Marie Curie’s view on being with the dying during the Coronavirus crisis

A spokesperson for Marie Curie said:

“Marie Curie is delivering frontline services through the Coronavirus crisis, currently supporting Covid-19 patients in the community and in our hospices. We are seeing first-hand the huge complexity around comforting dying people and saying goodbye to loved ones at this time of national crisis.

“We believe, where possible, and it is safe to do so, people should be able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Doing so is an important part of the grieving and bereavement process now and in the longer term. This may mean using technology such as video calls to do this, or by providing families with personal protective equipment.

“Yet we know that the NHS, and Marie Curie, who are also on the frontline, are unable to get the PPE we need for our staff, let alone loved ones wishing to visit the dying to say their goodbyes. We know this is an extremely challenging time for everyone involved and we must be able to protect frontline staff, patients and their loved ones, but also try to remain compassionate.”