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Comparisons are regularly drawn between Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, but when it comes to their medical care as the president battles Covid things could hardly be any different.
Befitting his status as commander-in-chief, Mr Trump enjoys round-the-clock attention from his own team of 24 medics, while Mr Johnson does not even have his own doctor.
The prime minister self-isolated at his Downing Street flat for a whole 10 days before going to hospital – and only did so after a Zoom call with his GP. Mr Trump waited less than 24 hours before being whisked away by helicopter.
Their experience in hospital also contrasts greatly, with Mr Trump staying at a ‘luxury suite’ reserved solely for his own use, while Mr Johnson fought the virus in a public intensive care ward at St Thomas’ Hospital where two dedicated nurses watched over him for 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the president is now receiving a cocktail of eight drugs including an experimental antibody therapy, while Number 10 reportedly turned down a similar treatment because it was not available to the wider public.
The president’s doctors have claimed he is now symptom-free and could even be discharged from hospital today, although this was contradicted by White House chief of Staff, Mark Meadows, who described the president’s illness as ‘very concerning’.
Mr Johnson was successfully nursed back to health, and his care from some of the finest specialists in the NHS was widely praised as second to none. Granting the prime minister the same treatment as the public he leads is also undeniably fair.
Nonetheless, the lack of any special arrangements for a national leader has shocked many Americans and led some MPs to question whether Britain needs to do more to look after its leaders.
St Thomas’ Hospital in London, (left) where Mr Johnson fought Covid on an intensive care ward; and the Walter Reed National Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland
Churchill’s wartime battles with his health – and his doctors
Churchill had his own personal doctor – unlike most recent British prime ministers
Revered as a war hero and famous for his garrulous character and bustling, often champagne-fuelled energy, Winston Churchill none-the-less struggled with his health behind the scenes.
He suffered a mild heart attack while at the White House in Washington in 1941, just a year after taking over as prime minister.
But more seriously the heavy cigar smoker had several serious attacks of pneumonia.
But as the leader of a world power during a mammoth conflict, he had top medical treatment on tap – unlike modern prime ministers.
Andrew Roberts, a biographer of the former leader, told the BBC that Churchill had ‘absolutely first class care, including a personal physician who ‘flew around with him everywhere’.
‘The worst moment came in November 1943 when he was in Tunis, where they had to fly six doctors in from Cairo, including the famous Brigadier (Robert) Pulvertaft (of the Royal Army Medical Corp) and an x-ray machine as well. They very much feared for his life over about four or five days.’
Like Mr Johnson, Churchill was a ‘fighter’, he added, but a lucky one. He was able to be treated with antibiotics which had only been put into production a few months previously. Churchill’s health remained suspect after the war, and he suffered three strokes before dying in 1965.
MEDICAL SUPPORT
A 24-strong medical team v Zoom consultations with a local GP
Donald Trump, as US president, is the focus of a huge medical operation of eye-watering cost.
The White House has its own medical unit, a division of the military nicknamed ‘Care Force One’, which is made up of 24 staff under the direction of Navy Commander Dr Sean Conley.
The White House has its own trauma facilities, while on foreign and domestic trips officials ensure Mr Trump is never more than 20 minutes away from a hospital with an intensive care facility.
If this is not possible, the White House Medical Unit (WHMU) ensures a military helicopter is nearby, kept in instant readiness to evacuate the president to an appropriate hospital.
Air Force One is also effectively a flying hospital, with an operating table, two beds, resuscitation equipment and a full pharmacy.
The president travels with two medical teams so one is on duty while the other recuperates.
Boris Johnson does not have a personal doctor. The House of Commons has its own doctor but instead he relies on his local GP.
This is a similar set up to that of his predecessors, including Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, who were all treated by the NHS.
All were aware of the likelihood of accusations of elitism or being out of touch with the public if they received ‘special treatment’.
The Queen – as head of state – does have access to her own round-the-clock medical team, while Winston Churchill had his own doctor during World War Two.
Conservative PM Marcus Fysh told MailOnline the situation was partly an historical anomaly due to the different political systems.
‘We’ve got a constitutional monarchy so the monarch is the head of state and has all of that.
