Doncaster dad in hospital with Covid-19 'could have died' after FOUR negative tests

Andrew Gledhill, 39, was nearly transferred to intensive care after doctors at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, struggled to detect what was wrong with him.

Despite the father of five from Dunscroft, showing symptoms of the virus, with a temperature that rose to 40.3 degrees celsius, Covid-19 was previously ruled out as a possible cause after Andrew tested negative four times.

The 39-year-old’s wife, Hollie Gledhill, said her husband started showing signs of coronavirus back in October but was only transferred to a Covid-19 ward on Tuesday, November 10, after a neurosurgeon insisted he needed to be treated for the virus following a CT scan – which showed a build up on Andrew’s lungs.

"There were four negative tests yet my husband has still got covid", Hollie said.

"The only thing that confirmed covid was the CT scan and hadn't that doctor requested that, then he could have died.

"How many people have been missed and how many people have died because of the false negatives tests?

"We have five children and my husband could have died and my children left without a father.

"The neurosurgery doctors were speaking to intensive care because he was that poorly.”

Andrew is currently in a stable condition and is on oxygen therapy to help him breathe while he is cared for in the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

The 31-year-old former healthcare worker has called for the NHS Test and Trace system to be urgently reviewed, after she fears other people could unknowingly received false negatives on their coronavirus tests and continued to spread the virus.

Oxford University Hospitals have said the current Covid-19 tests are not 100 per cent accurate and are thought to detect approximately 70 per cent of coronavirus infections.

As Andrew’s was clinically diagnosed with Covid-19, rather than testing positive after a test, he cannot log his condition using the Track and Trace system – which means others that have come into contact with him cannot be told to self-isolate.

Hollie added: “It makes me feel disappointed in the system.

"I just think the covid system, the covid swabs, the covid testing are all a shambles.

"The doctor actually told me that she is certain that a lot of cases have been missed due to these inaccurate tests.

"If they had just taken it for gospel that those tests were negative then god knows what could have happened to him?”

The mother of five said more accurate and detailed testing, using CT scans, is needed to prevent others from ending up in the same situation as her husband.

"I am concerned that people have lost loved ones when this could have been avoided with a proper testing system”, the 31-year-old commented.

"My children are heartbroken.

"They know dad has got covid and they also know that if it wasn't for that doctor that they might have lost their dad.

"I will be forever grateful to that doctor for saving my husband's life.”

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.