A bereaved mom was pressured to put on full PPE as her child son died in her arms hours after his delivery, the UK Covid-19 inquiry has heard. Catherine Todd’s son Ziggy was born in the course of the pandemic on 21 July 2021 on the Ulster hospital in Northern Eire.
Chaired by Heather Hallett, the inquiry is now investigating the influence of the pandemic on healthcare methods throughout the UK.
Giving proof on Wednesday, Todd advised the inquiry that she didn’t really feel secure in hospital after contracting Covid whereas pregnant. She stated she was approaching 28 weeks pregnant when she contracted Covid throughout that month. She stated this led to the cancellation of a routine being pregnant scan.
She later started to really feel unwell and was involved that her unborn child was not transferring however was advised by the hospital’s maternity unit to take paracetamol, lie on her aspect and take a fizzy drink. She stated: “They advised me they wouldn’t carry me in on the time as a result of they wished to scale back the danger of unfold of Covid.”
Todd stated she believed she would have been seen earlier if she didn’t have Covid. After her situation worsened, she phoned her GP, who advised her to attend the hospital’s accident and emergency division.
When her son was born, he was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit and positioned in an incubator in a single day, the inquiry was advised. Todd stated she and her companion, TJ, had been delivered to see Ziggy the next morning, believing that his situation was enhancing.
She stated: “They took all the pieces off and handed Ziggy over to me after which they simply left the room after which he handed away and so they didn’t come again for about two hours.”
Counsel to the inquiry Nick Scott requested: “Was that the primary time you had been with Ziggy since he was born?” Todd replied: “Sure.”
Scott then requested: “Have been you having to put on full PPE once you had been with him?” Todd stated: “Sure. We had hairnets, masks, a visor, gloves and shoe coverings. I believed that was pointless. On the time they knew how unwell he was. I’m a bit confused why we had been in full PPE.”
Requested in regards to the influence of getting to put on the protecting gear, Todd stated: “All of our images we have now with him are in full PPE.”
The Guardian has contacted the hospital for remark.
