London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

COVID-19 Bereaved Families Share Heartbreaking Stories of Loss, Abuse, and Need for Better End-of-Life Care

COVID-19 Bereaved Families Share Heartbreaking Stories of Loss, Abuse, and Need for Better End-of-Life Care

The UK's Covid-19 Inquiry has heard from several bereaved families who have experienced abuse and targeted online attacks.
One of the witnesses, Matt Fowler, co-founder of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, shared that he and others in the organization have been stalked and threatened via social media.

Fowler's father, Ian, died in April 2020 after being infected with the virus.

Fowler also spoke of the lack of compassion and understanding shown by some people towards those who have lost loved ones to Covid-19.

He stressed that such abuse is unique to their loss and that no one would question the death of a loved one from another cause in the same way.

The inquiry, which is focused on resilience and preparedness, heard from several groups representing bereaved families across the UK.

It is expected to hold public hearings until 2026 and is aimed at learning lessons from the pandemic.

During the inquiry on Tuesday, Jane Morrison, who represents Scottish Covid Bereaved, shared her experience of losing her wife Jacky in 2020, five days after she caught Covid in hospital.

She thanked key workers for their compassion and emphasized the importance of infection control in hospitals, which she described as "close to my heart." Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, leader of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, also gave evidence, sharing her father Ian's story.

He died at the age of 85 after catching the virus in hospital, where he had been admitted for gallbladder problems.

The inquiry chairwoman, Baroness Heather Hallett, responded to Fowler's testimony by acknowledging the abuse as "plain cruel." She promised to learn any lessons that could be gleaned from the testimony and to answer any questions that arose during the inquiry.

The Covid-19 Inquiry is separate from the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, which is also ongoing.

While the UK inquiry does not have a formal deadline, it is expected to hold public hearings until 2026.

A heart-wrenching testimony by a daughter who watched her father die a painful death at home due to COVID-19 has brought attention to the need for better end-of-life care during the pandemic.

The daughter, Marsha Rees, described how her father had been shielding at home for months to protect himself and how it was "awful" to watch him "die gasping for breath".

She added that many members of her group are "haunted" by the idea of going to hospitals and no longer feel they are a safe place.

The issue of COVID-19 related deaths being treated as "toxic waste" has been raised by Rees, who wants to change the way deaths are handled by health boards.

She emphasized the need for families to be prepared and supported before and after the death of a loved one, including palliative care and dignity in death.

Rees said that after her father's death, he was "zipped away" and his belongings were put in a Tesco carrier bag, which she found to be "awful".

Brenda Doherty, whose mother was the first woman to die in Northern Ireland with Covid, at the age of 82, also gave evidence to the inquiry.

Doherty expressed her regret at not being able to kiss her mother one last time, or bury her in her favorite red dress.

She said that she had been very vocal about her mother's death and that she wouldn't become a statistic, but that everyone will know who she was, the life she had, and not just how she died.

The testimony of these individuals highlights the importance of proper end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare systems need to prepare for and support families during this difficult time, ensuring that dignity and compassion are maintained throughout the process.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
×