Prince Philip Admitted to Hospital 'As A Precaution': February 17, 2021

[An Ard Ri]

From the BBC and Sky News on the Duke's transfer to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56241353

https://news.sky.com/story/prince-p...-to-continue-treatment-for-infection-12232604

 

[Blog Real]

Videos:

 

[lucien]

I wish him the very best of care.

 

[rmay286]

St Bart's is one of the best-known hospitals in the country. It's one of the top places for treating heart problems, so it makes sense that they're saying he's got a heart condition, but that certainly sounds a lot more worrying than a bladder infection.

It's an NHS Hospital, though, so wouldn't the risk of Covid be higher there? They certainly wouldn't have moved Philip there unless it was absolutely necessary. I know he's had at least one Covid 'jab', but that probably doesn't fully protect him.

He might have had an infection to start out with and it's affected his heart. The problem is that in very elderly people like Philip, the body loses its ability to repair itself, even with the best treatment. I read an article that said no one really dies of 'old age,' they simply die of conditions their body has lost the ability to recover from.

I hope he gets well again, but being in the hospital for this long at his age doesn't look good.

Also, I'm not anti-vaccines, but I'm wondering if the vaccine had an effect on his body as well. Being 99 and getting a vaccine is not the same as being 70 or even 80 and getting it.

Edited: Watched the video and it does seem he may have been wheeled out in a wheelchair but then clearly walked into the ambulance on his own, which is a good sign. But do wish the media would give royals privacy at times like these!

 

[Princess Duchess]

He might have had an infection to start out with and it's affected his heart. The problem is that in very elderly people like Philip, the body loses its ability to repair itself, even with the best treatment. I read an article that said no one really dies of 'old age,' they simply die of conditions their body has lost the ability to recover from.

I agree. He’s got access to the best of the best but at the end of the day, he is a 99 year old man. There’s only so much medicine and care can do for him, even the best ones.

 

[US Royal Watcher]

The only reason to keep him in the hospital is because the doctors believe that additional treatment will add to Philip's longevity and/or quality of life. However, as others have noted, his body is losing the ability to recover. My prayers are with him and his family, particularly the Queen.

 

[Durham]

St Bart's is one of the best-known hospitals in the country. It's one of the top places for treating heart problems, so it makes sense that they're saying he's got a heart condition, but that certainly sounds a lot more worrying than a bladder infection.

Yes it certainly is.


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...-been-transferred-to-st-bartholomews-hospital

 

[Prinsara]

As I think has been said before, sending him home could mean that he was better. Or that he was not fine at all. Same token — keeping him in the hospital, even transferring hospitals, could be worrying. Or it could mean that they think there is something that they can do.

He's up and mobile. That's certainly not too bad for a guy who's been in the hospital for almost two weeks.

 

[irish_royalist]

It seems likely that his heart condition could be one of 2 things :
- another blocked artery, requiring a new stent, or replacement of the old one
- an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) perhaps precipitated by the infection (which we assume is a bladder infection, although we have not been told that) which requires monitoring, or treatment which could not be provided at King Edward VII

The fact that treatment is ongoing should be seen as an encouraging sign.

 

[tommy100]

I take two positive points:

-he is still being treated suggesting they believe they can help him get better
-moving him to a specialist hospital suggests they feel he could recover from a heart issue

 

[Mbruno]

Also, I'm not anti-vaccines, but I'm wondering if the vaccine had an effect on his body as well. Being 99 and getting a vaccine is not the same as being 70 or even 80 and getting it.

Very unlikely. He had his jab a long time ago and side effects, if any, normally manifest shortly after you take it.


It is possible that the infection may have affected the heart. The mother of a relative of mine had a digestive tract infection and ended up developing pericarditis.

 

[SLV]

Didn't he have his vaccination several weeks before being taken into the hospital? If the vaccine was the cause, I (in my non-medical mind) would think that there would have been symptomes earlier than this.
But who knows, he may have been walking around feeling out of sorts for weeks. Prince Philip isn't the kind of person to go to a doctor after one cough.

It's an NHS Hospital, though, so wouldn't the risk of Covid be higher there? They certainly wouldn't have moved Philip there unless it was absolutely necessary. I know he's had at least one Covid 'jab', but that probably doesn't fully protect him.

He might have had an infection to start out with and it's affected his heart. The problem is that in very elderly people like Philip, the body loses its ability to repair itself, even with the best treatment. I read an article that said no one really dies of 'old age,' they simply die of conditions their body has lost the ability to recover from.

I hope he gets well again, but being in the hospital for this long at his age doesn't look good.

Also, I'm not anti-vaccines, but I'm wondering if the vaccine had an effect on his body as well. Being 99 and getting a vaccine is not the same as being 70 or even 80 and getting it.

Edited: Watched the video and it does seem he may have been wheeled out in a wheelchair but then clearly walked into the ambulance on his own, which is a good sign. But do wish the media would give royals privacy at times like these!

 

[Elly C]

I really don’t think it is helpful to speculate that having the COVID vaccine could in anyway have contributed to the current situation.

 

[katiebird]

Being moved to another hospital means he is stable and that there are further treatment options, those are both good things.

It’s really shameful how the press and bystanders can’t give him privacy to exit the hospital.

 

[tommy100]

We know Philip has a history of infections so it seems rather a (unfounded) leap to suggest somehow its to do with the vaccine. I also doubt the Queen would make a point of encouraging people to get a vaccine if it was possibly why her husband was in hospital.

 

[principessa]

I would wish all speculations about his actual state of health will calm down now. He is in hospital, he gets help and that matters. I guess that Queen Elizabeth is calling him daily and the whole family is informed. Someday he will leave hospital and return to the queen.

