Why no recent updates of poor Borris?

[whodunit3]

Just that really, I have been checking the news almost hourly over the last few days and up until yesterday morning/lunchtime we were getting quite a detailed review of how he was doing but this seems to have stopped.

I’m worried after Dominic Raabs flippant “he’s a fighter comment” that things are now much worse.

I’m not sure why I’m so invested in his well-being other than I spent the last month tuning in to watch his daily briefs and (while I don’t think he is a great politician) quite liked his “can do” mentality.

Do people think he is on the mend and will pull through?

[Sounsociable]

I have assumed that if no further updates have been issued his condition would be the same , and would only be cause for news if drastically worsened or came out of ICU.
Even if he comes out of ICU, I would imagine he will be in hospital (or at least out of action) for several more weeks.

[Selfsettling3]

There probably has not been much of a change. I wouldn’t expect an update except for he is out of ICU or if he died which I hope he doesn’t.

[coconuttelegraph]

What do you want them to do? They aren't going to issue hourly updates saying nothing's changed, from everything we hear once you're in ITU you don't suddenly bounce back to health. My guess is that we'll keep being told he's stable until he either leaves ITU or has to move to a ventilator - what else is there to say?

[DianaT1969]

I really wish him well and keep checking the news regularly too. I'm feeling more hopeful that he hasn't needed a ventilator. I also wondered about his next of kin situation as I didn't think he was divorced yet. Checked and just read that the divorce was finalised in February - in the nick of time. Legally, would his estranged wife have made medical decisions for him?? Although this crisis must have flagged to his fiance how insecure her situation is.

[awesomeaircraft]

My understanding is that C19 patients need a long time to get better. It is a slow virus. I think we should leave them to fight it off in peace. The whole media thing is us being over curious.

[BubblesBuddy]

Why on Earth is anyone looking for updates all the time? There are other things to do! We will be told necessary info. If you are no longer married I assume next of kin is any DC over 18, or failing that a parent.

[NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite]

@Hairwizard

Is 'in good spirits' not usually code for they are really unwell but we cant let them panic??
I don't think it is in Boris' case. He's a very positive person and does have a sunny disposition but if he was extremely ill with breathing difficulties that would go out the window. We know he isn't on a ventilator or even on a CPAP machine. He is breathing on his own and has been given 4 litres of standard oxygen when 15 litres is the norm in Covid-19 patients so that suggests he isn't in a dire situation. He does not have pnuemonia and his fever is coming down. That sounds promising.

The Govt have said we haven't been lied to about Boris Johnson's health - he was unwell and he suddenly deteriorated as other patients have done at the point of the illness. They have also said they will be honest in future updates about his health . I believe them.

I think he is in good spirits at present because he is well enough to be. If he deteriorated or relapsed we will be told.

[BlackCatSleeping]

They should put a webcam in his room with his vital stats at the bottom corner.

Not really. He’s in hospital, we’re getting daily updates. I think that’s sufficient.

[SallyWD]

There were updates this morning that he's stable and still in intensive care. Also read that his temperature is down. Getting updates every day, sometimes more is enough, isn't it?

[NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite]

Applejaxx

Why do they keep saying that he’s in ‘good spirits’? It makes me think that he’s laughing and joking with the staff etc, but I find it hard to believe that someone in ICU would be able to do that.
Why? He's conscious. Even with breathing difficulties he could be his smiley self with little jokey comments. I can well imagine he would do precisely that but not quite as breezily as usual.

What's the point in endless "he's stable" updates?
It tells us he has not deteriorated and calms people's fears. His father is getting updates on his son in the same way that we are. I'm sure he is extremely grateful for those updates whatever you think of them.

[BlueBrian]

When the Borisgraph starts printing stuff like this, you definitely get the feeling things aren't going well.
Politics latest news: Boris Johnson may not return to full time work for 'months', ICU expert says.
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/04/08/coronavirus-dominic-raab-lockdown-news-boris-johnson-hospital/

[AJPTaylor]

For the love of mike, what do people expect? I guess it's like the royal family. There are stock phrases and updates.
ICU don't give hourly update, prognosis to anyone. In normal times it's hours of sitting next to a bed staring at monitors and listening to an endless series of feckin alarms.
I'm going with what they are saying. No point in pondering anything else fgs.

[HappyHammy]

Next of kin dont make medical decisions. Adults make their own decisions if they have the capacity to do so. In emergencies then doctors make medical decisions in the patients best interest. If a patient lacks capacity and has a health power of attorney set up the doctors can discuss options and treatments with them but no one can demand treatment either for themselves or someone else.

[Applejaxx]

NotEverything have you ever been on an ICU ward?

[BarkandCheese]

Presumably his condition hasn’t altered. From what I’ve seen a lot of hospitalised people reach a point of peak illness for them where they’re very unwell and on oxygen but don’t require ventilation, stay in that state for several days then slowly recover. If Boris follows this path he’ll be “stable” for several more days before he starts to improve so there’s little to report.

[iVampire]

That Telegraph article is behind a ‘start your free subscription’ wall

Is it actually a prediction about Boris (doubt it) or a lift of an ICU specialist talking about COVID-19 cases in general (including range of timings) which they’ve edited to shoehorn in BoJo?

[Dartsplayer]

Update on BBC1 now. He's not on a ventilator, but is receiving oxygen

[peppersneezes000]

I think he'll be fine if his condition hasn't deteriorated much further 🤞

[Wakeupsunshine]

I don’t think that’s a new update is it? That’s yesterday.

[MrsFogi]

The "he's a fighter" comment was ridiculous and annoying, along the lines of "fighting off cancer" - the implication being that those that don't come through did not "fight" hard enough. Fighting has nothing to do with it!

[EricaNernie]

no news is good news

[EricaNernie]

And as much as I want him to survive, there are plenty of other ill people who we are not getting updates on

[LondonJax]

My mum was in hospital recently. Most of the time when we called we were told 'no change'. That's it for many illnesses. Updating every hour or something ridiculous like that is unnecessary. 'No change' means just that - holding on, not needing anything further but not a sign of improvement yet. Like many other illnesses.

[Hairwizard]

@EricaNernie

Yip i reckon so too. Hopefully not any worse at least.

[MaxNormal]

I'd prefer the focus now to be on the ongoing crises, which still needs to be managed regardless of Johnson's illness. This very expensive lockdown is meant to be buying us time and it can't be squandered.