In the UK it is not unusual for the gel to be inserted, and if it doesn't work and the ward becomes too busy for the induction to go ahead (or the woman changes her mind) she can go home. So yes it is possible, although the hospital will probably not support it. Remember at any point in your pregnancy, even after beginning an induction, you can refuse consent to what they want to do. The difficulty is, if you start an induction with the gel, and decide to leave the hospital if it doesn't work, the hospital could refuse to treat you again on the basis that you are not taking their advice. Gel often leads to other interventions so you need to weigh up the risk of not just the prostin, but the ARM and possibly synto that they will likely want you to accept.

So sorry to hear about your grandfather