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Original poster

Unvaccunared hospital visitors

22 replies

badgerread · 21/12/2021 22:09

My Dad has just moved from ICU to a ward after having surgery for a burst aortic aneurysm on Friday night. He was resuscitated twice and it was touch and go for 24hrs. He's stable now. Up until now it has been my brother and I visiting alternate days for 1 hour as per ICU rules. Now he has been moved onto the vascular ward more people have asked if they can visit. Visits are still restricted to one person for an hour but whereas before there were only two registered visitors (my brother and I) now anyone can go. My stepbrother (56) wants to go and he's not vaccinated. My brother and I are unsure what to do as we'd rather he was vaccinated. Dad is 78 and obviously in a vulnerable state...

OP posts:
Original poster
badgerread · 21/12/2021 22:10

UNVACCINATED that should obviously read 🙄

OP posts:
Bunnyfuller · 21/12/2021 22:13

No, he cannot visit.

cansu · 21/12/2021 22:15

ask your dad. Surely it is down to him. Remember also that many of the people caring for your dad may also be unvaccinated. Being vaccinated does not exempt you from catching and transmitting covid. Why not ask him to do a LFT?

EmiliaC · 21/12/2021 22:20

@cansu

ask your dad. Surely it is down to him. Remember also that many of the people caring for your dad may also be unvaccinated. Being vaccinated does not exempt you from catching and transmitting covid. Why not ask him to do a LFT?
Seconding the LFT. Not just for your stepbrother, but for all of you. A huge number of people who have Covid right now are vaccinated (though presumably mildly) and the few I've heard of at my children's school have had next-to-no symptoms. One of them just thought their dinner tasted horrible.
Original poster
badgerread · 21/12/2021 22:22

We do one every time we go, however I'm not sure my stepbrother even has any (he doesn't live near us)

OP posts:
IAmSantaOhYesIAm · 21/12/2021 22:24

Check the rules with the hospital , the policy at ours is one visitor but they must do a lateral flow test and show proof. No visitor has ever been asked if they’re vaccinated.

PurpleDaisies · 21/12/2021 22:24

Why is this your decision? Isn’t it down to your dad and the hospital policy to regulate his visitors!

SickAndTiredAgain · 21/12/2021 22:25

My brother and I are unsure what to do

What do you mean? The hospital has said anyone can go, presumably they aren’t going to ask you or your brother for permission before letting your stepbrother in.
I’m not saying your concerns aren’t valid, but you’re wondering what do to and it doesn’t sound like there is anything you can do.

underneaththeash · 21/12/2021 22:27

@cansu

ask your dad. Surely it is down to him. Remember also that many of the people caring for your dad may also be unvaccinated. Being vaccinated does not exempt you from catching and transmitting covid. Why not ask him to do a LFT?
No, but it makes you significantly less likely. There are very unlikely to be treated by any unvaccinated medical staff in an ICU. 97% of medical staff are vaccinated in acute care.

Is your stepbrother his blood relative? I suspect you're not able to stop him if he is.

EmiliaC · 21/12/2021 22:31

Honestly, try not to worry about him being unvaccinated, OP. Definitely push for a negative LFT, but 'the unvaccinated' seems to be used interchangeably with 'the infected' and is causing mass panic. The unvaccinated are mostly a danger to themselves, not those directly around them, as data is showing that anyone can catch this omicron strain. The only way to really be safe are negative tests (although even they aren't 100%).

Original poster
badgerread · 21/12/2021 22:33

My stepbrother isn't a blood relative no. There are 8 patients on a ward, 1 visitor per patient for an hour a time (only one visitor per ward at a time) You have to book slots. My Dad hasn't asked for him to go in, he just wants to..

OP posts:
ecceromani · 21/12/2021 22:36

At my local hospital all visitors must take a pcr before visiting.
He wouldn't be allowed in otherwise

ecceromani · 21/12/2021 22:38

Sorry a LFT not a pcrBlush

PurpleDaisies · 21/12/2021 22:38

Why are you responsible for policing who books those slots? I really don’t get what you think you can do about this. It’s for the hospital to manage.

SickAndTiredAgain · 21/12/2021 22:42

Is your stepbrother his blood relative? I suspect you're not able to stop him if he is.

Why would she be able to stop a non-blood relative if her father was allowing them to visit? Why would it be up to her at all?

Original poster
badgerread · 21/12/2021 23:12

Purple why is it up to the hospital to manage my Dads visits? they've got enough to do!

Visits have to booked via a binder behind the nurses station, they allow 1 person per patient for an hour a day. While Dad was in ICU he was allowed two named contacts, my brother and I. We think it would be safest for everyone if we kept it at that but are trying to be diplomatic when people are asking if they can visit. Surely it's better the fewer visitors he has?

OP posts:
Original poster
badgerread · 21/12/2021 23:14

Sick it's not about stopping anyone particularly, it's about keeping a variety of visitors to a minimum. Dad has only requested one yet loads want to go and we're trying to diplomatically tell them they can't..

OP posts:
Friendviv1987 · 21/12/2021 23:17

He definitely needs a negative LFT and to register the results before visiting!

Whitefire · 21/12/2021 23:21

Just tell them they can't, that he isn't up to lots of visitors just yet. Probably has to be all or none though.

EmiliaC · 21/12/2021 23:25

Does your dad view your stepbrother as one of his children? It does make sense to limit the numbers coming to visit, but if your stepbrother considers him to be his dad/father figure I can understand why he wants to visit.

(Although, on a side note, your stepbrother may be putting himself at risk going into a hospital unvaccinated right now)

SickAndTiredAgain · 21/12/2021 23:25

@badgerread

Sick it's not about stopping anyone particularly, it's about keeping a variety of visitors to a minimum. Dad has only requested one yet loads want to go and we're trying to diplomatically tell them they can't..
The fact your dad only wants one other person visiting (I’m assuming not your stepbrother?) is the key information. Before it wasn’t clear what your dad’s view was and that’s what people were basing answers on. Your OP was fairly specifically about your stepbrother not being vaccinated, not how to tell multiple people in a diplomatic way.

How reasonable are all these people? With generally reasonable people, they’ll understand you passing on that your dad is tired and not up for visitors. What relation are they? I can’t imagine pestering to visit someone who is still quite unwell at what sounds like a very stressful time for you.

PurpleDaisies · 22/12/2021 08:51

Dad has only requested one yet loads want to go and we're trying to diplomatically tell them they can't…

Do you mean your dad has only specifically asked for one person to visit him or has he said he only wants one visitor?

It might have been useful to mention this before. This is the important information, not whether someone who wants to visit is vaccinated or not.

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