 

[Curryong]

Of course all our thoughts and prayers are with Prince Philip and with his family. Certainly he is getting the best of care, though his great age may be against him. He's a fighter though.

However it seems the mood is changing in the last few hours.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-ne...prince-23588299.amp?__twitter_impression=true

 

[rominet09]

I think he must receive the best care. But he is 99 ! I fear for him.

 

[Eskimo]

Sadly even if he recovers from this, I think this is the start of the end.

My guess is Artrial Fibrillation due to whatever infection he has. Not that uncommon in the aged

 

[Ista]

Let's stick to the known facts about Prince Philip's current condition, and not start guessing. Further speculative posts will be removed.

 

[Iluvbertie]

This morning, on Sunrise, here in Australia Rob Jobson was interviewed (happens when most royal stories air although sometimes they go with Victoria Arbiter and sometimes a royal expert I have never heard of before).

Rob Jobson was the one who told Aussies last week that he had heard that it was a kidney infection. I don't know where he got that info but suspect that was heard around the palace.

He looked awful. He looked like a dear friend was ill (and given how much time he spends with the royals they are 'friends and colleagues' just doing different jobs but often at the same events).

He didn't speculate, of course, but he simply looked sad.

 

[BriarRose]

Well, I'm sending Prince Phillip and his family positive vibes. St. Bartholomew's Hospital is truly an impressive facility, and it's a good sign that he was stable enough to travel via ambulance. It's not like they would hail a cab for him, though he probably would have preferred it. (Being in a wheelchair doesn't tell us anything really, it is often hospital policy that a patient being transferred do so in a wheelchair.)

It really is staggering how much longevity the Queen, Prince Phillip (and the Queen Mum before them) have had. I look at my *much younger* elderly parents, and the difference in health and mental acuity is striking.

 

[QueenMathilde]

At least he had the Covid shot. If he's going to be in hospital that's one less thing to worry about.

 

[Osipi]

Well, I'm sending Prince Phillip and his family positive vibes. St. Bartholomew's Hospital is truly an impressive facility, and it's a good sign that he was stable enough to travel via ambulance. It's not like they would hail a cab for him, though he probably would have preferred it. (Being in a wheelchair doesn't tell us anything really, it is often hospital policy that a patient being transferred do so in a wheelchair.)

It really is staggering how much longevity the Queen, Prince Phillip (and the Queen Mum before them) have had. I look at my *much younger* elderly parents, and the difference in health and mental acuity is striking.

It's standard practice here that folks being released from the hospital or being transported elsewhere are required to leave the premises from a wheelchair to a vehicle.

It was even that way today getting my first dosage of the vaccine at a gymnasium set up by the public health department. I can't walk far so they had staff with wheelchairs when requested and I was wheeled from start to finish by a very nice gentleman. It's basically to ensure there isn't any accident liabilities on the premises.

 

[QueenMathilde]

It's standard practice here that folks being released from the hospital or being transported elsewhere are required to leave the premises from a wheelchair to a vehicle.

It was even that way today getting my first dosage of the vaccine at a gymnasium set up by the public health department. I can't walk far so they had staff with wheelchairs when requested and I was wheeled from start to finish by a very nice gentleman. It's basically to ensure there isn't any accident liabilities on the premises.

I'm getting my first Covid shot Thursday. They're giving it at an old JC Penny's store and I don't think they'll even offer me a place to sit much less a wheelchair.


Poor Phillip's 99 years old I think he's earned the right to be wheeled into and out of the hospital without the media making a stink about it. I don't think it's too serious for a man his age.

 

[Countessmeout]

Vaccines outside of a hospital are usually a different matter. I mean we used to have flu shot clinics in malls every year. When I worked for a doctors clinic in the mall for a few years before finishing my RN, the pharmacist from the mall would come up and give us the shot right in the office. I know at least more then once he did it while I was on the phone with my other arm, booking patients.


Standard procedure with a hospital if you are a patient for care,when you leave or are transferred, yep a chair is brought. Philip at 99 I doubt they would give him any choice in the matter. Especially with his health.

Not welcome news, was hoping to come home to news he was heading home.

But its not a bad sign. If they are transferring him there is some hope or thought that he can be treated.And thankfully he has his covid shot as well.

 

[Alison H]

I agree - if they thought there was no hope, I would think they'd take him back to Windsor, where he'd be in familiar surroundings and the Queen could be with him. But it's worrying, and I just hope we hear better news soon.

 

[Alisa]

Not necessarily. It all depends on the individual and their personal choice for end of life care.
There are some individuals who want to "go down fighting"- they want exhaust all methods to keep them alive and do everything to preserve their life.
On the other hand, you have those individuals who take a more conservative approach to end of life care. They would rather pass away peacefully at home surrounded by their loved ones when it becomes evident that it would be futile to pursue aggressive treatment.

No one knows the Duke’s choice. We can only speculate.

 

[amaryllus]

In my personal opinion from what we know of Phillip being pragmatic and honest... he wont want extraordinary measures taken. The man lived a full active enough 99 years for 10 people and won’t want him or his family going the fuss and expense of giving him maybe another 1 or 2 years. He has long had to give up his outdoor hobbies as well.

 

[Grousewood]

In my personal opinion from what we know of Phillip being pragmatic and honest... he wont want extraordinary measures taken. The man lived a full active enough 99 years for 10 people and won’t want him or his family going the fuss and expense of giving him maybe another 1 or 2 years. He has long had to give up his outdoor hobbies as well.

Yes, he is pragmatic and honest. And even though he can be pithy and gruff he does have love and affection for his family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth. This is why I think his pragmatism may lead him to try to extend his life if he is able to be somewhat active and enjoy life, knowing that it would make the Queen and the rest of us happy to have him a little bit longer. But, if he can't have quality of life he won't want it to be extended, for sure.