By a proud retired NHS worker
I am writing this apoplectic with rage and tears streaming down my cheeks with grief and anger over the latest revelations at Number 10 around Boris and his parties.
I, like all other people I know, in April and May 2020, followed all the rules regarding lockdown. My 88-year old mother was in a nursing home and was terminally ill. She had been there since January, and my sister and brother and my husband visited daily between us.
Lockdown in the nursing home was imposed. We had to either Skype or drive to the home and stand outside her window (after phoning the staff who would position her), so we could shout our conversations through the window. We, as dutiful citizens, accepted this (even in the freezing cold in March), and she always responded much better to personal contact – even through glass – than on a device, and it gave her some comfort.
I had worked in health all my life, so understood and accepted the rationale and safety issues for the residents and staff and the purpose of Lockdown – although it came too late.
What choice did we have in order to protect our loved ones?
Unfortunately my mother died on the April 17 – I had not held her hand for three weeks – imagine that.
My sister had been with her the day before, in full PPE, sweating and terrified as Covid was in the home. I must add I have no criticism of the home or the staff who were absolute heroes, coping with the isolated residents all in their own rooms.
Days in same small bedroom
It was difficult for residents to understand the separation as they had become closely knit and used to spending the days in each other’s company – not in the same small bedroom on their own. The staff worked so hard to maintain things in an incredibly difficult, unknown situation.
When we delivered mum’s treats at the door, we had socially-distanced quick talks with the staff we had come to know – they were on their knees with exhaustion, staff were off ill, they were frightened and also they did not have anywhere near enough PPE (as was the case everywhere at this time). What level of fear does it take for a member of staff to wear a sanitary towel on their face as a mask for protection?
At this point, I would like to add that my husband and I had been travelling to Singapore in February and we were aware of the situation out in the Far East and China. I suggested in January that we try to obtain our own masks to take with us, as there would obviously be a need to wear them and knew they would be in short supply. We could not source them anywhere on line or locally.
What was our government doing about this? Boris was only interested in bonging Big Ben for Brexit. What about awareness of what was heading our way? Where was the forward planning? Resilience and preparations? Things you were aware of working in the health service. The management of this area was a disgrace, BBC World service was constantly highlighting Wuhan and the far east issues…How could this government have no awareness?
My mother had to be placed in a sealed coffin. She had no symptoms of Covid but had been admitted to A&E on April 1 and sent back to the home without a test. Five residents died of Covid that weekend.
Only ten allowed at funerals
My sister and brother live alone and were therefore isolated in their grief. At the funeral only ten people were allowed to attend – socially distanced – I could not hug my brother or sister as would be normal in coping with the death of one’s mother. The flowers were not allowed in the crematorium on the coffin.
Of course no “gathering” afterwards to talk and cope or debrief with what had happened. My mother was a regular Church goer – it was important to her – and to be denied a religious service and funeral in a church would have been unacceptable to her. But that is how it was.
So I am sure, in the same way that I, as are many other people in this country, are at this moment, frothing with rage at the blatant disregard of lockdown rules that we all followed – which Boris and his cronies were throwing back in our face at their gatherings.
And No! – The excuse they were “working flat out” and needed some respite is totally unacceptable. What about the staff on the front line, in ICU and all of the health service? Or the terrified staff caring for the residents in nursing and care homes? They would go home when they could and sleep – isolated where they could – from family members to keep them safe. And it is important to give credit to the rest of the population who strove to keep this country operating.
This government is taking us for fools there is no doubt about that – this is an insult I cannot cope with and they cannot be allowed to disregard the public on this one.
I have had enough!!
