A Good (Political) Death...

It seems entirely fitting that the government have published their end-of-life care strategy this week. Given the catastrophic outcome for Gordon Brown as Labour crashed to defeat in Glasgow East did the Dept of Health know something we didn't?

"How we care for the dying is an indicator of how we care for all sick and
vulnerable people. It is a measure of society as a whole."

Quite so. But there may be some knife-wielding Labour MPs that have missed this point. I feel the compassion of the medical profession may also be stretched to the limit here. The Lancet comments on the need to discuss death openly and how the plan advocates such measures as rapid response palliative care nursing teams. I feel we should be encouraging the Prime Minister to face up to his future (or lack of it) and put plans in place so we can accomodate his chosen place of death.

The good news for the government is that it is thought these measures could be cost-neutral. Hurrah! The new strategy may be a 10 year plan but I think I can advise this patient that the prognosis looks worse and it won't be that long before Mr Brown curls up his political toes and dies.