Vulnerable people in Sheffield ‘could be written off’ in coronavirus second wave

During the first wave of coronavirus, thousands of disabled or elderly people were given do not resuscitate or DNAR orders meaning that meant doctors should not try to save their lives if they were to get seriously ill.

Sheffield human rights campaigner Chrissy Meleady MBE said hundreds of people in the city had been subjected to unnecessary DNARs earlier this year, and now people advocating for vulnerable groups were worried that things were ‘sliding back’.

She said: “Under the guidance, doctors are meant to discuss DNARs with patients or their families but that is not being done.

“In the first wave this happened and now for the second wave patients and families are being bounced into forgoing treatment and having DNARs forced upon them again.

“It is a national scandal. These people are human beings and it is against equality and their basic human rights.”

Chrissy also said that there is evidence that so-called ‘blanket DNARs’ have been imposed on entre care homes until the practice was stopped by judicial review earlier this year. It is currently being investigated by the Care Quality Commission.

She added she was currently campaigning against the widespread use of DNARs on behalf of people in Sheffield and across the country, including one man who is currently being treated at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital who is just 65 years old.

She said: “It’s done on a points-based system so if you are above 65 you automatically get seven points and you only need eight for a DNAR. That other point can come from any underlying problem such as being overweight or anything else they deem as a risk.

“Also, the man at the Hallamshire is a Muslim so there are cultural aspects to this as well. Some faiths view this as a type of euthanasia. He is currently on oxygen and his family are currently trying to get him taken to another ICU who think he is viable.”

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