Covid Inquiry Hears Emotional Testimony on Elderly Care Failures
A man has told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he believes his elderly mother was denied any chance of survival during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Glen Grundle from Coleraine gave evidence remotely to the inquiry, describing how his mother Milda Grundle, who had multiple sclerosis, was taken to hospital in early April 2020.
Mr Grundle became tearful as he recounted how his mother was immediately pressured to agree to a Do-Not-Resuscitate order. He told the inquiry that a consultant claimed his mother had "no quality of life" because she used a hoist and required carers. "I was absolutely shocked," Mr Grundle testified. "I argued with him on the telephone, I told him that there would be repercussions. I couldn't believe someone was playing God, which can never be allowed to happen."
Systemic Issues and Lack of Accountability
Mr Grundle was among several members of the Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group who gave evidence during the latest module of the UK-wide inquiry. He described what he called "issues at all levels" in the healthcare system and demanded accountability for what happened to his mother.
Despite his efforts to highlight concerns through emails to politicians and media interviews, Mr Grundle said there were continued attempts to get his mother to agree to the DNACPR. He believes she eventually accepted when told she wouldn't receive a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit. "It's my personal belief that my mum was denied a chance at survival," he stated firmly.
The grieving son raised serious questions about the validity of the DNACPR process, noting that while the form had room for three signatures, only one consultant had signed it. "There were supposed to be three different people involved in the assessment, and I don't consider it valid," he explained. "Of course, I didn't have access to the hospital, so I didn't know what was going on."
Pandemic Grief and Cultural Disruption
Mr Grundle also spoke powerfully about the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on funerals and wakes in Northern Ireland. He described how the coming together of families and friends to share memories represents "very much part of the culture here," a tradition that was severely disrupted by pandemic measures.
He gave poignant examples of what he called "pandemic grief," revealing that he hasn't given anyone a "proper hug" since the last time he saw his mother. Mr Grundle emphasized that he hasn't properly begun to grieve because he lacks crucial information about his mother's care and how she contracted Covid-19.
"You see this with Hillsborough as well," he noted, drawing parallels with other tragedies. "The families' pain is prolonged, that's why the work on the duty of candour is so important. We need to have access to this information. I'm never going to have closure or peace about what happened to my mum, but I at least need that information to know what happened, and then to be able to go on and get some accountability."
Another Family's Heartbreaking Experience
Marie McArdle also gave evidence to the inquiry about her mother Ann McIvor from Moneymore, who died in hospital with Covid-19 on May 20, 2020, at age 80. She described her mother as having become frail but still mentally sharp and able to get about. Despite being a strong person, Ms McIvor was "very frightened" about going into hospital.
Ms McArdle highlighted communication failures as a major issue. "One person would tell you something, the next person would tell you the opposite," she recalled. "It was a complete nightmare." She believes her mother contracted Covid-19 in hospital and when she was discharged to a care home before returning to hospital on May 15.
The family faced immense difficulties getting information, and video calls proved frustrating as they could hardly make out what their mother was saying. Most heartbreakingly, none of the siblings could be with their mother when she died. They were all separately saying the Divine Mercy prayer in their four different homes when she passed away.
Traumatic Funeral Restrictions
Ms McArdle described the additional trauma of pandemic funeral restrictions. The siblings had to watch their mother's funeral on a screen from a funeral home as it took place at the church. "We were socially distant, we couldn't hug each other, hold each other's hands," she remembered painfully. "The coffin was there in front, I remember sitting looking at that coffin wondering is mummy in there."
She contrasted this with happier times just before the pandemic: "Prior to this, mum and I had been at Marks and Spencer, shopping, coffee, scone, and now she had disappeared. It was so painful and traumatic. The guilt of not seeing her in the hospital ... I just feel so much like I let her down."
Both testimonies highlighted the profound and lasting impact of pandemic-era healthcare decisions and restrictions on bereaved families across Northern Ireland and the wider United Kingdom. The inquiry continues to examine these difficult experiences as part of its comprehensive investigation into the UK's handling of the coronavirus crisis.
