A Stretton mum has launched an online petition urging the government to allow parents to be classed as “key workers” so she can cuddle her 10-year-old disabled son who needs 24 hour care.
Kate Jones hasn’t been able to hug 10-year-old Josh, who has a life limiting condition, for four months due to government restrictions involving care homes and only recently saw him from a distance wearing full PPE.
So far more than 1,700 people have signed the petition.
She said: “My son is 10 and can’t speak, walk, talk. He requires 24 hour round the clock care. He has a tracheotomy, is peg fed and a colostomy. It’s been so stressful not seeing him and now not being able to give him a hug.
“I know we aren’t the only ones in this position there are many families with children or elderly relatives being denied direct contact.”
Kate added: “There is no clear guidance for residential settings and this is where care homes are getting confused and reluctant to allow families in.
“Josh couldn’t form a bubble with us as we live as a family of three, myself husband and other son and technically Josh lives with others in his residential.”
In launching her online petition to Matthew Hancock MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Kate wrote:” I have a 10 year old son who has been on lockdown in a residential setting since March.
My son has severe disabilities requires 24/7 care and is life limiting. He would normally come home at weekends but due to Covid this hasn’t been possible. Today we have finally got to see our son but at a distance of 2 metres with PPE on.
“We haven’t been able to hold him or touch him now for four months. He is visually impaired and has significant cognitive complications. What he gets most out of is touch and a cuddle. As a mum it is heart wrenching to not be able to cuddle my son and a position I never thought imaginable. We aren’t the only ones in this position as well as parents of children their are numerous families with elderly relatives in care homes.
“The staff at my son’s residential are fantastic but we see staff being able to come and go from the residential setting and new staff starting. They are not on lockdown.
“So I am asking that the government allow immediate family members to be treated as ‘key workers.’ That with the correct PPE they are allowed to be in direct contact with their loved one.
“The psychological effects this is having on those in residential settings and their families is immense and their wellbeing needs to be considered.”
To sign the petition CLICK HERE
