Covid curbs stop visits to dying family
‘Cruel’ hospital limits are still in force
DISTRAUGHT families say children are still unable to say goodbye to dying loved ones because of ongoing Covid restrictions in hospitals.
They say the restrictions that have remained in place since the pandemic are ‘nonsensical’ and ‘cruel’.
In many hospitals across Ireland, visitors are allowed to see family members for 30 minutes, once a day, and only under compassionate and critical circumstances which have to be cleared by the ward sister.
In others, including Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, children under 16 are not allowed in at all.
One woman, who didn’t want to be named, spoke to the Irish Mail on Sunday about the ongoing Covid restrictions’ devastating impact on her family.
‘My father, who died in August spent the last five weeks of his life between Beaumont hospital and Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
‘In both, my 13-year-old son was not allowed to visit him, even though my father was in palliative care. My son is devastated that he never got to say goodbye to him.
‘His brother, who is three years older than him was allowed in on prearranged visits, which had to be cleared by the ward sister in Blanchardstown. Even my visits had to be cleared by her and on several occasions when I just turned up, she asked me to leave the ward.
‘When I asked why, she said “because of Covid”. To me it was nonsensical. You were allowed in sometimes and others not. One brother was allowed in, the other was not. The only time the nurses didn’t try to bar me and my son’s entrance into the ward was at 1.30am, a half hour after my father died. They stood back and let us in to see his remains. Too late for my son and too late for my dad, who loved his grandchildren more than anything else.’
In other hospitals, including St James’s in Dublin, children are not allowed to visit unless it has been discussed and pre-arranged with the Person in Charge.
In Mallow General Hospital, Co Cork, children are not allowed to visit. There are special arrangements for compassionate and end-oflife situations and visiting is allowed for only one person per patient from 6pm to 7pm daily
Ireland’s Patient Association spokesman Stephen McMahon said: ‘Visitors to patients are a key part of their health journey.
‘Unnecessarily depriving them of that access is actually impacting on their human rights.’
Mr McMahon questioned why there was an inconsistent approach to hospital visiting hours across Ireland.
He said: ‘If some hospitals are restricting visitors more rigidly than others and yet still getting outbreaks of infections, well that must bring into account infections not from visitors but other sources in the hospital. It makes you wonder if it’s for the benefit of the hospital.’
In Cork University Hospital, restrictions are slacker and their website states: ‘Visiting is now permitted but some Covid-19 measures remain in place.’
But in Letterkenny University Hospital in Co Donegal, visitors have to pre-book a visit before 3pm and each patient can have one visit per day lasting up to 30 minutes.
Mr McMahon said: ‘We don’t want to start building a major bureaucracy about having to get pre-clearance for visiting, rather than simply ensuring visitors can make safe visits. Visitors to patients aren’t simply visitors, they’re also their eyes, ears and advocates. If they see something adrift with their relative or friend they can bring that to the attention of the staff. Without those eyes and ears, events can happen unnoticed because hospital staff are stretched.’
He said the most common complaint his group receives is about a lack of information and communication from hospitals to friends and family members.
He says there needs to be more accountability from hospitals and they should always question why they restrict access to patients.
Dublin mid-west Labour TD Joanna Tuffy has been contacted by constituents who are ‘very upset and emotional about the visiting restrictions’. Ms Tuffy added: ‘I think it’s cruel and heartless for people not allowed to be there in the lead-up to a death. That will play out for years after the death.’
Responding to queries this week, Letterkenny University Hospital told the MoS that visiting times are currently under review.
St James’s Hospital Dublin released the following statement: ‘We aim to facilitate visits for all patients as much as the hospital has the capacity to provide safe and fair visiting.’
The HSE responded: ‘Reasonable access should be facilitated to the greatest degree practical for all patients. A total withdrawal of access is not appropriate.
‘The hospital should provide information on access that is clear, up to date and consistent.’
James Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown did not respond to our queries.
‘Depriving access is impacting human rights’