.

The advice last year used to be isolate for 3 or 14 days depending on the op, but I can’t find any recent information on whether this has changed.

OP posts:
bumbleymummy · 09/05/2021 17:35

Dh had to isolate at home for 3 days after his test before going into hospital a few months ago. I’m not sure what the situation is right now though. It would make sense to be the same. There’s not much point in taking a test only to go out and contract covid in the interim!

percypig · 09/05/2021 17:36

I’m in NI, so it could be different, but have 1 pupil currently isolating for 10 days before an op, and another who isolated for 10 days before and 2 weeks after a member of her household had a major surgical procedure.

DIshedUp · 09/05/2021 17:37

He has to isolate of course. What would be the point in a covid swab and then going to school?

MingeOnFire · 09/05/2021 17:37

No he can't go to school. He needs to isolate between swab and procedure

Original poster
Lemons1571 · 09/05/2021 17:38

I wondered if maybe the timings made it unnecessary. If he gets a test on the Monday then contracts covid on the Tuesday, he wouldn’t be infectious by the time of the surgery on Thursday?

OP posts:
AvengersDisassemble · 09/05/2021 17:42

Hi. I am a hospital secretary and he needs to isolate fully so no school or contact with anyone outside of the household.

QueenOfPain · 09/05/2021 17:56

He can’t go to school in that time, otherwise it renders the whole pre testing completely pointless.

I had surgery in Jan, drove to the test site, got tested and then drove straight home to hunker down for three days until surgery day.

QueenOfPain · 09/05/2021 17:57

@Lemons1571 But if he ends up having to stop in longer he would become infectious during his stay on a clean surgical ward putting other patients at risk.

DinoMamasaurus · 09/05/2021 17:58

I’m currently isolating for an op on Wednesday. Had my covid swab today. Instructions were very clear whole household has to isolate for 3 days prior to the operation.

Original poster
Lemons1571 · 09/05/2021 18:09

Thanks everyone. No one from the hospital has told us anything about this! There is nothing written in the pre-op procedure they sent through, nor on the appointment letters. Can’t find anything up to date on their website, the leaflets are all 2020 and refer to 14 days isolation. So I had to come to mumsnet to find out 🤷🏼‍♀️ What on earth parents do if they “work out of the home” and don’t know this is a requirement, goodness knows!

OP posts:
Mimsytove · 09/05/2021 18:20

The whole house has to isolate after the covid test, or the patient has to totally self isolate alone in a bedroom with cleaning done before and after the use of bathrooms and kitchens. Easier to all isolate.

XenoBitch · 09/05/2021 18:25

My dad had an operation last week. He had a test a few days before but didn't have to isolate at all, neither did the rest of his household.
It seems it varies between areas though, so best to check to put your mind at rest.

WeatherwaxLives · 09/05/2021 18:27

I have to go to hospital every few weeks, going again on Monday. Every time I have the swab done I'm told my whole household has to isolate between the swab and the procedure. It never says that on the letter, which is a bit daft.

Gingerninja4 · 09/05/2021 18:29

My son has big op coming up and advised ideally to isolate for 14 days if can if not have to isolate from 4 days before when do covid swab

Since operation was delayed from January and is in pain as family we have decided to isolate for the 14 days cut any risks so online school

Schulte · 09/05/2021 18:32

DD2 is also booked in for surgery. She’s having a COVID test at the hospital on the Friday, then needs to self isolate over the weekend until her op on Monday morning.

hedgehogger1 · 09/05/2021 18:33

Variety of kids I teach where either they or a family member is having an operation have all had to fully isolate. It's not just the person having the op it's the whole household

Schulte · 09/05/2021 18:34

@AvengersDisassemble

Hi. I am a hospital secretary and he needs to isolate fully so no school or contact with anyone outside of the household.
Is that the entire household isolating or just the child? I was told DD only...?
Original poster
Lemons1571 · 09/05/2021 18:35

Whole household Shock surely if this is the case they need to actually tell the household before the covid test? Otherwise everyone will be out and about, and I’ll need to phone secondary schools during the actual test telling the older kids to “get home right now”!

I think we will have to try and find someone in the hospital to confirm this.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 09/05/2021 18:38

@Lemons1571

Whole household Shock surely if this is the case they need to actually tell the household before the covid test? Otherwise everyone will be out and about, and I’ll need to phone secondary schools during the actual test telling the older kids to “get home right now”!

I think we will have to try and find someone in the hospital to confirm this.

Getting confirmation from the hospital would be the best thing to do. Whether you have to isolate or not seems to depend on area.
notapizzaeater · 09/05/2021 18:41

I had an op 3 weeks ago, had to isolate 10 days before and have a test 3 days before.

bestbefore · 09/05/2021 18:43

I have an op coming up and have to stay at home between doing the swab and the op and socially distance from the household.
The nurse said they are now asking people to do that. I need to sleep alone and use a separate bathroom but the rest of the family can go out but just keep away from me. Better than nothing I guess!

Scarby9 · 09/05/2021 18:43

A friend had major abdominal surgery in April and only had to isolate for 3 days before, which surprised us - seemed short.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 09/05/2021 18:46

I have a biopsy booked next month and need to isolate after my covid test for 3 days. No mention of my family having to isolate.

trevthecat · 09/05/2021 18:48

Did the waiting list people not tell you? My son has an op next week and has to isolate and have a covid test. It was all explained to us over the phone and on the letter we got through

Sunshinev · 09/05/2021 19:03

I recently went to hospital for a procedure and was told myself and whole family had to isolate from after the covid swab until I was admitted if I hadn't to would have seemed pointless as you could pick it up between the swab and the admission if you go out and about

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