Diabetic husband should have been on Covid shielding list, widow says

A woman has questioned why her husband who died from Covid-19 was not put into the shielding category despite having type two diabetes, and while she was receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Speaking at the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday, Sharon Boswell of Scottish Covid Bereaved told Stuart Gale KC, co-lead counsel to the inquiry, her husband George died on

February 9, 2021. His cause of death was listed as Covid-19, with complications due to his diabetes, which led to multiple organ failure.

He also contracted a fungal infection while in hospital, which she says was the "final straw" that led to his death.

She had been with her husband, who died aged 52, since they were teenagers and she described him as "generous to a fault" and family oriented.

He worked as a delivery driver for DHL and Mrs Boswell told the inquiry the firm "did not have his best interests in mind" as he was not allowed to stay at home and help her as she underwent treatment.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before the UK entered lockdown and soon began chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She was placed into the shielding category due to her illness, but her husband was not and was required to go to work as normal, despite having diabetes. She told the inquiry she believe she contracted c ovid -19 from a colleague who had told her husband he had the virus, but not their employer. Her husband's Covid-19 symptoms initially included a very sore back, lethargy and a loss of appetite, but he did not have a cough or any other typical signs of the illness. He worsened and was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Mrs Boswell said: "By this point he had deteriorated so much that he'd been put on dialysis for his kidneys, he had had two chest drains inserted in his left side."

Mr Gale asked her if her husband should have been on the shielding list. She replied: "Yes."

She added she was particularly angry about the UK government's "partygate" scandal, saying :" to know that they were being so disrespectful while my husband was in hospital dying.

"They're disregarding every lockdown rule so they could have a party.”