Boris in hospital

[Cary2012]

Breaking news.

Thank you for the sanity shes.

I think what Fa meant was it is out of character not to have given us a thumbs up....

Fair enough. Maybe he doesn't think it's appropriate right now.

It's what the 'good spirits' thing is all about - that's to invoke his usual thumbs up type image. I agree it's not appropriate. They have been told to say it by someone aiming to control the public response.

The problem is no-one believes no.10 now so there is much more speculation. They could have just said he’s in ICU and critical but stable and then focus on the government implications. We don’t need every detail but by giving some (especially when they don’t seem to make sense) it just invites more rumours and analysis.

I feel very sorry for his older children who understand the implications of Covid 19, they went through the trauma if their Mum having cancer fairly recently and now their Dad so ill.

Why is everybody so convinced it doesn't make sense and we are being lied to? There is a link in an earlier post on this thread (buttermilkwaffles at 14:56) to a tweet which contains informatoin from an A&E consultant in Manchester. He says that normally, when a patient of the PM's age arrives, they would be put on oxygen and check oxygenation levels. If their oxygenation level is going up and down they lie the patient on their stomach. If that doesn't help they transfer the patient to intensive care and continue to observe their oxygen levels. If oxygenation drops below 88% they move to PCAP (giving oxygen with pressure). If that doesn't work the next step is a ventilator.

As this is the PM we are dealing with they may well have transferred him to intensive care earlier than other patients. But there is nothing inconsistent about a patient with this virus being in intensive care and in good spirits. All it means is that his oxygen level isn't stabilising.

It may be that he is in a worse condition than we've been told but everything that has been said so far is entirely consistent with the way this virus behaves and the way it is treated as far as I can see.

Thanks prh :)

Are others in ICU in good spirits? It's not something we've been hearing.
He is ill, but just being given a better chance than those told to stay at home. He deserves better than everyone else because of who he is.

Are others in ICU in good spirits

I don't think there is any way of knowing. We don't get daily bulletins on them. But, being an optimist, I would hope to be in good spirits if I was in intensive care but breathing without assistance, even if I was being made to lie on my stomach.

I thought he was being given oxygen, which is assistance, even though it's low key, and could be given on a general ward rather than an ICU?

@Peregrina
Yes it could be given on a Covid ward (general wards are kept separate from Covid patients for the obvious reasons).
He is in a major, busy hospital. He's in ITU because if he takes a sudden turn for the worse, everything and everyone he needs to ventilate are there ready.
He's the Prime Minister, they will be proactive rather than than reactive with him.
I wish him well, he's very poorly, have no doubt about that.

I don’t think there would be any way of anyone taking a photo of BJ in ITU even if he wanted one. A mobile phone would be an infection risk.

He'd convey something to the public though. I can imagine him dictating some sort of rousing message to us all with his literal last breath.

I'm not sure anyone with breathing difficulties would be in "good spirits", and I'm not sure you're admitted to an ICU and put on oxygen without having breathing difficulties.

Not being on a ventilator is a good sign though. I'm not sure they'd lie about that - maybe just not say anything if he was.

Just skimming last pages, so funny discussing whether someone is in good spirits lying prostrate on their front in intensive care..
I just have this imagine of poor boris bravely smiling in such a pose giving a thumbs up...

Bit surprised they haven't done an evening update on how he's doing.

'' putinesq prowess on the tennis court '' 😂

Surely putin propaganda has more to boast about.

The 10pm news seemed to be just the 5pm stuff again.

They said they weren't going to give an update until tomorrow.

Personally I don't think that is unreasonable. If there is no change there is nothing to report. If he has begun to rally, they probably want to wait to see further progress.

Well good luck Boris, overnight seems to be the most worrying time although in ITU I am sure it isn't really any different than the day.

I have no idea if BJ is "in good spirits" (I doubt it very much" but if he is "on his stomach" he will be unconscious, paralysed and sedated

Have a look here and take note of the section on "proning"

My DM was in ICU for 3 weeks after throat cancer surgery. I have to say neither she nor any of the other patients in there appeared in ‘good spirits’ and I was there every day for the while visiting times.

Whole

if he is "on his stomach" he will be unconscious, paralysed and sedated

I suggest you try watching the BBC video to which you link again. The section that mentions proning is talking about patients who are on ventilators. They are sedated because they are on ventilation, not because they are being put on their stomachs. The A&E consultant quoted upthread was talking about putting patients on their stomachs long before putting them on ventilation - even before they try PCAP (which does not require sedation). I am not a doctor but I'm inclined to believe this A&E consultant probably knows what he or she is talking about.

The prone position and deep breathing exercises are recommended as good breathing hygiene for everyone, including mild cases of COVID-19.

I'm no doctor but I'd imagine all covid-19 patients are placed in prone position where possible. IIRC it minimises secondary infections in patients with respiritary distress.