Captain Tom

[ssd]

I know this is a really self indulgent post. So sorry in advance.
I'm worried about captain Tom. I know its ridiculous, I dont know him. Maybe because hes just a bit older than my dad would have been.
But I feel if he dies with coronavirus , it'll be the final straw for me. Hes been the only bright light in this.
If he doesn't recover I think I'll sink.

@RedWelliesAreHot

Sadly, I don't think we know the whole truth on this.

The family say he has been treated for pneumonia for weeks. That means it started soon after he came back from his holiday. But then to get Covid on top of that- how? From family? Medics?

It's incredibly sad that someone like him aged 100 was put, or put themselves, in a position where they were at risk.

He probably got covid in hospital whilst being treated for pneumonia. I dont think its that sad, we all chose to take risks in life, I dont think people should have been travelling abroad but if he had a good last holiday with his family and then dies shortly at 100 of a brief illness that's a pretty good death.

He probably got covid in hospital whilst being treated for pneumonia.

That's not the story that is being put out though.

The family say he was treated at home for pneumonia and has only just been taken to hospital to receive oxygen.

And if he did catch C in hospital, that's terrible really given how they are supposed to follow strict hygiene measures.

It would be wonderful news if he pulled through, he certainly is a strong man and a fighter, I'd love to see him give covid the finger!

I'm not sure a holiday to Barbados was the wisest choice in an international pandemic at the age of 100 though.

Lots of people have made some silly decision, but they aren't in the public eye to receive judgement.

But at his age after a bout of pneumonia already, it doesn't look good, I think having his family with him means it is nearing the end. So sad.

Yes, I had thought families were now able to visit in very specific circumstances

@RedWelliesAreHot

He probably got covid in hospital whilst being treated for pneumonia.

That's not the story that is being put out though.

The family say he was treated at home for pneumonia and has only just been taken to hospital to receive oxygen.

And if he did catch C in hospital, that's terrible really given how they are supposed to follow strict hygiene measures.

Sadly hospital transmission is a major problem. I've no doubt all those working in hospitals are doing everything possible to minimise the risks but the nature of the incubation period, asymptomatic cases, virulent virus etc makes it an impossible battle when infection rates are so high.

ONS and other reliable data sources show that hospital acquired infection is a big problem.

Hospital transmission is occurring all the time, staff do take all the measures they can but it's a highly infectious virus, testing isnt that accurate and there is a long period of incubation. It's one of the reasons that people who say let covid rip through the country so people can have cancer treatment dont make any sense, if covid is at really high rates in the community vulnerable people will catch it in hospital.

He's 100 years old! He was highly unlikely to see another xmas let alone 2022.

If he dies of pneumonia, covid or anything at all it will be sad for his family. But it is not a tragedy and it certainly doesnt need all this grief tourism being spouted on here and in the media.

@willFOURbagsbeenough

OP you should get some counselling. It’s not healthy to base your own mental well being on whether a totally unrelated stranger dies.

Oh please! I thought about him this morning and sent good wishes off in the direction of Bedford. I’m comforting myself by thinking that he had a wonderful last year if he goes now. Perhaps I need counselling too?

@NorbertMeubles

Are families now allowed to visit Covid patients in hospital? If so, that good news that people can see their loved ones and be with them when they are so desperately ill rather than just wait for a phone call.

I heard on the news earlier that his family were at the hospital and I had exactly the same thought. Good that relatives can now visit the very sick. Or is it a private hospital with different rules?

@Rightleftupdown

wrong to say he shouldn't have gone to Barbados over Christamas? - wasn't that the message the government was pushing? Stay home unless essential? Don't meet people over the break esp in certain areas? It's interesting that his free family holiday hasn't been mentioned at all in the news I've seen - but maybe that doesn't fit with the narrative?

Why post comments like this? Unless it's just to have a dig at him or his family.

It is irrelevant to the current situation. He was there several weeks ago now and it therefore isn't likely to be the reason he is now ill, not if he is currently testing positive.

I wish him well and hope he is as comfortable as possible, with his family able to be with him.

And yes, it is possible to still visit some patients in hospitals at present. That's unlikely to be special treatment for him. It just depends on which hospital, and how he is himself.

