Will I be arrested: hospital visit

[BertBert]

Background is that my 91 year old mum is in hospital and it's her last days. I'm told today that visiting has stopped due to covid. I get it, but am not happy that I may have seen my mum for the last time.

The question in the (s,p and) L section is what governs this? What law, long standing or COVID will I breach if I insist on going in?

If I barge in, will I be arrested?

Cheers
Bert

[OzzyR1]

BertBert said:

Background is that my 91 year old mum is in hospital and it's her last days. I'm told today that visiting has stopped due to covid. I get it, but am not happy that I may have seen my mum for the last time.

The question in the (s,p and) L section is what governs this? What law, long standing or COVID will I breach if I insist on going in?

If I barge in, will I be arrested?

Cheers
Bert

Sorry to hear about your mum.

My understanding is that while there may be Covid restrictions in place generally, there are exemptions when visiting relatives at "end of life" stage. This was last year but don't think anything has changed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52299590

Call and ask, pretty sure you will be allowed in with no issues.

Hope all goes as well as it can in the circumstances & best wishes.

[Mr Tidy]

I'd like to hope you'd be OK, and if things are looking that bad I'd just go anyway then worry about repecussions later.

Last November I got a call from my 98 year old mother's residential home that wasn't allowing normal visits to say I needed to get there ASAP because things weren't looking good.

I asked them to call my sister as she only lived a mile away whereas I was 40 miles away. But sadly even my sister didn't get there in time.

We hadn't seen her since we had an outdoor visit in August because the home stopped visits shortly afterwards - it just seemed like a really sad way for her life to end. But understandable given what was (and still is to a degree) going on.

I hope you manage a visit.

[Turkish91]

I think unless you actually assault someone the absolute worst that’s going to happen is an arrest followed by a caution. In your shoes I’d be going in regardless. Hope you’re alright.

[anonymous-user]

Turkish91 said:

I think unless you actually assault someone the absolute worst that’s going to happen is an arrest followed by a caution.

Trespass is a civil matter, as long as no swearing, aggression , obstruction. Be firm, explain reasons, they can escort you off site, but cannot be arrested.

I would argue that there is reasonable excuse to be near your mother for her comfort if she suffers from isolation etc.

OP take the emotion out of it, the people are humans working there, explain situation, maybe take a decent mask, if issues ask to speak to manager, don't barge etc you will be arrested.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 17th October 00:24

[K77 CTR]

My hospital is allowing visiting, there are rules about time limits etc but it's all down to the discretion of the nurse in charge. If your visit didn't fit our rules but your mum was end of life, I'd be allowing you to visit and I'd like to think most other wards would do the same.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Consider carefully, what will you regret more, doing it or not doing it?

[Bill]

K77 CTR said:

My hospital is allowing visiting, there are rules about time limits etc but it's all down to the discretion of the nurse in charge. If your visit didn't fit our rules but your mum was end of life, I'd be allowing you to visit and I'd like to think most other wards would do the same.

+1

We (small cottage hospital) have allowed visiting for months and have recently relaxed things so the main hospital door isn't locked and people can just walk in.

Bert, who has said no visiting? I'd expect a call to the ward would sort it.

[Riley Blue]

Such visits have always been permitted at my local hospital with full PPE protection provided by the hospital during the lockdowns. In my experience, hospital ward staff are understanding and compassionate and I would fully expect a word with the ward matron will allow you to visit you Mum.

[BertBert]

Thanks all for the replies. I was definitely instructed by the sister in charge that visiting has been stopped due to the rising incidence of COVID in the hospital. It had changed yesterday as I've been going in every day for a week.

Perhaps I should go in and super glue myself to the ward!

I assume that when the final moments come they will let me know so I can visit, timing permitting.

I'll make more enquires. Thanks all

[AndyAudi]

We are in a very similar situation with a grandparent who’d daily visits until now.

Got a call midweek saying no visiting due to Covid Scare in Hospital to be reviewed next week.

Call early this morning for my dad & uncle to go down as has gone downhill & not responding.

I think you should try & calmly discuss expectations with hospital (or get your partner to do it). Staff are working to a set of rules & they do make exceptions if they see the situation warrants it.

As to what happens if you disregard, the hospitals have locked doors to the wards with intercoms, & bigger hospitals security guards. I don’t think you’d get in barging in & banging on doors, they’d likely call someone security or police to get moved on.

It’s a difficult time for you & your family for sure & I feel for you. Work with the hospital.

ETA - my post crossed with yours OP, very similar!
Take care & and I hope they have an easy passing.

Edited by AndyAudi on Sunday 17th October 08:32

[williamp]

OldGermanHeaps said:

Consider carefully, what will you regret more, doing it or not doing it?

THis would be my thought, too. If it were me, I'd go. Bring some flowers.

[The Road Crew]

BertBert said:

If I barge in, will I be arrested?

Cheers
Bert

I'd go straight away.

I wouldn't give any potential consequences a second thought.

[Bill]

BertBert said:

I was definitely instructed by the sister in charge that visiting has been stopped due to the rising incidence of COVID in the hospital. It had changed yesterday as I've been going in every day for a week.

Ah, that makes more sense. Covid is a bugger. If you're reasonable about it then I would expect them to try to make allowances.

If you really are an awkward sod I'd have thought an arrest for breach of the peace might be the result.

[Bill]

The Road Crew said:

I wouldn't give any potential consequences a second thought.

Not even spreading covid to her and the rest of the ward?

[ChocolateFrog]

Highly unlikely I would think.

Absolute worst would be arrest and release unless you went in swinging.

It's Absolutely awful the way hospitals are treating non Covid patients and visitors.

It also varies so wildly hospital to hospital based on our recent experience.

[Tyre Smoke]

Bill said:

Not even spreading covid to her and the rest of the ward?

What a stupid comment.

[Paynewright]

Perhaps get some of the home test kits so you can show you’re not carrying cv19. They were available from test centres. Our kids are bringing home kits from school and testing 2 / 3 times a week.

[Bill]

Tyre Smoke said:

What a stupid comment.

There could be consequences for the OP, and consequences for others. Bit selfish only to think of yourself.

[anonymous-user]

ChocolateFrog said:

Highly unlikely I would think.

Absolute worst would be arrest and release unless you went in swinging.

It's Absolutely awful the way hospitals are treating non Covid patients and visitors.

It also varies so wildly hospital to hospital based on our recent experience.

The ridiculously fat, moany and jumped up power trip idiots that call themselves "key workers" stopping people seeing their family in times of need is awful. It's almost as if the NHS has been waiting for a reason to order people about and using emotional blackmail like a pissed off mother weaponising her kids in divorce.

I'm sorry to hear of your predicament. Do whatever you need to in order to see your mum.

best of luck