A MAN has been told he cannot visit his wife who is the advanced stages of cancer.

Thomas Griffin has been left “devastated” after the Royal Sussex Country Hospital in Brighton made the “difficult” decision to restrict visiting yesterday morning.

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Mr Griffin, who has been married to wife Mandy, 67, for 19 years, said: “It is always the worst after the last week of chemo and now she’s doing it on her own.

“They don’t know how long this is going to go on for, so I can’t say ‘it’s all right darling, I’ll be back in a couple of days’.

“I do all her laundry and she can’t stand hospital food, so I’m always bringing her things like cakes and biscuits.

“I can no longer visit her as she is dying with leukaemia. It’s impossible to even think about.”

The hospital says there are a “small number of exceptions to the rule”, which includes those who may be at the end of their life.

The Peacehaven couple are now waiting for the results of Mrs Griffin’s biopsy.

She is currently a patient on the haematology and oncology ward.

Mr Griffin said: “We believe this chemo is not going to work as the first one didn’t, then we are expecting she will be coming back for palliative care.

“To not see her for what could be some of her last weeks is devastating.

“It’s very difficult, she has been getting daily visits for eight weeks and now she’s suddenly cut off.”

Coronavirus is increasingly fatal for those who are older or in high risk groups.

The immune system protects the body against illness and infection caused by viruses such as coronavirus.

Some people with cancer have a weak immune system which reduces their ability to fight these infections.

Mr Griffin is pleading with the hospital to make an exception in his case, considering his wife is in a private room.

Carolyn Morrice, chief nurse at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals said: “To help us keep our patients and people in our communities safe and stop the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) we have made the difficult but essential decision to temporarily restrict visiting throughout our hospitals.

“This is in line with the latest national guidance.

“Patients are a vulnerable group and protecting them is our priority.

“We always take a compassionate approach around visiting and there are a small number of exceptions to the restrictions including visiting a patient in a critical condition who may be at the end of their life.

“We know this a worrying time and we are making every effort to help patients keep connected with the people who matter most to them.”

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal.  Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund