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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

A precious web of care still exists

Hospital staff on a ward
‘In Megan’s case, she was able to stay at home and enjoy many of the things she liked until a final two-day stay in hospital, where she also received good care.’ Photograph: Getty

My long-term partner of 30 years, Megan Davies, died from lung cancer on 31 October.

While I agree that there is much to be done to improve end-of-life care (Editorial, 29 October; Letters, 2 November), in Megan’s case, she was able to stay at home and enjoy many of the things she liked until a final two-day stay in hospital, where she also received good care.

This was achieved by a combination of support from family, friends and her local GP, together with targeted assistance from hospice-based palliative care nurses.

It was not, of course, perfect and sometimes required chasing up treatment and medication, but that web of care seems to me an important matter, if, of course, it can be achieved with a stretched NHS and still austere Britain.
Keith Flett
Tottenham, London

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