No, Bedford hospital is just a normal NHS hospital, split into two parts across town. He’s in south wing. But family are ‘with him’ rather than use visiting I believe

Not sounding great.

Bedford hospital is not private.

Good on him for going on a fantastic last holiday and if he sadly dies shortly then omg he's had a fantastic life and incredible last year. I doubt anyone forced him to go to Barbados bless him. I will be sad though, he kept me going last April that's for sure. It was a risk to go obviously but I think he knew that.

The holiday was given to the family as a freebie by BA, who then used photos of Tom for publicity purposes under the hashtag #VisitBarbados. I personally find that in very poor taste. You can still find the tweets if you look. The media have quite rightfully attacked influencers for flocking to Dubai over the last few weeks, when in fact many of them also left before the tighter restrictions. Why is it one rule for Tom and his family and another for them?

I

I hugely disliked the Tom thing from the outset and couldn’t quite believe the Barbados trip wasn’t a joke but I can see how people get attached when someone is presented in a certain way so I’ll stop there and go watch the Tesco’s ad.

Or are we banning Tesco’s too.

@the80sweregreat

He is very elderly and covid is a nasty bugger. It took my 98 year old dad back in May. I hope he'll be ok of course. You never know.

Really sorry about your dad.

It is wonderful news that now families can now hold the hand of their loved ones when they are nearing the end after months and months of hearing so many desperately sad stories of people who can't. I'm sad for Captain Tom and his family but relieved that these rules are now less strict and people can say goodbye with dignity and love.

It is wonderful news that now families can now hold the hand of their loved ones when they are nearing the end after months and months of hearing so many desperately sad stories of people who can't.

This really isn't news and it certainly hasn't started with Sir Tom.

ONS and other reliable data sources show that hospital acquired infection is a big problem.

I know. @Calyptus76 !

Last estimate was 10K deaths from it caught in hospital.

I know it's not a popular thing to say, but I can't help feel that his illness, whether as a result of a long haul flight at 100, or from Covid caught either on the flight/ at airport/ from people around him, or at home afterwards, could have been prevented.

The message from the family is not that he caught C in hospital, but that he has it and was admitted for care.

@smoothchange

It is wonderful news that now families can now hold the hand of their loved ones when they are nearing the end after months and months of hearing so many desperately sad stories of people who can't.

This really isn't news and it certainly hasn't started with Sir Tom.

Apologies if I have got this wrong. A family friend wasn't able to visit her Mum so that is what I'm basing this on. Sorry if I have caused offense.

@smoothchange, it was news to me too. Why the need to be snarky about it 🤷‍♀️

@Snowdropsanddaffs, nothing to apologise for.

[quote Fembot123]@smoothchange, it was news to me too. Why the need to be snarky about it 🤷‍♀️[/quote]

Apologies. Snarky was not intended.

I just feel that so many people who don't know what the rules regarding dying hospital patients is are being mislead. Sir Tom isn't the first.

But I realise my post may have been read with time I didn't intend. So my apologies for not expanding enough to explain better

Oh please! I thought about him this morning and sent good wishes off in the direction of Bedford. I’m comforting myself by thinking that he had a wonderful last year if he goes now. Perhaps I need counselling too?

Sending off good wishes and being pleased he had a good last year is very different from

But I feel if he dies with coronavirus , it'll be the final straw for me.
If he doesn't recover I think I'll sink.

You know this.

@RedWelliesAreHot

I expect this will be zapped but surely the Q on everyone's lips is how did he catch it?

Travel was more or less banned in Dec, except for essential journeys.
So even if it was his choice to take up the free offer, BA should have not offered it!

And the implication is he caught Covid from a medic looking after him when he was treated for pneumonia.

It seems so sad to lose him through (perhaps) sheer carelessness from someone else.

IN my local area there are SO many reports of sick people catching covid whilst in hospital or undergoing treatment. The very elderly father of a family friend was admitted to hospital (covid free) with a very serious heart condition that he was not expected to survive but he also caught covid whilst in hospital.

I don't condone overseas travel but if I was 100 years old and it was very likely to be my last christmas anyway I would very possibly thing what the heck and go.

@smoothchange, thank you I appreciate that.