Mother-of-two died alone in isolation waiting for a test for COVID-19 after battling lung cancer

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Mother-of-two died alone in isolation waiting for a test for COVID-19 after battling lung cancer

A cancer patient was only allowed five minutes with her two children before she died in hospital awaiting coronavirus screening.

Gill Rayson, 53 was also banned from seeing her mother while she lay dying from lung cancer at Frankston Hospital in Melbourne.

The mother of two died alone in an isolation ward overlooking a dumpster after having been denied access to a palliative care ward, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Ms Rayson’s COVID-19 tests ultimately came back negative.

Cancer patient Gill Rayson was only allowed five minutes with her two children before she died in hospital awaiting coronavirus screening

Husband Mark Rayson (pictured with his wife Gill Rayson) said he feels ‘some degree of satisfaction’ after the Frankston Hospital apologised to the family for its treatment of his wife Gill Rayson

She spent her final few hours jumping out of her bed crying for her husband to help her before succumbing to her illness on March 31.

Husband Mark Rayson said he feels ‘some degree of satisfaction’ after the Frankston Hospital apologised to the family for its treatment of his wife.

‘Gill would like to know that someone benefited from our traumatic experience, because that’s the sort of person she was,’ he said.

‘Whether it helps one person, or 10 people, it doesn’t matter.’

The hospital said senior doctors had reviewed the case and the hospital would make changes to the way these types of patients were treated in the future.

The mother of two was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2019 after developing a severe cough during a cruise through the Mediterranean.

In mid-March she was tested for coronavirus after the global pandemic began unfolding, but her results came back negative.

On March 30 after her condition deteriorated she was taken to Frankston Hospital via ambulance awaiting a palliative care bed.

Gill Rayson, 53 was also banned from seeing her mother while she lying dying at the Franskston Hospital in Melbourne (pictured)  from her debilitating lung cancer.

However, her husband said when bed finally opened up she was denied access and banned from leaving the isolation ward unless her coronavirus testing was completed. 

This was despite assurances from the family she had been returned a negative coronavirus test only two weeks earlier. 

Mr Rayson said he has since received news from senior doctors at the hospital they’ll be ensuring better access to palliative care drugs and extra discretion around visitors for limited cases. 

Peninsula Health’s chief medical officer Associate Professor Vikas Wadhwa issued a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald saying their thoughts were with Mrs Rayson’s family and friends

‘We take all feedback from families and the community seriously and use it wherever we can to improve the care we provide our patients,’ he said.

The health service would not comment on calls to review patient care models based off concerns around patient confidentiality. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Peninsula Health for comment. 

Despite concerns from cancer patients around the end of life care during the coronavirus pandemic, a leading support network believes standards are being maintained. 

Danielle Spence, Head of Strategy and Support at Cancer Council Victoria told Daily Mail Australia their hearts go out the the family during this time.

‘We know hospitals are working extra hard to keep patients and visitors safe in during COVID. No patient will ever be on their own in hospital. Dedicated medical and nursing staff will always be with them,’ Ms Spence said.

‘While there are rules in place to keep everyone safe, exemptions to the rules for hospital visitors are allowed for people providing end of life support for a patient and for visitors to spend time with those patients.’ 

Ms Rayson’s family paid emotional tributes in the days following her death.

Her son Joshua Grayson describer her as an amazing mum who was ‘taken too soon.’  

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) visited cancer patients at Frankston Hospital on March 1 to announce the expansion of the cancer screening treatment options through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

‘We have been lucky to have so many amazing times together and she has raised our family to be tight knit and strong who can support each other through everything, she is amazing,’ he wrote.

‘All that I know is that we will be okay and we will miss you but you’re in a better place now and you’re out of pain.’

Her mother Gywn Salmon described her devastation at outliving her 53-year-old daughter.

‘I  am heartbroken, to a wonderful daughter and best friend; you will always be in my heart forever,’ she wrote.

‘I thank you for everything you have done for me , but most of all giving me two beautiful grandchildren who I adore. RIP my beautiful daughter, I hope you are with Dad.’

Source: Daily Mail australia

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