End of life care

I arrived at Hexham General at 0900 hoping to see Mum’s consultant. It turns out that he works in Haltwhistle on Fridays but had seen her first and organised her end of life care.

All regular medication was stopped and morphine is being administered in a syringe driver. I had asked for this at the RVI but been told No.

She had been washed and dressed in her own nightie. She opened her eyes but did not know me.

I’ve been here all day. The staff have been wonderful. Everyone knows what is happening and they are looking after both of us.

Liz came this afternoon. Joan came to pick up a dirty nightie and took it to wash and returned it later.

I had a walk outside before the rain.

Things are as good as they can be. I’m just so relieved to be here and not in Newcastle.

The embroidery panels are in outpatients. They were embroidered by members of Hexham Embroiderers’ Guild for the new hospital. I think the words are appropriate for us at this time.

Here are the details if you are interested:

TAPESTRY BY HEXHAM EMBROIDERERS GUILD
In classical mythology the THREE FATES were weavers whose task it was to manage people's lives.
CLOTHO spun the thread creating the substance of a person's life. LACHESIS measured it, judging both quantity and quality and ATROPOS decided when to cut it and bring it to an end.
The theme for the 'tapestry' evolved from a series of workshops with local poet Linda France. The Fates seemed a fitting subject for women skilled in stitching and trimming. It was also appropriate for the new. hospital, the canvas for so many fates.
In the design by Sheila Corfe - the river represents life itself, never still, but it is also our River Tyne flowing through the valley, year after year, spring, summer, autumn and winter.