"Dying without dignity"

My only sibling (who was only 51) was admitted to Neptune ward in June 2018.

This was not the first time.

I was told they were a ‘regular’.

You can guess the rest.

I was telephoned when my sibling had a seizure and so I rushed in to be with them as I was told it might be the end.

I stayed for almost two days, seeing various shift changes of nurses and doctors over a weekend.

Towards the final few hours my sibling was moved into a single room off Neptune ward for privacy.

Most of the nurses were brilliant and extremely compassionate.

But two nurses (or auxiliaries) had come onto shift on the Sunday and seemed to be very jovial.

As my sibling drew their last breaths, the ‘nurses’ commenced to bully her by calling her ‘the singing lady’ and singing (well shouting), loudly into her face ‘DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA’.

This greatly distressed me and my dying sibling. I saw her beginning visibly more distressed and crying.

I could not complain or show my distress for fear of causing further distress to my sibling.

I shut the door in a bid to protect my sibling and played her some soothing music on my phone.

I cannot express how distressed I continue to feel knowing that my dying sibling had to listen to this mocking and bullying in her final hours.

I have not been able to talk to other members of my family about this incident for fear of causing further upset so it continues to haunt and depress me and cause me pain.