There is currently a lot of media attention on @jowhiley and the fact that her sister is in hospital with Covid-19.
I would firstly like to make clear that I hope Frances makes a full recovery. I understand very well what it is like to have a disabled family member fighting for
I would firstly like to make clear that I hope Frances makes a full recovery. I understand very well what it is like to have a disabled family member fighting for
their life in hospital. My daughter's seizures are triggered by her having a cold and so all respiratory infections represent a real risk of death.
However, I felt that some of Jo Whiley's comments on @AndrewMarr9 today were quite misleading and I worry about them causing
However, I felt that some of Jo Whiley's comments on @AndrewMarr9 today were quite misleading and I worry about them causing
unnecessary anxiety for disabled people and their families.
Jo Whiley stated that all people with a learning disability are at increased risk from Sars-CoV-2. This is not at all true.
There are many disabled people, like Frances and my daughter, with complex health conditions
Jo Whiley stated that all people with a learning disability are at increased risk from Sars-CoV-2. This is not at all true.
There are many disabled people, like Frances and my daughter, with complex health conditions
who are indeed at increased risk. From this and other respiratory viruses. But there are also many learning-disabled people who are at no more risk than anyone else. Somebody with visual impairment, or dyslexia, or hearing loss is not more vulnerable due to their condition.
I think it is important to make that very clear to people. Jo Whiley also stated that NHS staff were suddenly being confronted with the need to give oxygen to disabled patients, which they have no prior experience of. I have spent many hours over the years
in hospital wards, clutching my screaming, flailing daughter as nurses and doctors attempted to get an oxygen mask on her, put a cannula in her hand or take her temperature. There is nothing unfamiliar about this challenge for NHS staff.
Lastly, Jo Whiley clearly has a very
Lastly, Jo Whiley clearly has a very
different view about the vaccine to mine. But I hope she would agree with me on the fact that disabled people have been criminally neglected and mistreated throughout this situation. Their therapies have stopped. Their consultant appointments have been cancelled. Vital facilities
have been inaccessible. Those in care homes have been denied visits from family for months on end. The increase in home births and expectant mothers avoiding hospital will have increased the number of babies born with brain damage. It would be really good if high-profile
celebrities such as herself could do more to raise awareness of these things. In my view, they represent a much greater injustice than the fact that disabled people have not been prioritised for vaccination.
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