"Care at End of Life"

Anything else?

My mother was admitted on Friday evening 14th June 2013 with a failing heart and pneumonia. She was aged 88. The medical assessment unit was very busy. By Monday 17th June the chaplain was called to offer a blessing accompanied by my sister and my wife and one of my mothers nieces. The hospital staff called all five of her children including me to recommend that we come to the hospital. My mother was moved from the noisy busy ward to a side room where we were all able to visit and stay with her until her final breath on Wednesday 19th June. All of the staff, the doctors, nurses, the chaplain and cleaners were uniformly sympathetic, focused on my mothers care and comfort. Even though they must see many elderly women at the end of life they did not make one of us feel as if my mother was anyone other than the most important patient in the hospital. Thanks to each and every member of staff involved. I have not a single word of criticism.