Six-year-old Glasgow boy asks First Minister for the chance to say goodbye to his dying granny

Six-year-old Matthew Clark’s granny Margaret (61) is suffering from a degenerative illness and is not expected to live much longer.

Due to strict Covid-19 restrictions, Matthew hasn’t been able to visit Margaret since she was admitted to hospital in August after suffering a stroke.

Margaret lived with Matthew and his mum Evelyn at their home in Cathcart. He was used to seeing her every day and is really missing her.

So he has turned to the First Minister is the desperate hope of seeing his granny one more time.

Matthew, who is in P2 at Battlefield Primary School, wrote: “Dear Nicola Sturgeon, my name is Matthew and I am six years old. My granny is in hospital in Glasgow with a brain disease.

“I miss her and I want to see her before she dies. Can you sort this for me? From Matthew.”

Margaret was actually able to walk into the hospital on August 10 after her stroke, but sadly her condition has declined rapidly since then.

She’s currently in a ward in the neurology department of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. She has lost the use of her legs and arms and can no longer talk.

Under the current rules for hospitals in Glasgow, children are banned from visiting, so Matthew is not allowed in to see her.

Matthew’s mum Evelyn said: “My wee boy is suffering due to this. People are suffering because of Covid rules. Elderly people are not seeing their families and people are not getting the chance to say goodbye to loved ones.

“We don’t know how long my mum has got left, it could be two month, it could be two weeks.

“But they won’t let my wee boy in to see her. The hospital say it’s the government’s rules and even if she moves to end-of-life palliative care, the rules will remain.”

Evelyn added: “People need to be able to say goodbye to family, they may die but we are left behind and will always remember them.

“They might only a another statistic to the government, but they are people who we love and care about, and we need to be allowed to say our goodbyes.”