REALITY TV
TV
MOVIES
MUSIC
CELEBRITY
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Accuracy & Fairness Corrections & Clarifications Ethics Code Your Ad Choices
© MEAWW All rights reserved
MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Coronavirus: Families of dying patients urged to say final goodbyes via Skype as UK mobilizes to stem spread

Official guidance issued to NHS hospitals also stated that families should be restricted from visiting their relatives in intensive care to avoid spreading the disease
UPDATED MAR 20, 2020
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

An official guidance report issued to NHS hospitals has stated that patients on their deathbeds should be encouraged to say goodbye to the family via Skype as the UK takes stern steps to stem the spread of coronavirus. The report has also asked doctors and clinicians to stop relatives of the patients from visiting them in the intensive care unit to stop spreading the pandemic as the death toll in the European country has crossed 70. 

According to The Telegraph, the guidance sheet issued by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the Royal College of Anaesthetists has however mentioned that the families of the patients should be encouraged to use "mobile devices and video calling" to see and speak to their near and dear ones rather than visiting them in person.

The in-person visit can easily make a healthy person vulnerable to the disease.

The document states that clinicians should "restrict access to critical care areas for non-essential staff and any families or friends". It has also suggested that medical professionals will have to discuss using video-calling when patients are believed to be dying.

The newly issued guidelines have been welcomed by the NHS hospitals’ medics too as they say they are in place to protect the people of Britain and healthcare workers are tackling the killer bug. “This might be distasteful to some, but in many cases, it would be necessary. If, for example, you have the 90-year-old wife of an elderly man dying from coronavirus, you don't want to bring her into that environment. That would be a risk to her, and potentially to the critical care staff on the ward,” said Dr Ron Daniels, founder of the UK Sepsis Trust and an intensive care consultant at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Daniels added: “If, however, you're talking about a healthy 30-year-old grandson, then I think most doctors would take the guidance with a pinch of salt and allow them to say goodbye in person."

In addition to the restriction guidelines, the document has mentioned that junior medical staff should also be allowed to take on more advanced roles during the time of crisis. “Any staff member can assist with moving equipment, restocking units, resupplying bed areas and completing administrative tasks,” it added.

The recent document has come when the cases of confirmed coronavirus cases have continued to rocket in the UK, almost touching 2,000.

As per reports, there is fear that the NHS might not be able to cope with the rise in coronavirus patients. To avoid this possible crisis, NHS England has now planned to suspend non-urgent elective surgery from April 15 for at least three months. NHS executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “In readiness for the likely influx of more coronavirus patients, we are going to be taking concerted action across the NHS... up to a third of the general and acute beds - perhaps 30,000 of those general and acute beds - for coronavirus patients.”

POPULAR ON MEAWW
MORE ON MEAWW