A family are terrified for the life of their beloved grandmother who contracted Covid while in a Sydney hospital, as they recall hearing people crying out in agony on her heartbreaking video chats.
Peggy and Sam Pozoglou are worried about the physical and mental health of Sam's grandmother Christy Katehos, 83, who is trapped in a Covid ward in Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred hospital after she caught the virus at Canterbury hospital.
'I don't want to remember her as I saw her in the Zoom last night. Confined to that hospital, with no family members, with some patients yelling in pain in the background,' grandson Sam said.
It comes amid repeated warnings that Sydney's hospitals will become overwhelmed with patients when lockdown ends, with 244 people with Covid currently in ICU.
Due to the hospitals isolating Covid patients in order to prevent the spread of the virus, the family is not allowed to see Ms Katehos and they claim basic services such as cleaning and access to a proper shower are being impacted.
'Every day that I call my grandmother, her spirits and positivity have diminished significantly. She's describing to me over the phone, "Sam, the hygiene in this hospital is the worst by far, I've ever seen in my life in Australia",' Sam said.
Ms Katehos, who doesn't speak much English, was getting fluid drained from her lung at Canterbury hospital where it was discovered she also had breast cancer, which has spread throughout her body.
Christy Katehos (pictured with grandson Sam) is trapped in a Covid ward in Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after she contracted Covid while being treated for unrelated illnesses in Canterbury hospital
She then contracted Covid from another patient from the hospital and was transferred to the Covid ward at RPA.
Peggy Pozoglou said that the doctor was crying on the phone when she was told of her mother's condition.
Ms Pozoglou was told that her mother would not be provided with a ventilator if she needed one because her cancer was so far gone that she has no chance of surviving.
'That's what they've said to me, so, and now I'm just waiting thinking that, am I ever going to see my mother, ever again,' Ms Pozoglou told A Current Affair.
Ms Katehos does not speak much English, with the family claiming basic services such as cleaning are being impacted due to staff being overworked and the isolation process
Ms Pozoglou said her mother may not receive a ventilator if she requires one because her breast cancer is so far gone she wouldn't survive (pictured, zooming her mother in hospital)
In NSW, there are more than 1,266 people diagnosed with Covid in hospital. 244 people are in intensive care and 118 people require ventilators to breathe.
A further ten deaths were reported on Wednesday.
Healthcare workers are under enormous amounts of pressure, with many being pushed to breaking point as health officials say the worst is yet to come once the state opens up.
Australian Paramedic Association delegate Brett Simpson said that many patients are
