Father blasts ‘cruel’ Covid rules that meant he found out his 19-month-old son had blood cancer in hospital car park
- Carson Josephson needs regular cancer treatment at a hospital in Cardiff
- But only one of his parents, Carrie and Jason, is allowed to accompany him
- Jason said: ‘It’s absolutely cruel that two parents can’t be there to support’
A father has slammed the ‘cruel’ Covid rules that meant he found out his 19-month-old son had leukaemia in a hospital car park.
Carson Josephson is 19 months old and needs regular treatment at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.
But his father Jason is unable to join him and his mother Carrie for the treatments because of Covid rules.
The Cardiff and Vale health board has said it follows Welsh government guidance and makes allowances ‘as appropriate’, according to the BBC.
Baby Carson was diagnosed with the blood cancer when lockdown first began last year and even underwent a bone marrow transplant last October.
He is still required to go to the children’s hospital for treatments but only one parent is allowed to join him.
Carson Josephson (pictured with parents Jason and Carrie) is 19 months old and needs regular treatment at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff
Mr Josephson said: ‘It’s absolutely cruel that two parents can’t be there to support their children.’
The couple added that they don’t understand how people are allowed to go to restaurants in groups of six and eat indoors when they are not both able to accompany their cancer-stricken child in hospital.
Current guidance in Wales states that only one parent or guardian is allowed at a child’s bedside but health boards are given ‘discretion’ to change these rules if they believe the benefits of the visit outweigh Covid risks.
Mr Josephson said he felt like he was ‘in a prison cell’ when he was told the news about his son while sitting in the hospital car park.
The Cardiff and Vale health board has said it follows Welsh government guidance and makes allowances ‘as appropriate’
Baby Carson was diagnosed with the blood cancer when lockdown first began last year and even underwent a bone marrow transplant last October
He told the BBC: ‘I just wanted to get into the hospital and put my arms around both of them but I was informed that I was not allowed. I couldn’t think of a worse pain.’
And mother Carrie says that she finds it draining having to attend all of Carson’s appointments on her own and then having to retell Mr Josephson what various consultants have told her.
She told the publication: ‘No parent should have to deal with this by themselves without their partner there. To have restaurants and pubs open, it’s selfish, it’s really selfish. We feel like we’re on our own.’
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