London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Elderly couple spend 'final moments' together as they both battle Covid

Elderly couple spend 'final moments' together as they both battle Covid

An elderly couple suffering from coronavirus has been able to say their ‘last goodbye’ thanks to hospital staff.

Gerry, 79, and Barbara, 76, Jarrett have been on separate wards since being hospitalised with the virus two weeks ago.

NHS staff made sure the couple – who has been together for 50 years – had some ‘precious time’ this week as Ms Jarrett deteriorated and ‘looked to be at the end’.

Daughter, Chloe Keljarrett, posted a photograph of her parents on Twitter on Tuesday, thanking staff at Surrey’s Frimley Park Hospital for their ‘compassion’.

Mrs Keljarrett said: ‘In the midst of a pandemic peak, staff (namely a consultant, a surgeon and a HCA) at FPH just made sure my dad saw my mum for what is likely the last time. THAT is our NHS. For God’s sake protect it as much as you can.’

Ms Jarrett’s eyes flew open and she ‘was awake and bright and could talk’ as soon as Mr Jarrett ‘touched her hand’, Mrs Keljarrett told the BBC.

She said: ‘We got a precious extra hour or two before her breathing got worse again and got to say what we wanted.’


The couple’s daughter thanked the staff at Frimley Park Hospital





The Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust responded to the teacher’s tweet, saying: ‘Our hearts go out to you and your family. We are so glad that our staff managed to make this time just a little bit easier for you all.

‘This truly is some of the care we give that matters the most.’

NHS Million, an organisation that supports staff, told Mrs Keljarrett: ‘Our hearts are with you.’

Many others left sympathies for the family on the post, also vocalising their admiration for NHS staff.

Mrs Keljarrett said her dad was ‘showing signs of improvement’ but still has ‘a number of other health issues that will make recovery that bit trickier’.

She has vowed to remain positive and has marvelled at how NHS staff ‘are managing such compassion when they are stretched to their emotional and physical limits’.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×