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The retired doctor who鈥檇 want to die at home if he got Covid-19

The retired UK doctor who would give up an intensive care bed for a younger patient; homelessness and Covid-19; The 鈥淕randfather of Allergy鈥 dies, aged 108

We hear from a retired doctor in the UK who says he wouldn鈥檛 want to take up an intensive care bed if he got seriously ill with Covid-19. Breathing problems can result from the infection 鈥 especially in the elderly 鈥 so respirators are in demand. 69 year old Dr Lyn Jenkins is in good health 鈥 but wants critical care beds to be prioritised for young people and palliative care to be provided for anyone who wants to die at home.

Studio guest Professor Matthew Fox from Boston University explains how Massachusetts is stepping up its contact tracing to try and limit further infections.

More than three billion people around the world are now living under lockdown. In the UK many homeless people have been housed in hotels 鈥 but have limited access to healthcare and the medication which helps them to stay off street drugs. We hear how volunteers are bringing vital supplies to these vulnerable people.

And we mark the long and productive life of the 108 year old 鈥淔ather of Allergy鈥 Dr William Frankland 鈥 who helped to popularise the pollen count, worked with the man who discovered penicillin Alexander Fleming and had his own brushes with death because of allergies.

(Image: Nurse holding elderly woman's hands. Credit: Ocskaymark/Getty Images)

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Paula McGrath

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27 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Wed 8 Apr 2020 19:32GMT
  • Thu 9 Apr 2020 01:32GMT
  • Thu 9 Apr 2020 06:32GMT
  • Thu 9 Apr 2020 12:32GMT
  • Thu 9 Apr 2020 15:32GMT
  • Sat 11 Apr 2020 23:32GMT

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