Case Studies

A heartfelt message sent to CCFTV from a Royal Navy veteran

CCFTV comments in the Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9182449/Navy-veteran-blames-slow-rollout-care-homes-death-wife-caught-virus-day-jab.html

“''My late wife, Margaret, developed Alzheimer's disease over 5 years ago; she became more disturbed and anxious and in the end, I was persuaded by Southern Health that she needed to be cared for in a residential for her own safety. I reluctantly agreed and searched for a suitable place and found a lovely care home where she became a resident on 9th July for a trial period; she settled well and became a permanent resident on 1st August 2020.

The home had managed to hold the coronavirus at bay with their stringent safety precautions and she seemed safe and happy there. The staff were all happy and caring and the manager was very kind. We could only visit in the garden and had to be masked and to keep social distancing. By October it was too cold and wet to visit in the garden so I bought Margaret a tablet and we were able to do virtual visiting using WhatsApp or Zoom; Margaret took to this better than I had expected and the kind carers seemed happy to set up her tablet and connect to me.

Everything was looking good and this became even better when Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock announced the approval for the Pfizer vaccine and announced that priority would be given to hospitals and care homes, followed by over the eighties and MEV people; all I needed to do was to be extra careful until Margaret's care home had its people vaccinated and then I had mine as I am 87 and MEV so would be well up the list. Sadly it did not obtain. Care homes did not get vaccinated early: December passed without a hint of that.

I had my vaccination on 9th January and at the same time, I heard that the home was getting theirs on 25th January. Why was that? Why were we so terribly misled? Not only am I sad that Covid 19 has killed my wife on the 18th of January 2021 but I am furious that the Prime Minister and Health Minister have misled us. I and those like me can take safety precautions as I have from the beginning, but care home residents cannot: they have to live in large groups, they are cared for by overworked, underpaid care workers who have to return to their families every night and mix with them and who knows how many others. This failure to vaccinate has killed my beloved wife after 64 happy years together and I shall never forgive those responsible. It has ruined my life and my family and destroyed my faith in government.

The care home itself has worked tirelessly to keep it's staff and residents safe so no blame could attach to them. I served for thirty-two years in the Royal Navy and when I retired worked for an allied country (with approval from the security services); I was ready to lay down my life for my country. Now the incompetence of its leadership has robbed me of the only woman I have ever loved and I believe they should be ashamed. Perhaps you would be kind enough to raise this matter with the Health Minister.'' Michael.

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is supporting the family. If you are interested in this case study please contact ccftv.cares@gmail.com