"Marie curie nursing angels, thank you"

My Dad had been diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer and we were being looked after excellently by our district nurses at home as per Dad’s wishes. 

Two days before Dad passed away our district nurses fitted a syringe driver, but with minimal amounts of morphine. That night at 2am Dad was very unsettled and in pain so I rang out of hours doctors and had a call back within 3 mins to assess the situation. They informed me that the Marie Curie nurses would attend as soon as they could as they were travelling an hour to our home. Primrose came to visit us within the hour and having spoken to us and read the district nurses notes she was able to administer some more medication to begin. Dad had a few complications that she was able to rectify and she was able to make Dad more comfortable, you could see the visible relief and comfort that he got. Primrose was also able to explain some delicate information about end of life care further to us and gave us knowledge and comfort before she left. The following day we were under the care of our district nurses again thankfully but at night Dad was very poorly and I rang out of hours again. The Marie Curie nurses again rang me back to confirm they would attend within the hour. Unfortunately between the time of the call and the visit of Alison to our home, Dad had actually passed away 15 mins prior to her arrival. I apologised to Alison for wasting her time coming to us. She condoled with us, assured us it was not a waste of time at all and she would help us in our difficult situation. We were so thankful for her calm demeanour and helpful attitude at our time of biggest loss. She also said that Dad was on her handover notes so had expected a call from us again, the ladies were so intuitive and knowledgeable.

Both Primrose and Alison were so kind, reassuring and careful with Dad.

They treated Dad with such dignity and respect even though he was unable to communicate fully with us at this stage.

They helped us enormously in the middle of the night when we needed their support in our time of need. We really appreciate everything they did for us in our short time of knowing them, and are so thankful that they kept Dad so comfortable up to his death. Thank you ladies, thinking back I’m sure it was a difficult house you came into to see us, but you were so professional and amazing with us all, thank you so much for everything.