‘In America the President is head of state, so that is probably why it has come through in this way.
‘But it is worth considering whether there should in future be special measures for health within the No10 operation.’
Mr Trump is now staying in a ‘luxury suite’ at a military hospital reserved solely for his own use, which includes a desk next to his bed (pictured) to allow him to continue to work
LEAD UP TO HOSPITAL
Quickly whisked to hospital by helicopter within 24 hours v 10 days alone in a flat with meals left outside the door
While the prime minister spent a whole 10 days in self-isolation before going to hospital, Mr Trump took less than 24 hours after being diagnosed.
The White House knew that Mr Trump’s senior aide Hope Hicks testing positive by October 1, yet the president still attended a fundraiser at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Hicks’ result was made public at 10.44pm, and Mr Trump is believed to have tested positive that same evening.
The result was announced just after midnight, and at 6.15pm the next day Mr Trump was seen walking across the White House lawn to Marine One, which flew him the short journey to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.
Mr Johnson had a coronavirus test on March 27 on the advice of Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. This came out as positive, and he went into self-isolation at his flat in Number 11 Downing Street. He described mild symptoms including a temperature.
Mr Johnson continued leading the Government and by Friday claimed to be feeling better, although he still had a persistent temperature. The PM had his meals left outside the door to pick up – a service which he would have had to fund out of his own pocket.
On Saturday a source said: ‘He has not been resting enough and is still leading from the front. Obviously that is beginning to slow down his recovery. He needs to go to bed.’
His condition deteriorated at some point over the weekend. It was only then that he consulted his GP over a Zoom call and was told to go to hospital.
On Sunday he was admitted to hospital as a ‘precaution’ – a full ten days after testing positive – and on Monday he was said to be in ‘good spirits’ and, according to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, ‘still in charge’ of the country from his hospital bed.
That evening his condition worsened and he was admitted into intensive care.
Mr Trump greeting his supporters from a limo yesterday after controversially leaving hospital. The prime minister is seen emerging from self-isolation in Downing Street to clap for the NHS on April 2
HOSPITAL TREATMENT
Luxury suite with a crystal chandelier v public intensive care ward
Mr Trump is being treated at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which considers itself ‘The Nation’s Medical Center’.
The site has 7,100 staff members are spread out across 100 clinics and specialities.
Because it serves the nation’s leaders, the hospital is outfitted with a wing dedicated to visitors from the highest offices: the President and Vice President are typically treated at the Medical Evaluation and Treatment Unit (METU).
The METU is secure, private and separate from the sprawling hospital’s other wards.
The suite includes a dining room lit by a crystal chandelier. There is also a living room with comfortable leather chairs, mahogany furniture and a grandfather clock.
There is also a desk a few steps away from the president’s hospital bed to allow him to continue carrying out his duties .
Mr Trump has called the facility ‘the finest in the world’.
However, it has a chequered past, and in 2007 was mired in a scandal over accusations of neglect that led to the deaths of deaths of several soldiers being treated there. It was later completely revamped.
St Thomas’ dates back to the 12th century and is one of London’s most famous hospitals. Its intensive care unit, where Mr Johnson was treated, is considered to be one of the finest in the country.
The hospital’s location in the heart of London meant that it received more Covid patients than almost any other site in the country, allowing it to develop specialist expertise in treating the disease.
Nonetheless, Mr Johnson was treated on public NHS wards and the hospital insisted he received ‘the same level of care’ as any other patient.
There were some special efforts though, including keeping a side room and equipment on standby for intensive care, according to the WSJ.
The prime minister’s treatment was overseen by Dr Richard Leach, who is considered one of the country’s foremost lung experts.
Mr Johnson later praised his ‘brilliant’ care. He said staff nurse Luis Pitarma, 29, and ward sister Jenny McGee, 35, watched over him for 48 hours, giving him the vital care he needed.
The dining room in the presidential suite at Walter Reed is even lit by a crystal chandelier, meaning Mr Trump can be treated to the luxuries he’s become accustomed to
The living room is seen in these photos of the suite from 2007. It is unknown if the decor has been updated
