Man died of Covid after a trip to hospital for a fall

By Toby Porter

A former nurse is to complain to the British Medical Association after her husband went into hospital on Boxing Day only as a precaution after a fall – and died 10 days later of Covid.

Jagir Sekhon, 78, a Former mayor of Greenwich, is to complain about the treatment husband Mohant, 77, received at Lewisham Hospital-and will claim discrimination.

The diabetic tested positive for Covid on December 27, one day after his admission, despite having no symptoms.

He was told on December 30 he could go home the next day, December 31. A physio, occupational therapist and pharmacist were organised for him – and on December 31 he pleaded with his wife to come home that day.

The family say he claimed he was not being cared for properly.

But during the course of his days in hospital, as his condition worsened, his consultant withdrew his insulin, glucose, oxygen-boost-ing CPAP machine, fluids and his feed.

The decision not to resuscitate was reaffirmed and the family were called into hospital on January 5 and told Mohant did not have long to live.

“My husband was neglected,” claimed Mrs Sekhon, a doctor of law. “There was nothing wrong with him when he went in. I was dis-cussing my husband’s discharge plans with a ward doctor – but the consultant told me on January 1 they would not resuscitate him.

“I told her his consultant at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, said he should be on full resuscitation. But this consultant insisted he was not to be resuscitated; that if Mohant arrested they would not take him to intensive care.

“I pleaded with this consultant to not leave my husband to die. Why was the consultant talking to me on January 1 about my husband’s resuscitation when he had been due to be discharged on January 1? Why was he kept in? Why was there no consultation at all with family members about any of his care plan?

“I made numerous phone calls and sent more than 12 emails to the hospital charge nurse, Patient Advice and Liaison Team and the chief executive, pleading with hospital staff to feed my husband and hydrate him.

“I then spoke to our MP Clive Efford and council leader Cllr Danny Thorpe and they all tried their hardest to and I am grateful to them for their support in this matter.

“I did not leave any stone unturned to get him better. He was chatting away on December 31.

“I begged to see him on Monday January 4 but I was told no. On Tuesday January 5 they called us all in, saying his blood oxygen was 70, he was semi conscious.

“We went in and his mouth was dry and he could not get his words out. He was not in pain. I said I loved him and he said he loved me too with his gestures. We were married 52-and-a-half year and I looked after his diabetes for 35 years.

“My son and daughter were there all day on January 6. His blood oxygen level was 92-96 per cent. They wanted to go back to see him in the evening. He was fully alert – unable to speak but responding with his head, which was seen by the registrar who popped in to see him and commented: ‘oh you are more alert today Mr Sekhon’.”

On January 6 he was speaking to his grandchildren on Facetime. They said: “Baba, we love you, hurry up and come home.” But he died the following day.

Mr Sekhon, of Plumstead, had fallen in the family dining room on December 26 and was only taken to Lewisham because waiting times at the nearer Queen Elizabeth Hospital were more than six hours.

A spokesman for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust said: “Our thoughts are with Dr Sekhon and her family at this difficult time. Regular discussions took place with Dr Sekhon during her husband’s care.

“Our staff followed best practice and did everything they could to care for him, with senior doctors and nurses involved through- out. We will be responding to Dr Sekhon in detail about the issues she has raised with us.”

The funeral for Mr Sekhon, a former quality control manager at Fords in Dagenham, and postal driver for Greenwich council, is due on Thursday.