"End of Life Care"

My husband was receiving cancer treatment . He was admitted to hospital as he was weaker and needed support . We had a telephone message from the ward sister that his condition had deteriorated and he had been moved to a side ward . When we visited , the sister accompanied by a doctor who had played no part in my husband's care up to this point told us he would be kept comfortable for what time remained . We were accompanied by a family friend who is a GP and who had made it his task to find a doctor to come and speak to us .Without this support we wonder if there would have been anything more said other than from a very sympathetic and supportive sister .

It came as quite a shock to the family members who were there .

We were left feeling that end of life care was not given a high priority . Some of the nurses were very caring and ensured he had water to drink : others seemed to think he could manage when it was obvious he could not .

The nurse on duty the night my husband died was not a very sympathetic person , Death may be a common feature in hospitals but not to a family .

In terms of details on the certificate : the name was incorrect and the time of death also incorrect .

I would like to hope this is not a typical experience .