A FERMANAGH woman has raised concerns around Coronavirus testing for frontline health care workers after her father died from Covid-19.

Robert ‘George’ Little (80) of Coolbuck, Lisbellaw died on December 16 in the South West Acute Hospital after testing positive for the virus on December 4.

Mr. Little, who was in poor health, had been isolated and 'cocooning' during the pandemic, only seeing his daughter, Hazel Gray, and health care workers caring for his wife in recent months.

Hazel had been caring for her parents, George and Violet, who was also diagnosed with Covid-19 – however, although Hazel had tested negative when she went for a test on December 5, she later tested positive on December 10.

Talking to The Impartial Reporter, Hazel said: “I am concerned that carers are not tested and never have been offered a test. I have made my concerns known to [Minister for Health] Robin Swann, who I have known for a long time, and to [First Minister] Arlene Foster.”

Hazel was concerned that not enough has been done to slow down the spread of the coronavirus during the 'second wave'.

She said: “Obviously, lockdown measures have now been introduced, but it's too late for my father.”

Hazel had taken her father to his GP, and while carrying out routine tests, medical staff queried if he had a temperature, which they later discovered he had, but George did not have a cough.

Hazel said: “There were none of the classic [Covid-19] symptoms – we wouldn’t have known he had a temperature unless it had been taken."

She told The Impartial Reporter that she had presumed there was an ongoing testing regime for carers due to the nature of their work, and added: "They are coming in to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

Hazel continued: “I was so scared when I got my dad’s test back. I thought instantly of the carers who come in to my mother, and that they need to know [about his diagnosis] so they can take precautions, because he is positive, and they are coming into a positive house.

"I rang the domiciliary care manager to inform the carers, and I asked when they got their last test done, and I was told they don’t get tested,” she claimed.

Hazel’s mother had been visited by a mixture of Western Trust Domiciliary Care Workers and carers from private agencies.

In response to Hazel’s queries and issues which The Impartial Reporter raised with The Western Trust, a Trust spokesperson referred this newspaper to the Department of Health. 

Hazel, an only child, had been devoted in her caring for her parents throughout the pandemic.

She said: “I had been coming every day and bringing food and meals to my mum and dad because they hadn’t been able to look after themselves [due to declining health] for the past six months.”

The couple had been restricted in their movements, and rarely ever left the house, as explained by Hazel.

She said: “It’s frustrating – we’d kept them safe all through this time; we did the shopping for them, we did everything for them, and we only got out a couple of Sunday afternoons back in August – and that’s the only time they’ve been out [since the pandemic started].”

George Little was buried in Tempo Parish Churchyard on Sunday, December 20, following a short service conducted by Rev. Maurice Armstrong.

A guard of honour was formed at Ballyreagh Silver Band hall – a special place for George, where he was a member all his life.

He had played a huge array of instruments during his time with the band. The band played a selection of tunes, including Evening Hymn, and Abide With Me.

Indeed, it was the music from his beloved Ballyreagh Silver band CD that was played for him as he lay in hospital approaching the end of his life.

Hazel reflected on her father who “dedicated his life to looking after my mother”.

She continued: “He was a man of few words, but he cared. In the years gone by, dad would have picked up the carers in the snow so they could get to my mother.”

He is survived by his wife, Violet; daughter, Hazel; and his grandchildren, Matthew, Rebecca and Emily.