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Craigavon Area Hospital treated the largest number of Covid-19 patients during the height of the pandemic
The daughter of a Craigavon Area Hospital patient who died with Covid-19 says trust must explain how the virus entered her ward.
John Fleming, 79, of Loughgilly, entered the hematology ward for treatment for bone cancer last month.
The father of four children was one of two hematology patients with Covid-19 who died in the last 48 hours.
The Southern Health Trust said officials were working to get answers for families.
The trust said a third patient from the same ward, who had been discharged, had also died, but the virus was not the leading cause of death.
Fourteen ward patients were confirmed to have the virus in a group identified last week.
Health Minister Robin Swann said there must now be a full investigation.
‘I don’t want to die’
Fleming’s daughter, Yvonne Stewart, said her father wanted answers.
“When I went to see him, he said, ‘I didn’t negotiate for this, I don’t want to die, I’m afraid of dying,'” Ms. Stewart said.
“He asked me to tell him his story because he didn’t want another family to go through what we have been through.”
Yvonne Stewart said her father “gave everything” to fight Covid-19
Mr. Fleming had worked as a heavy plant mechanic until he developed myeloma, a bone cancer.
His prognosis was good and he was scheduled to be released from the hospital the day after testing positive for Covid-19.
“It went downhill after that,” her daughter said.
“He fought very strong and hard. He gave it his all.”
‘Hospital defenses’
The family was able to visit him, and on Thursday, before he died, Mrs. Stewart and his mother spent an hour with him.
“Seeing him not being able to breathe and his whole body moving to try to breathe and trying to fight for breath, it was shocking,” Ms Stewart said.
“The hematology and respiratory ward staff could not have done anything more for him, but what I would like to know and what my mother would like to know is how this virus got through the defenses of the hospital into his ward.
“We can’t understand it.”
Dr. Maria O’Kane, Southern Health Trust Medical Director, said she was “very sorry”
Due to coronavirus restrictions, Fleming’s family is planning a cremation, without a wake or traditional funeral for his many friends and family to say goodbye to a popular and fun man.
“This can happen to anyone, anywhere,” added her daughter.
“I have such pain in my heart, we all do.
“People need to be smart. Yes, you can get Covid, and it could be a mild attack, but you could unknowingly pass it on to someone else, pass it on to your parents or someone who is already very, very sick.”
‘Expedited investigation’
Dr. Maria O’Kane, medical director for the Southern Health Trust, said she could “fully understand” the family’s concerns.
“Once again, I cannot say it strongly enough, we are very sorry this happened,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Evening Extra program.
“Hematology is an area where they are always very particular about the control of infection prevention and that worries us, that even in an area where there are very strict measures and where it is constantly reviewed and audited that in reality this virus is so contagious that it can still manifest there, “he said.
“Also, due to the nature of the patients seen there, because they tend to be very immunologically compromised for a variety of reasons, they are very vulnerable to contracting the virus.
“It would never be our intention to expose anyone to this, and again trying to understand how this got into the hematology environment, we are conducting a review.”
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The Health Minister said the news of the deaths was “extremely distressing and worrying.”
“The Southern Trust has made it clear that a detailed investigation is taking place following the groups at the hospital,” Swann said.
“This situation requires a thorough and swift investigation.
“Bereaved patients and families have the right to receive answers.”
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Robin Swann sent his condolences to the grieving families
No other patient has tested positive for Covid-19 in the hematology room, according to the trust.
But 17 staff members have contracted the virus and are not working.
Forty-two staff members who were potential contacts also self-isolate.
The trust says a second staff member from a general medical ward (Ward 3 South) tested positive.
Fourteen staff members isolate themselves.
A total of 56 employees connected to the clusters are currently self-isolated, and there are also more clinical and non-clinical staff in trust.
The trust said those generally relate to family or social contacts, where the guidelines require a 14-day isolation period.
The trust says the emergency department is functioning normally, after a group was identified there last month.
No more cases have been detected.
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