Son blames father’s death on lack of Covid-19 testing
THE grieving son of an 81-yearold man who died after contracting coronavirus in hospital has blamed his father’s death on a lack of testing and protective equipment for NHS staff.
Jeff Lavington caught the virus while recovering from a stroke in Glangwili General Hospital. He was admitted on February 13.
Mark Lavington, his 54-yearold son who lives in Carmarthen, said: “From talking to two members of staff on the ward, I gather that one of the members of staff had been exhibiting (coronavirus) symptoms.”
He added that staff caring for him did an “amazing job”, but claimed some of those treating him were protected only by disposable gloves, disposable polythene aprons, and surgical masks.
Mr Lavington paid tribute to his “father and best friend,” describing his “heartbreaking” death on Thursday as the “failure” to test NHS staff.
He said: “They talk a good game, but they’ve done nothing. The government are sacrificing patients, members of the health service and social care workers.”
Mr Lavington added: “I’m desperately sad, losing my father and my best friend as well, after caring for him for the past few years. It’s just dreadful, having to die in hospital without having seen anyone for days, with one brief video call as the only family contact for two weeks.
“And there are many thousands, tens of thousands perhaps, of people going through the same thing, because our government won’t sort out testing.”
Jeff Lavington worked for oil companies across the globe and fought for improvements to healthcare in the UK, his son said.
He described how hospital staff helped him speak with his children and grandchildren on a video call days before he died.
He said: “Despite knowing that my father was Covid-19 positive, two nurses were sitting beside him, holding him upright and holding the phone for him so he could see his granddaughter and his daughter. They were dressed in disposable gloves, disposable polythene aprons, and surgical masks, and that’s all the protective gear they had.”
Hywel Dda University Health Board, which runs the hospital, has been contacted for comment.