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A support worker says she blames a hospital for her father's death after he caught Covid-19 while being treated there.
On November 6, Robert Purser was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, for a routine check over a possible urine infection.
Robert's daughter, Amanda Baker, spoke to KMTV
The 80-year-old former electrician tested negative for the virus four days after he was admitted to Milton ward.
His family was told on November 16 that he was medically fit to return home.
However, later the same day they received another call stating he had now tested positive for Covid and would have to stay.
A week later, his daughter Amanda Baker, who works with people with learning disabilities, received the news her father had passed away.
She said: "If I had read stories in the paper [about similar cases] before my dad was admitted, I would have refused for him to go in.
"You just assume vulnerable people are kept separate from others who have tested positive."
As Robert, who lived in Cagney Close, Wainscott, suffered from Parkinson's disease, he had been shielding for the majority of the year.
He had last gone out on October 11 for a pub lunch to celebrate his birthday.
According to Amanda, a nurse informed her Milton ward had a mixture of people who tested positive and negative.
She continued: "People should know the truth: you are potentially sending your loved one into a ward where many patients have the virus.
"It makes me so sad. We followed the government guidelines to keep our vulnerable loved ones safe.
"The place you would think they would be the safest – a hospital – had been mixing Covid patients on the same ward with patients without it.
"I was so shocked when I found out. If I had known, I would have asked for him to treated at home.
"My dad would 100% still be here to enjoy another Christmas with his wife of 55 years, his grandchildren, and me, his only daughter.
"We are heartbroken and feel guilty for sending him to hospital.
"The coroner has ordered an investigation which I’m told will take between eight to 13 weeks.
Robert's neighbour – who coincidently was being treated on the same ward – also tested positive for the virus once he had been discharged.
This led to him infecting family members, according to Amanda.
In recent weeks the hospital has been under immense pressure as Medway and neighbouring Swale see some of Britain's highest infection rates.
Last week, we reported how ambulances were battling to admit patients due to a lack of space inside.
Half of the hospital's 500 beds were said to be taken up with Covid patients, meaning all wards had cases.
Mr Purser isn't the first person to reportedly die after contracting the virus in hospital.
Last month, an 86-year-old Sittingbourne man passed away, as did a football coach from Gillingham.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust chief executive James Devine said: "I'd like to offer my condolences to Mr Purser’s family.
"We are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding his death and will contact his family directly to discuss further."
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