AN NHS doctor was forced to watch his mum's funeral on a Zoom video conference after she died of coronavirus.
Dr Robert Baskind, a consultant psychiatrist from Leeds, wasn't able to visit 74-year-old Sue Baskind after she began to show symptoms of Covid-19.
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The doctor is self-isolating for 12 weeks because his wife Ellissa is undergoing treatment for leukaemia, putting her in the high-risk category.
Tragically, Dr Baskind's mother, who was admitted to hospital last Monday, died on Friday evening.
Her funeral took place on Sunday.
But Dr Baskind, his wife and his father – who is also self-isolating – were unable to attend in person.
'WE STILL CONSIDERED HER YOUNG'
In an interview with Sky News, Dr Baskind said: "My mum was a very active, fit lady, very hospitable, welcoming, beautiful lady.
"Even though she had been poorly in these last few years, she was still functioning to a reasonable level.
"Even at the age of 74, we still considered her a young lady.
"All her four sons, her husband, her 11 grandchildren – she was still supporting us at all the family events.
"It was a massive shock when she suddenly became ill with coronavirus."
STRUGGLING TO BREATHE
He said his mum had been a "bit weak" and seemed a "little confused", before her condition deteriorated and she developed a dry cough and a 'significantly spiked' temperature.
He said: "We eventually contacted 999 for an ambulance.
"Thank goodness for technology – we can do video calls.
"That became so much more difficult when she went into hospital because she was struggling to breathe."
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He said none of the family were able to visit her during her last days.
Just three of his brothers were able to attend the funeral.
"We watched the funeral via Zoom conference, which is something I'd normally be using for work-related conferences," he said.
"I never thought I'd be watching my mum's funeral in that way."
'NOTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE'
Dr Baskind said it's important not to forget that support should be put in place for anyone affected by the crisis.
"I don't think we can underestimate the trauma that coronavirus is bringing," he said.
"I think we need to be prepared for the support that's going to be needed for individuals who have gone through this crisis.
"It's unique.
"No one I've spoken to, however old, has been through anything like this before."
It comes as the UK coronavirus death rate shot up by another 50 per cent today.
In total, 563 people died in a single day, bringing the total number of people who have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus to 2,352.
There has been criticism over the lack of available tests.
Just 2,000 NHS workers have been tested for the virus – meaning many are forced to self-isolate because they don't know if they have the virus or not.
The health service could be carrying out 100,000 tests a day – but still doesn't have the necessary kit, officials have warned.
It means that up to 85 per cent of healthcare staff are "unnecessarily self-isolating".
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