Hospital visiting policy

[JeanMary]

Are there any guidelines for visits/help in hospital from carers in this pandemic situation?

The local hospital (low Covid incidence area) orthopaedic ward are being strict on ‘one visitor for one hour per day’. Not even allowing a switch of visitors - claiming Covid “rules”.

My elderly father was admitted following a fall which required specialist surgery to repair a leg (he had to wait 4 days for surgeon). He has been a challenging and very depressed patient at home for many years.

I am usually ultimately successful in managing him - e.g. getting him to accept medicines, fluids and food when the staff were “trying to poison him”.

He was uncharacteristically very aggressive to staff, believing one committed a murder. Hospital security required.

Many thanks for any help ASAP.

 

[lemonbalm]

Hello @JeanMary . It's unfortunately very common for someone with dementia to be a lot more confused and agitated whilst in hospital, particularly after surgery, as I'm sure you already know.

I checked our hospital visiting and it is restricted to one visitor for a maximum of one hour each day, between 2 and 8pm. I understand this can vary between hospitals though. There don't seem to be any exemptions for carers but perhaps the hospital's PALS team could help you? worth giving them a call.

 

[Louise7]

Hello @JeanMary and welcome, you'll find lots of friendly advice and support here. Below is a link to the current NHS visiting guidance, which states that visiting policies are up to individual hospitals/Trusts. However there is reference to patients who require help with their communication and/or health and social care needs so if this applies to your father then it may be worth discussing with the ward staff if consideration could be given to more frequent visits. They may be grateful to arrange these if additional visits from family members/carers would mean that your father is less challenging to care for.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavi...healthcare-inpatient-settings-5-June-2020.pdf

 

[JeanMary]

Thank you very much for swift replies.

I have now spoken with local PALS (patient advice and liaison service) “The ward Matron has discretion on flexibility, try talking with her”.

??? for all those afflicted.