A cold could kill my daughter – hospital visits feel like a death sentence

• Immunocompromised cancer patients face significant infection risk in busy A&E departments, highlighting the need for separate pathways or prioritised triage to minimise exposure to respiratory pathogens
• Current A&E infrastructure may inadequately protect vulnerable patients during peak illness periods, suggesting clinical governance review of infection control measures in emergency settings
• Terminal cancer patients requiring urgent care experience additional psychological burden from infection anxiety in crowded departments, warranting consideration of expedited assessment protocols for high-risk groups

Rebecca Quayle, who has terminal cancer, has had to wait in A&E with people coughing and taking Covid tests.

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