Coronavirus: Parents are allowed to visit sick children in hospital during outbreak

NHS England guidance to hospitals makes clear that children can be accompanied by one parent or carer but says visiting can be suspended if hospitals consider it necessary

Hospitals should allow parents to be with children who are being treated for the coronavirus, NHS England has confirmed, after a 13-year-old boy died without any family members beside him.

Under its national guidance to hospitals, parents are considered essential visitors, but hospitals do have discretion to suspend visitors if it is “considered appropriate”. Anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 should not be allowed to visit a hospital.

NHS England confirmed the position after 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab died at King’s College Hospital in south London in the early hours of Monday without any family members present.

A statement by his family suggested he was alone because of the risk of infection.

On its website the hospital repeated the guidance sent to trusts by NHS England that states children are allowed one parent or carer as a visitor.

King’s College Hospital declined to explain why his family were not with him.

The end-of-life charity Marie Curie has also called on doctors to allow families to be with their loved ones, describing it as an “important part of their duty of care”.

Across the country, hospitals have now banned visiting during the outbreak in order to limit the spread of the virus, and prevent visitors and patients from becoming infected.

When asked what its official guidance to hospitals was, NHS England confirmed that in most cases children could be accompanied by one parent.

However, it also provided The Independent with a copy of guidance to trusts that gives hospitals discretion in how to apply the rules.

The document says: “Visitors to all areas of the healthcare facility should be restricted to essential visitors only, such as parents of paediatric patients or an affected patient’s main carer.

“Local risk assessment and practical management should be considered, ensuring this is a pragmatic and proportionate response, including the consideration of whether there is a requirement for visitors to wear personal protective equipment or respiratory protective equipment.

“Visiting may be suspended if considered appropriate.”

It added that visitors who had tested positive for the coronavirus must not be allowed into the hospital.

Ismail, who was not thought to have had any underlying health problems, was admitted to King’s College Hospital and put on a ventilator after having difficulties breathing.

A statement released by Madinah College London, where his sister works, said: “It is with great sadness to announce that the younger brother of one of our teachers has sadly passed away this morning due to being infected with Covid-19.

“Ismail was only 13 years old without any pre-existing health conditions and sadly he died without any family members close by due to the highly infectious nature of Covid-19.”

Ismail’s family, from Brixton, south London, said they were “beyond devastated”.

His death has been referred to the coroner for investigation.