A PRESTATYN father has called for a change to COVID-19 self-isolation rules for hospital patients in mental health units after the detrimental impact that quarantine had on his daughter.
Aled Hughes’ daughter Catherine, 18, a patient at Wrexham Maelor Hospital's Heddfan psychiatric unit, was told to isolate for 14 days after returning a positive PCR test on January 5.
Welsh Government guidelines advise this 14-day isolation period for hospital patients (a week longer than the general population), while UK Government guidance recently reduced this to 10 days.
Catherine, who is autistic and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression, self-harmed during her isolation period and asked her mother if she could help her kill herself.
Catherine, who consented to be identified by the Journal, also returned negative lateral flow tests on days six and seven of her quarantine.
Mr Hughes, who previously lost a son with mental health problems, said the extent of Catherine’s isolation “set her back weeks and weeks”, and believes quarantine periods for patients on mental health units should be determined on an “individual basis”.
Mr Hughes said that, given Catherine was not otherwise physically ill, he could not understand the risk she posed to other patients on her unit once she had twice tested negative for COVID-19.
He said: “She’s out of isolation now, but the whole point really is other people in a similar position, and the blanket isolation period which should really be appraised on an individual basis.
“It was very hard; you could see her going downhill fast. My thanks just go to the staff who did their best under the guidance.
“In Catherine’s case, I understand that, if there are high-risk patients around, then fair enough. But it wasn’t doing Cat any good whatsoever. They’ve set her back weeks and weeks by doing that, and there was no need.
“To me, a recommendation isn’t black and white. A recommendation is advisory, so it doesn’t have to be followed.
“I think, maybe, it should be made clearer that risk assessments should be done to see what can be done, especially for patients who are there because of mental health problems, not physical health.
“My daughter’s actual COVID illness was negligible; I think she had 24 hours of a bit of a sore throat and feeling a bit rough, but that was it. She had very mild symptoms, which probably meant a low viral load.
“I’m more concerned about it being a blanket policy, instead of taking a sensible approach and risk-assessing each one.
“Locking anyone up for 14 days, even if they’re mentally healthy, is bad for them. If you’ve then got major mental issues already, that’s terrible.
“Heddfan have been brilliant; she’s in a safer place there. She’s not doing brilliantly, but she’s out of isolation now, but it’s the whole policy that is a problem.”
Gareth Davies, MS for Vale of Clwyd, described the self-isolation rules Catherine had to follow as “over-zealous”.
Mr Davies added that he had requested an urgent review of these regulations, and stressed the need to “apply a degree of common sense” in this regard.
Mr Davies said: “I have written to the chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and have asked the Welsh Government’s health minister (Eluned Morgan) to request an urgent review of self-isolation COVID rules for inpatients in mental health wards.
“Let’s not forget that a key part to effective mental health rehabilitation is for patients to have the opportunity to meet, talk, and engage with peers and professionals in order to enhance their chances of recovery.
“The over-zealous self-isolation rules that Catherine experienced had a detrimental effect on her rehabilitation.
“I urge the health board and Welsh Government to review the current rules and to apply a degree of common sense, given the differences between mental health settings and general hospital facilities, and the demographics of patients and varying health needs.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We understand that self-isolating for a long period can be difficult.
“Our guidance on self-isolation for people in hospital with COVID-19 is different to that in the wider population because of the increased vulnerability of people in hospitals.
“The UK guidance was that people with COVID-19 in hospitals should isolate for 14 days. This week it was reduced to 10 days and will be kept under review.”
Rebecca Gerrard, director of nursing for infection prevention at BCUHB, added: "These measures are based on BCUHB infection prevention and control guidance.
“They apply in inpatient settings across the health board and are necessary in order to keep patients, visitors and staff safe from infection.
“We will continue to adapt our infection prevention practices as national guidance is updated.
“We fully recognise how difficult this extended isolation period can be for our more vulnerable patients and we always endeavour to provide them with as much as support as we possibly can.”
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