‘People are dying alone with no-one near them’ says hospital chaplain appealing for public to protect ‘our last line of defence’

In a candid interview on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster. Father James O’Reilly who administers to Antrim Area Hospital spoke after posting a powerful Tweet after administering to dying patients at the hospital.

Later today the Northern Ireland Executive will meet to discuss the mounting pressures on hospitals.

It follows what has been called the worst 48 hours since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Northern Ireland’s six health trusts have warned that by the third week of January, hospitals could be dealing with double the number of Covid patients.

Father O’Reilly, who works at the Antrim hospital “24/7” said he is “dealing with families, sickness and death”.

Father O’Reilly said what he sees on a daily basis is “families not being able to be with loved ones”.

He said he wants to send a message to the public to make them understand that “this thing is real and it kills”.

“I was in the hospital last night in a Covid ward and one nurse was still there six hours her shift ended, I see the superhuman efforts these nurses are putting in,” he said.

“You think this thing is not as serious until it comes to your door.”

He added: “I guess, though I don’t know, that people are not taking it as seriously as they should.

“This thing is real and it is so, so serious.

“When the priest is called it is to administer the last rites,” he said. “Then being with families who can’t be with their loved ones.

“It hits you when you least expect it as there are no words to give to families.

“But your very presence gives them a bit of comfort. It is tough.”

He said he wants to send a message to the public to make them understand that “this thing is real and it kills”.

Father O’Reilly said in his role as Catholic chaplain to AAH he has “one of the great privileges of going to bedsides because families are not allowed to, and that is wrong and not fair.

“People are dying alone with no one near them because of this thing and if we as a community should take this on board.”

He added that since the start of the pandemic in March he has seen “the great toll it is taking on staff”.

“They are our last line of defence against this disease,” he added.

“I have seen the resilience of staff. If the peak happens there is not the resources and beds to deal with it.

“But if we practice social distance and staying at home we can help.”

On Monday, First Minister Arlene Foster said there were few options left to curb the current crisis, apart from a possible new curfew.

Mrs Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said while Northern Ireland was past the peak of new cases, the lag between people becoming infected and needing hospital treatment meant inpatient numbers were yet to hit their peak.

Pat Cullen, the director of the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland, says healthcare workers in the North are frightened about what will come in the next few weeks.

Hospitals there are preparing for a third surge in facilities of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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