Family Member in hospital

[Kitty876]

I have a family member in hospital. These days you are not allowed to visit. Beyond calling the ward, there is no way to know what is going on or if they need anything, or if they are conscious.

Anyone else have a family member in hospital ? Can anyone else tell me their experiences about keeping in contact with a family member in hospital

When the paramedics took her away she was not really with it, I put her phone in a hospital bag – there has been no contact with her, she has an infection – at home she would lose blocks of time and be unresponsive.

All I know from the hospital is they are treating her for the infection. She has been there 24 hours

Are you next of kin? NOK should be entitled to updates regarding her consciousness or not. They should also be able to request that staff give her her phone if she's well enough to keep in touch

I am her daughter - yes i am next of kin - spoke to nurse this morning, but she had only just come on duty, she just read from the notes, as she did not know much, if my mother was conscious I am sure she would text me, unless she had lost the phone - I just do not know at the moment.

If her phone was in a bag chances are the bag is in a locker. Even if she is awake she may not be alert enough to think and ask for it. Call ward after lunchtime for an update. I found calling early in the day a difficult time as shifts change around 8 then it is a series of obs and washing until about 10 when doctors' rounds start.

Oh op this is awful. I think it's everyones worst nightmare to have a loved one in hospital and not be able to speak to them or see them.

Even if they are busy they really should be able to update you. Ring again, if the nurse this morning didn't know much surely she will now. Good luck .

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The 'phone has probably been put in the hospital safe - mine was, when I was in hospital last year, and I got it back when I was more alert and asked for it. Lockers only had toiletries in, nothing else.

Please ring the ward tomorrow morning and ask for details about your mum. Best of luck x

Thank you for your responses. I am still trying to get an update. I will probably give up around 9pm tonight and then contact PALS tomorrow morning. Thanks for letting me know about PALS, I did not know anything about them. I know they are really busy in the hospitals, but I do need an update

Have you tried ringing the phone, i work in hospital and if I hear a phone ringing I often pass it to the patient. Our ward also has a mobile phone that can be passed to patients if you ask to speak to them but not all wards do. I'd suggest ringing nearer lunchtime as patients usually washed and ward round done, things are a bit calmer and nurses are more likely to know the medical plan by then👍💐

You are hitting evening shift changeover now so try just after 9pm once the next nurses have settled in. Weekends are difficult as ward clerks are usually off.

'I know they are really busy in the hospitals, but I do need an update'

Yes you do and if you don't hear just go to the hospital tomorrow, ring the intercom and say you understand you can't visit but you aren't leaving until someone, anyone gives you an update on how your mum is and what the plan is. It is just unacceptable that you haven't heard anything all day today, yes they're busy but if they aren't giving updates how on earth are relatives supposed to know why is going on. This must be so stressful for you.

Our local hospital has security on the doors so getting to a ward to speak to someone is not that easy. If you can't get through around 9.30 tomorrow try pals.

'Our local hospital has security on the doors so getting to a ward to speak to someone is not that easy'

Does it? Ours local hospital's main doors are open for xray, outpatients A&E etc. Yes ward doors are intercom only but not the main doors. I wonder how folk get in for routine appointments?!

You can still walk straight in for appointments but possibly get challenged, although in practice looking confident will probably mean you aren't.

Oh OP Im so sorry you are going through this. I was admitted and on an acute medical ward for a week a couple weeks ago and no visitors.
For getting information on your mum etc I'd call around 11am as shift change and handover is 8am-9am along with drug round by nurse in charge and then 10-11am is when all the Drs etc do the ward round.
If you call at 11am ask for the nurse in charge as they should be able to give you the best update on your mum etc. If a health care assistant answers and can't help just keep calling every 5-10mins until you can speak to the nurse.
I hope you get some updates soon on your mum and she can come home soon. Alternatively you could maybe try calling around 9pm when it may be a bit quieter.

Could you ask a nurse to find the phone and give it to your mum? She might not know it is there.
I did this in desperation when my son was in hospital - phoned in the evening when (I assume) things are quieter, and asked if they could possibly extract the charger and phone from his bag and put next to him.
Good luck and best wishes

My MIL was in hospital a couple of weeks ago 1 designated visitor was allowed( with a daily lft test) some wards had booking slots and some had designated times dependent on the bed number in the bay.

I would try again to visit... unless she's on a Covid ward?

They are not allowing visitors, i will try between 8.30 to 9.00 tonight. If no response I will have to go to PALS.

My 89 year old dad was in hospital and the nurse that answered took the office phone to my dad so I could speak to him.
I’d sent a mobile for dad to use but at 89, technology is beyond him.

Hope you managed to get some news today @Kitty876

My mother was in hospital last week. She was allowed 1 visitor per day, time booked in advance, you had to have a negative lft immediately prior. But I guess it differs from hospital to hospital and ward to ward.

PALS weren't able to help us get any updates when my Dad was in hospital in autumn 2020. They basically just said "What can we do?" It was a constant struggle getting any updates.