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Assisting with hospital appointments

(10 Posts)
ginny Mon 28-Dec-20 18:07:09

MIL has , over the next few weeks, 3 hospital appointments and her second COVID jab. She has already had 3 others over the last few weeks. None of these are appointments for anything life threatening although may/ would make things a little easier for her.She is unable to drive and can only walk with crutches, and then not far.
Therefore DH has to take her to these appointments, which is fine.
However, what bothers me is that he will have to find a wheelchair and take her into the hospital and to whichever department is appropriate. I have asked him not to wait for her inside but ask her to phone when she has been seen. He is fine with this but I am still concerned about the amount of time he is spending in a hospital.

Maybe I am over thinking the situation ?

tanith Mon 28-Dec-20 18:59:47

If he asks at reception they can call a Porter to take her to the relevant department and if she asks the department she goes to they will arrange the return to reception.

Baggs Mon 28-Dec-20 19:14:05

It's natural to worry about nosocomial infections especially at thr moment, ginny. That's a good suggestion by tanith to try and get help from hospital porters.

kittylester Mon 28-Dec-20 20:34:49

Can you get her lifts?

DH is a volunteer hospital driver for RVS. It worries me quite a bit but he knows about infection control and is happy with the procedures in place.

OceanMama Mon 28-Dec-20 21:23:47

Have you checked the hospital policy on visitors? Our local hospital hasn't been letting anyone but the patient through the doors. I had no choice but to drop the person I was helping at the door and let the hospital staff take it from there. Your DH might not even be allowed in.

ginny Mon 28-Dec-20 22:32:06

Thanks for your replies.

He has asked about someone to take her in but was told that porters were only for in patients. He will ask again.

He has been allowed in on previous visits as her carer.

He will obviously wear a mask and be well supplied with hand gel. I expect the odds of him picking anything up is small but it still bothers me.

tanith Tue 29-Dec-20 08:40:36

ginny it’s nonsense porters are for in patients only, plenty of patients who struggle to walk get themselves to hospital via taxi then need porters to get them where they need to go. He should imply he’s physically unable to push her around the hospital and insist.

CassieJ Tue 29-Dec-20 10:15:35

Have you considered patient transport? My mum uses this now as my dad hates driving to Addenbrookes.
I think there is a small cost involved, but at least you don't have the worry of parking.

PurpleStar Tue 29-Dec-20 10:20:38

Having had to attend a couple of routine,non life threatening,hospital appointments myself recently.I understand how worried you are but I found my appointments so efficient.I only passed 1 or 2 people while walking to the waiting area.No one else in the big waiting room that is normally rammed with people.I felt 100 times safer there than in a Supermarket.I wouldnt have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself.

ninathenana Tue 29-Dec-20 12:39:08

To use the patient transport for our local hospital. You have to pay a fee to join the scheme. I was quiet surprised by this when I enquired. I was expecting to pay petrol of course but not a fee. I could be wrong but I think it was about £25 !!