A HUSBAND has hit out at hospital bosses for preventing him from visiting his seriously ill wife with their only son.

Marian Tupman, 69, is receiving palliative care at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Husband John, 71, said that his wife is suffering from multiple infections including sepsis, but has tested negative three times for the coronavirus.

Retired engineer John, of Cypress Avenue, Chadderton, said: "We have been married for 52 years. My wife became ill last September and was in hospital in April and May.

"She was in a acute medical unit (AMU) for three weeks until she came home briefly."

John said that while she was in the AMU Marian was tested for Covid-19 three times. Each time it was negative.

But he added that he and 49-year-old son Wayne were allowed to visit her at the same time.

He went on: "But after coming home briefly, she became ill again and was readmitted, but this time to ward F8.

"Since then, we have been told we can only visit her one at once, which is very upsetting.

"I have insisted that Wayne goes to see her, instead of me sometimes, but it would be nice for us to be together as a family."

Dr Jonathan Moise, medical director at rhe Royal Oldham Hospital, said:

“Our ward staff and palliative care team are working closely with Mrs Tupman’s family and arrangements have been agreed that fully support her and endeavour to meet the wishes of her husband and family to ensure that they are able to spend together the time they need.

"Both Mr Tupman and his son have been advised that they are able to visit Mrs Tupman, but unfortunately not at the same time, in line with our current visitor policy and national guidance to protect our patients and staff and to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

“Protecting our patients, staff and the public remains our priority. We are doing everything within our power to keep our patients connected with their loved ones and throughout the pandemic we have worked with families to understand their needs and those of our patients on an individual basis.

"Our visitor arrangements and the robust infection prevention control measures we have in place are based on NHS England guidance.

"Any changes to our visitor policy during the pandemic reflects our response to changes in national guidance.

“We understand this is a very difficult time for Mr Tupman and his family and I would like to offer our sincere apologies to them if they were provided with incorrect information regarding our current visitor policy. We want to support them as best we can.”