An excerpt from Rachel Clarke’s ‘Dear Life‘, as read on radio (BBC Radio 4) by the author, on her work as a doctor in end of life care, at a hospice.

Here, Rachel recounts an encounter with one memorable resident at the home. It’s uplifting story of a thoroughly person-centred approach,  going with a patient/client’s wishes – whilst still managing to not take her initial refusal of help for an answer.

But we include it here as much for the sheer warmth and humour; and the message that tiny, totally personal shifts can be what make life worth living; and the work worth doing.

It is also a reminder of the Ann Arbor hospice’s suggestion  (HERE) that their work is not essentially that of providing practical care. At heart, it is essentially ‘applied ethics’.