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Prime Minister

A loving daughter Carol Griffiths knew her mother was dying in a care home. Her mother's GP told the family she had days maybe hours left. The care provider allowed one last visit the week before with full PPE and socially distancing to say their last goodbye. This was the provider's policy. Carol and her sister lost their Dad to cancer in March and being with their mum and knowing how much she would want them with her in the final moments was her wish. COVID IS a risk and we agree on safety to others is paramount. Carol and her sister understood and respected that. So they both stayed in their mother’s cottage not far from the care home and didn’t meet or mix with strangers. They both took regular tests (Covid) knowing only one of them would maybe be allowed to sit with their mum. Both tested negative in every test. Carol was still refused the end of life request by Care South. Carol pleaded to spend the last few minutes with her dying mum and came to us CCFTV so we would raise their plight. Many Care Providers contacted us and offered full support to this family saying their policy would be to show compassion and with proper risk assessment would have allowed one family member to sit and be with a relative in their final moments. The care provider exercised their right to not allow this because of the Government's non-committal policy advice to care homes. End of life and final goodbyes help and support in the grieving process.

''This Government's non-committal policy has led families to miss out on comforting loved ones in care homes during end of life'' Care Campaign for the Vulnerable

A loving daughter has been denied this right and it will stay with her family...forever. This Government's lack of commitment to the care home sector especially during the Coronavirus and your lack of clear guidance in allowing one family member with ( risk assessed) to be with a loved one during end of life has hindered families in their grieving process that will last a lifetime. A daughter has been denied her right to offer comfort to her dying mother - however, FOUR carers were with Ms Griffiths mother when she died. FOUR. Yet her own loving daughter who tested negative to Covid was denied this right. She received a telephone call informing her mother had died when she was only living minutes away. This Government’s lack of clarity, leadership and direction is a responsibility this government have failed on in the care of elderly citizens who happen to reside in care homes and because they can no longer cope living on their own many sell their assets for that privilege. This Government's inability to take leadership and to bring a clear precise policy on a family member having the RIGHT to be with their loved one at the end of life is nothing short of inhumane. We hope in a time gone by, this Government will be judged on this and history will show your utter lack of compassion to those who died in care without a loving family member present.

Carol Griffiths was denied by her mothers care provider to spend the last few minutes with her mother while she died in a care home

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable