NURSES will write personal cards to relatives whose loved ones die with no family present as NHS staff enter a "new world" with coronavirus restrictions.
Chief executive of the Belfast Trust Cathy Jack told Stormont's health committee today that they have bought iPads so families, banned from visiting due to strict rules aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19, can stay in touch with gravely ill patients.
The palliative care nurse caring for them when they die will write a personal letter to their family to explain how they passed away and include anything which was said in their final moments.
Dr Jack also said there "may be some shift" in some cancer treatments from NHS care into the independent sector if services need to be totally distanced.
Belfast City Hospital tower is to be taken over as the new Covid-19 Nightingale care facility for people with the virus.
The Mater Hospital was previously designated as the Belfast hub, but a 230-bed unit is being set up at the City Hospital for patients requiring intensive care because it "has good infrastructure and the oxygen supplies".
The site is home to the regional cancer centre, with part of its patient care still being provided at Bridgewater Suite within the tower.
Sick patient assessments on cancer patients will be carried out there.
The Irish News understands that the trust has a number of measures in place against cross-contamination exposure for medical staff or patients.
Cancer medics will access their part of the tower block through a separate bridge and it will function as an entirely separate unit from the Covid-19 facility.
No patient or medic will be required to go through the tower.
Read more:
- Six more deaths in Northern Ireland as Mater 'almost full'
- Family tell of 'unbearable' pain at not being able to see loved one who died in nursing home during Covid-19 lockdown
