‘Unbearable loneliness’: Vulnerable patients who shielded tell of their plight
TERMINALLY ill patients who were asked to shield during the pandemic have revealed the “unbearable” loneliness they have endured in their final months.
A survey of people deemed clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) has uncovered the harrowing isolation experienced by palliative care patients asked to adhere to strict guidance to protect themselves from Covid-19 until the advice was paused at the end of July.
One elderly woman, aged over 80, described crying every time her brother rang her to check how she was doing.
“I live alone and the loneliness at times has been unbearable,” she said.
“I have one brother and he could not come to see me. He telephoned every day but when I heard his voice I just cried. I would have given anything to see my brother and his wife.”
Another palliative care patient, aged between 55 and 64, said: “As time has passed I have found the isolation and loneliness unbearable, it’s like my worst fears are coming true.”
The comments were included in a report produced by the Patient and Client Council, which has also highlighted the financial and practical challenges experienced by people who were asked to shield earlier this year.
Respondents complained about a lack of official information and support, and called for designated times to be put in place to enable shielders to access the likes of supermarkets and GP surgeries in as safe a way as possible.
One woman aged between 45 and 54 explained: “As I had just started a new job as a key worker and am unable to work, and I am only entitled to statutory sick pay... this has caused a severe impact on my mental and financial state.”
Meanwhile, a man over the age of 80 said: “Very late into lockdown my daughter was able to book priority slots for our grocery delivery — this should’ve been in place much sooner as I have multiple complex health conditions.”
A recurring concern raised by respondents was a lack of official information, and the Patient and Client Council has made a series of recommendations for CEV people following on from the survey.
They include calling for improved shielding-specific advice, increased clarity about work and attending school, the creation of designated times for them to access GP surgeries and supermarkets, and improved financial support.
It comes as officials in Northern Ireland have updated advice for CEV people, with chief medical officer Dr Michael Mcbride recommending that they should not go to work even if they cannot work from home.
The Department of Health has said the advice has been updated in light of the high levels of Covid-19 circulating in the population, as well as the existence of a more contagious strain of the virus. Despite this, officials have not changed the advice for children living in households with a person who is extremely vulnerable.
Parents who received shielding letters have been told their children can return to school next week and to seek advice from their doctor if they have any concerns.
This means that young children, who are not expected to socially distance due to their age, can mix freely with other children from up to 30 other households before returning home.
However, scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have warned that the highly infectious new strain of coronavirus originally found in Kent could be more likely to affect children. The researchers said there is “some evidence that
the increase may be particularly marked in children”.
Alliance health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw and Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew, chair of the Stormont health committee, have both called for improved support for CEV people and for improvements in information for people who were shielding. The Department of Health was asked whether it is safe for children living in households with a person who is CEV to attend school.
A spokeswoman said that “pupils previously shielding or with a family member who was previously shielding due to being identified as CEV can continue to attend school”. At the same time, updated guidance letters have not yet been sent to CEV patients to inform them of the latest advice.
A spokeswoman said the letters will be issued “in the coming days” and previous shielding letters can be used as proof to claim statutory sick pay.