‘Emotional scenes’ as Jo Whiley shares video of sister waving from hospital ward in latest update on covid battle

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Jo Whiley has shared an update on her sister, Frances, after she was taken to hospital with Covid-19.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter had previously shared her concern that she had been offered the vaccine before her sister, who has learning disabilities and diabetes.

On Sunday (21 February), Whiley shared an Instagram video showing her sister waving from the window of her hospital ward.

“Today we went to drop off a care package at the hospital where Frances has been fighting Covid,” she wrote.

“Emotional scenes when we were greeted by this little face coming to the window to wave at us! I told you my sister was special.”

Whiley revealed over the weekend that Frances – who has the rare genetic syndrome Cri du Chat – had been offered the vaccine on Saturday (20 February), after an outbreak of Covid at her sister’s care home in Nottinghamshire.

However, by then it was “too late” and Frances tested positive for coronavirus.

“Twenty-four hours ago we were talking palliative care and yesterday she rallied round and we are seeing her oxygen levels rise, so at the moment we have got hope,” Whiley said in an earlier update.

“Twenty-four hours ago we didn’t have any hope at all, so she is an amazing fighter, she always has been a great fighter and I’m just hoping that her spirit gets her through.”

Read more: Jo Whiley flooded with support amid sister’s covid ordeal

But Whiley pointed out that it is challenging to treat people with learning disabilities because of their complex needs.

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Frances was apparently frightened by medical staff and would not allow them to give her oxygen, causing her levels to plummet.

She added: “The fact that my mum was there and was able to talk her down and to be there with her and to try and give her oxygen was crucial,” Whiley said.

Last week, Whiley called out a system where she was offered the vaccine before her vulnerable sister, suggesting it may have been because she was classed as Frances’s carer.

Speaking to Andrew Marr, Whiley said: “It felt like the cruellest twist in the world because I’ve been asking for her, wanting for her to have her vaccine for a year... to be protected.

“Then, for me to suddenly get a call to say that I’ve got the vaccine, it just felt hideously unfair.

“And she was actually called in for her vaccine last night, my mum got a message to say that she could get vaccinated, but it’s too late, she’s fighting for her life in hospital. It couldn’t be crueller.”

Whiley said she hoped Frances’s story would highlight the need to vaccinate people with learning disabilities “as quickly as possible”.

Health secretary Matt Hancock told Marr: “My heart goes out to Jo and to her sister and her whole family.”

Asked if he found it strange Whiley was offered the vaccine before her sister, he said it was “very important that we follow clinical advice in terms of the order of prioritisation”.

“And in group six, as it’s called, that’s where we vaccinate both those with learning disabilities and also their carers. And that group is being vaccinated right now.”

Whiley’s fellow BBC presenters have been filling in for her on her Radio 2 show while she helps care for her sister.