The Stockholm couple followed the Care Guide's recommendations when the husband became ill. Although he had undergone a transplant some time ago, they were urged to wait for medical attention to see if the symptoms would worsen. Both cough and fever increased and on Thursday evening last week they were allowed to go to Södersjukhuset. On Friday night, he was moved to the intensive care unit because breathing needed oxygen support.
They talked on the phone for a short while.
- We talked very briefly. He had a hard time talking because he coughed so much, says his wife.
It was the last time she heard anything from her covid-19-sick husband.
"After that I didn't hear anything"
At noon on Monday, she still hadn't heard anything from the Southern Hospital. Then two days had passed since the call. No one at the hospital had heard of it yet.
- After that conversation, I didn't hear anything. I called all the numbers on the intensive and the switch but they didn't answer, the woman says.
She herself is ill and therefore unable to move outside. Eventually, the couple's son went to the hospital for emergency care and learned from the reception staff that his father was being cared for on the intensive care unit.
- They checked up and saw that he was admitted to IVA, but we didn't get more information than that, the woman tells SVT News.
The hospital departed from its own routine
In an e-mail to SVT Nyheter, the Southern Hospital press service writes that contact with the closest relatives of a patient at IVA occurs immediately after the daily round and in the event that the patient's condition deteriorates. But the woman never received the daily call. Even when the husband's condition deteriorated and the care staff had to anesthetize him, the contact failed.
The family understands that the great challenge that health care is currently facing is forcing healthcare staff to implement all possible priorities. But at the same time wishes that information was a priority.
- I just wanted to talk to someone for a minute and hear what it's like with my husband, says his wife.