Glasgow family in fight for Scottish Government to axe 10-day Covid isolation rule on mental health wards

Lauren Boulazreg warns that isolation guidelines on mental health wards are stalling her brother’s recovery and has pleaded with the Scottish Government to axe the 10-day rule.

Her brother, Callum, was admitted to the Royal Gartnavel almost one year ago after he survived a tragic car crash that killed his mother.

The 29-year-old is currently self-isolating for the seventh time after another patient on his ward tested positive for Covid.

Lauren argues that each time he is required to isolate - despite showing negative PCR results and being triple vaccinated - it stunts his healing journey.

The 30-year-old claims that her brother is left in a “bare” room to his own devices without any stimulation – including a phone, TV, or adequate Wi-Fi.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde offers all of its patients access to iPads in order to allow vital contact with friends and family, but Lauren says that this has never been facilitated or offered to her brother.

While the local health board affirmed that current rules in place mitigate the transmission of Covid, the Scottish Government said that it was constantly reviewing self-isolation guidance.

Lauren, from Dennistoun, said: “We’ve felt really helpless as a family, each time he is locked away it is a step backward in his recovery. He relies a lot on us going in to take him out of the hospital from time to time.

“He really looks forward to his trips and he knows when we are coming to get him but when he is in isolation, that enjoyment and glimpse of joy is taken away from him.

“Family support is so important for any illness but for a mental health condition, it plays a pivotal part in the road to recovery.”

Staff at the West End hospital have facilitated window visits for Callum’s sisters while he carries out the 10-day isolation period. However, Lauren argues that the window only minimises the much-needed contact.

Lauren, who works as a psychotherapist, said: “The window only opens two to three inches and myself and sister are going up in the dark after work to try to talk to him.

“He’s so devastated and the hospital board doesn’t seem to care when I call them.

“Anybody who is healthy-minded finds a 10-day isolation period daunting, nobody likes the idea of it. For someone who is already struggling, it can be amplified and the impact mentally can be a lot worse.

“When he needs to isolate, he’s on his own in a bare room with no TV and unreliable Wi-Fi. Sometimes he doesn’t have a phone so there is no stimulation for him to keep his mind occupied.

“Due to his medication and condition, Callum can’t even read a book to distract himself. Essentially, he is being kept in a room for 10 days with his own thoughts. He really relies on person-to-person social support on any normal day, so the impact this is having on him is detrimental.”

Scottish Government visiting guidance for mental health wards states that it is “crucial” for patients to maintain connections with friends and family.

It reads: “Many people with mental health issues may have fewer family members and friends that they are in regular contact with and can often feel socially isolated and disconnected from their local communities.

“It is therefore crucial that connections with their friends and family is supported to aid their recovery and to support their transition from being cared for in a hospital to managing their mental health condition after discharge.”

Clinical teams are advised to take account of the evolving evidence on possible harm posed by the virus and to balance it with evidence on the positive impacts on health and wellbeing from seeing family and loved ones.

Despite the advice, Callum’s loved ones feel as though his social needs have not been met and fear that the “unnecessary distress and trauma” of being on his own may impact his long-term recovery.

They worry that if he needs to isolate again, it could pose a risk to the chances of him living a long, happy, healthy and full life in the future.

Desperate to find a solution, Lauren and Louisa - Callum’s other sister - have launched an official petition to the Scottish Government.

The campaign urges officials to consider a change to the 10-day isolation rule as the sisters argue it could prevent mental health patients from going through any more unnecessary stress.

They say that isolation has been “the absolute worst thing” for Callum during his recovery. 

Lauren said: “Every time we are told he needs to isolate, it devastates us. I can’t sleep knowing he is suffering on his own, I just feel so helpless. If this is how I feel, I can’t imagine how it must feel for him.

“The few months after someone is admitted to hospital for a mental health disorder are imperative. Depending on what happens and their treatment, it really impacts their long-term road to recovery.

“Isolation has been the absolute worst thing for Callum in his recovery.

“We’re worried that his chances of a long-term road to recovery and his chances of living a full, happy and healthy life again might be impacted by this if it keeps happening.

“We say that being outside and being around your friends and family is one way to help your mental health as it gives you stimulation. If someone is vulnerable and can’t access this, then of course, it is going to have an impact on their recovery.”

At the time of writing, the sisters’ petition has received more than 600 signatures.

Lauren added: “I am not asking for special treatment for myself or my brother but it’s heartbreaking to visit him at the window and see him so distressed.

“I feel like he would get better care in prison. If you didn’t have mental health problems when you arrived, you would definitely have them when you left.

“In these particular circumstances, the physical risk is low because my brother doesn’t have Covid – he has been triple jagged and has two negative PCR results.

“The Covid isolation rules are changing in the community, so why aren’t they being reflected on mental health wards? I think that it is a microcosm in a way that peoples’ needs on mental health wards are disregarded and that comes as part of the stigma around mental health.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that while it cannot comment on individual cases, patient safety is an “utmost priority”.

The health board has facilitated activity packs to keep patients stimulated while they are in isolation.

A spokesperson said: “We are unable to share any information which could breach patient confidentiality, however, we recognise how important it is for our patients to have visitors, and we take a compassionate and flexible approach to try to accommodate this where ever possible.

“This includes allowing essential visiting during an active COVID-19 outbreak for those patients who meet the guidance.

 “All patients have access to iPads to allow contact with friends and family, and on this particular ward, we accommodate window-side visiting to allow patients to see loved ones even if they have to self-isolate.

 “Our ward teams utilise activity packs to help keep patients stimulated and our staff also work closely with patients ensuring care and activities are tailored to meet individual needs.

“However, patient safety is our utmost priority and where there is an active COVID-19 outbreak, we must put temporary measures in place to protect patients, staff and visitors. Impacted wards reopen as soon as it is deemed safe to do so by the infection prevention and control team."

The spokesperson added: “Unfortunately there remains an active Covid outbreak on the ward and as such, for the safety of the whole ward, we have to implement strict guidelines to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.  

"We can confirm that we are in touch with the family directly to discuss the patient’s case and ongoing treatment plan and as with all patient care we are trying to be as flexible as possible in light of the circumstances.

"We can also confirm the ward is due to reopen this week which will mean that patients will be able to receive at least one visitor.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ensuring people are able to access safe and effective care whilst in hospital is our top priority.

“Rigorous Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols remain of paramount importance to keep people in hospital as safe as possible. Self-isolation guidance is being kept under constant review.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases, where there is an outbreak in hospital, we expect essential visits to continue. This includes the care of a patient with a mental health issue, where the absence of a visitor would cause distress.”

View the family’s petition by visiting HERE.