Thanks, everyone, for your wonderfully kind thoughts and prayers.

I've lost a few patients in the five years I've been doing this job, but none have affected so much as this. I think it's because he and I had so much in common, and I met with him anything up to 4 times a week, every week (except holidays) for all those five years.

The service was a "good Scottish presbyterian" one; that's to say, short, factual and devoid of any humour whatsoever. And that's a pity, because there are a fund of stories he would have loved to be told, but it just isn't the way things are done!

His family are bearing up well. My involvement with them was purely peripheral, as a result of my dealings with him. However, I will continue to visit and offer what support I can, and f*ck what my bosses say. We're meant to be in the "caring" profession, after all!

Thanks again y'all

DM

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The selfish, they're all standing in line
Faithing and hoping to buy themselves time
Me, I figure as each breath goes by
I only own my mind