Coronavirus: Cheddar mum critical over lack of testing after twins come down with symptoms

A mum from Cheddar has criticised the government's testing policy after her twin daughters and husband came down with symptoms of coronavirus.

Sarah Zawadski said she was petrified that the herd immunity policy could put her family at risk, and claims that the NHS is not ready for the coronavirus pandemic.

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A few weeks ago, Sarah's twin daughters Willow and Kitty came down with a bad cough and viral induced wheezing, followed by a temperature.

Thankfully, as of today (March 15) they are feeling better, though still with coughing and a high temperature.

However, Sarah has criticised the whole process and said: "I am petrified. I am on oncology medication.

"Three in my family have asthma. This experiment going for herd immunity could quite literally kill people in my household, and they are all under 40."

The problems started on February 18, when the twins fell ill followed by their father, while the other three members of the family were mildly poorly.

Sarah said: "Thursday night one of the twins started coughing which got progressively worse into Friday morning until by the afternoon we had to call the doctor.

"The doctor spoke us through giving 10 puffs on a salbutamol inhaler. She then said to call an ambulance which I did.

"At this point my daughter was coughing so hard she was turning purple and vomiting. An ambulance arrived from the fire brigade followed by the NHS.

"She was found to have a temperature of 38 and her pulse was 175. All reasons to treat.

"We have been in this situation before with viral induced wheezing and this presentation has lead to a trip to A and E as insisted by the paramedics on many occasions, sometimes leading to admissions. This time they retreated out the door and told me to call 111.

"We were now alone with Calpol, an inhaler and now another twin coughing from her boots. I called 111 as advised, was on hold for an hour before someone answered who said my daughter is considered to have "symptoms associated with coronavirus" she then went on to say a specialist physician would call.

"We waited a few hours and spoke to a nurse, and then two doctors. They were both logged to be seen at our local community hospital but we had to await for the appointment time.

"At 12.30am a doctor called apologising emphatically that they could not get the equipment necessary to treat our children but that the two doctors had been begging NHS England who had refused.

"They said to see how they are in the night, let them sleep and if we need to call 999 do so but tell them they have symptoms associated with coronavirus so they come prepared. I was advised to take them to Bristol Children's Hospital in the morning.

"Having barely slept I called Bristol Children's Hospital in the morning and they agreed to see them both.

"Dad, who by now was also coughing again, took them to Bristol Children's Hospital. They were given ill-fitting masks, sat with other children, and what I assume was the doctor's specialist equipment was a plastic apron, mask and gloves.

"They had their observations taken and although they were unwell there was no need to admit at this stage.

"They refused to test as they were not being admitted but that they were to come home and still be treated as though they did have it.

"I was home with my three-year-old and 17-year-old and am immuno compromised. Testing would help us manage and be prepared.

"Every person I spoke to from GP to paramedic to 111 operators and physicians all had a 24-page document that they were trying to read while treating patients. They have been getting several daily.

"Coronavirus or not, this suffering pantomime is going to put many children like mine at risk. Viral induced wheezing is no joke no matter what has or hasn't caused it. The NHS is not ready."

The government's policy is to prioritise testing for those most at risk of severe illness from the disease.

A spokesperson said: "People who are in the community with a fever or cough do not usually need testing.

"Instead, tests will primarily be given to all patients in critical care for pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or flu like illness; all other patients requiring admission to hospital for pneumonia, ARDS or flu like illness; or where an outbreak has occurred in a residential or care setting, for example long-term care facility or prisons.

"All other individuals with a high temperature or new, continuous cough should stay at home for 7 days.

"People do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after seven days contact NHS 111 online.

"If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999."