THE Channel 4 programme Death this week featured the comprehensive care received by terminal cancer patients across the UK, particularly in Swindon.

The programme featured the services provided by the NHS (District Nurses), Prospect Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Relief and Marie Curie Cancer Care. As the local fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care, I wanted to say thank you to Kathleen (featured in the programme) and to all the Marie Curie Nurses in Swindon

The work of the Marie Curie Nurses is often not recognised, due to the discreet nature of their work and the time of life at which they become involved.

It is the Marie Curie Nurse who will be leaving home to arrive at a patient's home for 10pm; to care for the patient and to provide support to the relative during the last days of their illness. Sometimes relatives are overwhelmed with sheer exhaustion looking after a dying person requires enormous energy they might feel they can't cope for much longer.

Having a Marie Curie Nurse there keeps families together. They can stop families from giving up. They are there for nine hours at a time, giving high quality one-to-one care.

Marie Curie Cancer Care has an important place alongside the role of the hospice. With the best will in the world, the hospice can not provide in-patient beds for all cancer patients.

Also many families wish to do all they can to stay together at home. Marie Curie Nurses can provide that freedom of choice.

For more information please call me on 01179247275.

SOPHIE KINSMAN

Community Fundraising Manager

Marie Curie Cancer Care