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Sick Brother

(67 Posts)
Camelia3 Mon 23-Mar-20 08:15:49

Should I travel to visit my sick brother? He has had half a lifetime of respiratory problems but continued to work as a firefighter until retirement. He has been admitted to hospital as he has contracted Covid19. He is very poorly indeed. His lovely wife is also ill with the same, but has no underlying health conditions. They are both 69. Should I travel the 170 miles to see them. I fear the worst for my brother ?

Grannyhall29 Mon 23-Mar-20 12:22:41

Sorry to hear this but the hospital wouldn't let you in to see him, my brother in law was taken in but my sister wasn't allowed to go to the hospital with him, even though she is his carer and because he has dementia he wouldn't understand what was happening to him

Bobdoesit Mon 23-Mar-20 12:20:38

No! Simples.

grannyactivist Mon 23-Mar-20 12:11:53

I understand your concern, but the very strong advice is to stay at home. My daughter, who works in ICU, says that adults are not allowed any visitors and children’s visits are limited to two. Other hospitals may have different rules of course. flowers

Jishere Mon 23-Mar-20 12:10:41

I'm sorry to hear your news it is very sad. But being isolation I can't see our you would be able to see him.

Phone the hospital and see what they say but you could risk yourself and others being infected.

LIZZIE28 Mon 23-Mar-20 12:07:57

Camelia3 - sending love and best wishes to you at this difficult time. Hope your dear brother and his wife get well soon.

Maybe send a good old-fashioned hand-written letter - letting them know they in your thoughts/prayers - then arrange to visit as soon as this ghastly situation behind us?

Take care. xx

Madmaggie Mon 23-Mar-20 12:04:31

Camelia3. Sending you love & sympathy in your dilemma. Phone the ward, send your love.the hardest, most heroic thing you can do is to stay at home. Hoping you all come through. I dread being in same position. Have made it clear to my children they must stay away no matter what.

grandtanteJE65 Mon 23-Mar-20 12:04:30

I feel very sorry for you indeed, but no, IMO you should definitely not travel 170 miles to visit.

If you feel you must go, phone the hospital and ask if you will be admitted. Don't go on spec. Here you would not be allowed in.

Jani Mon 23-Mar-20 11:56:05

Camelia I am so sorry for you - lots of hospitals have different rules but my daughter is a consultant anaesthetist and she said you wouldn’t be able to visit - for your sake and passing the virus on. You can ring but obviously they are so busy may take a while to answer. I hope we all keep safe - big hugs to you though at this very difficult time.

red1 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:52:52

yes ,i would say visit if you can, what if you don't,would you be able live with yourself?

luluaugust Mon 23-Mar-20 11:51:21

So sorry, every instinct makes us want to rush to our families in time of illness but you must not do it. Stay safe yourself so that when this is all over you are fit to help the members of your family who need it. Phone your SIL if she is able to talk and keep her company for a while.

PamelaJ1 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:45:29

My sister in law has had it, she is still in isolation.

I thank God that we were on holiday or we would have visited before she was diagnosed.
If your brother is really very ill he probably does not care who is visiting him. Just support his close family from afar.

Hope he, like my sister I’m law recovers and they have the resources needed in his hospital.

Molly10 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:35:44

So sorry to here that Camelia3. My thoughts would be I would want to see him, speak to him etc but we all know that the reality is we would not be allowed and should not visit/travel.

It is a dilemma. My thoughts are with you and all those affected in this way.

TrendyNannie6 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:29:36

So very sorry to hear this, sending you a virtual hug

4allweknow Mon 23-Mar-20 11:26:42

You should wait. If his wife appoints you to visit on her behalf you may well be allowed in if situation deteriorates. Other than that you should stay well away from both. Such an awful situation but you do have to consider everyone, including yourself.

Beanie654321 Mon 23-Mar-20 11:24:52

I'm so sorry Camelia3 but no visitors at all for positive results, they will not let you in. Xxxx

icanhandthemback Mon 23-Mar-20 11:18:44

Absolutely not. Do not ring the hospital either, they are far too busy to take calls from loads of relatives. Has your brother got children you can ring to get information from? There is no point in risking your health and, as hard as it is to sit back and wait, this is what you need to do. I am sorry you have this worry.

Maremia Mon 23-Mar-20 11:17:20

Sorry to hear this Camelia 3. As one of the posters said, your darling brother is in time to get proper treatment before the surge happens. EllanVannin, the sad thing is that you are not allowed to visit for this illness. Another point, about travel, is that in some countries it is now restricted to essential workers. Stay at home, those who can, and stay safe.

EmilyHarburn Mon 23-Mar-20 11:17:11

So sorry about your brother. You need to get confirmation that you are allowed to visit.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/hospitals/visiting-someone-in-hospital/

grannytotwins Mon 23-Mar-20 11:03:45

My DS’s MIL is in ICU with pneumonia. Coronavirus ruled out. Family are unable to visit even on her 70th birthday. They get a phone update daily and that’s it. I’m so sorry for your predicament, but you won’t be allowed near him.

Aepgirl Mon 23-Mar-20 10:55:04

Hospitals are now allowing visitors, so I think you have to rely on the phone and FaceTime.

Happygirl79 Mon 23-Mar-20 10:46:13

Sorry to hear about your brother
Please phone the hospital and seek direct advice before setting off hoping to see him
They will tell you what to do

M0nica Mon 23-Mar-20 10:43:55

The best thing to do is check with the hospital, they, and they alone can tell you whether visitors are allowed and if so when.

harrigran Mon 23-Mar-20 10:32:20

No travel, no hospital visits. Sadly people are dying alone but has to be done to protect the rest of us.
One person catches the virus and they potentially infect four others, do the maths and you realise how quickly it becomes pandemic.

Alexa Mon 23-Mar-20 09:55:15

Except perhaps smallpox.

Alexa Mon 23-Mar-20 09:54:46

Camelia, I am very sorry but if you visit him you will likely get Covid19 too and there may not be an intensive care place for you. Coronavirus is deadly infectious unlike anything ever seen before.