Hi Polly - This is one of the most thoughtful pieces I’ve read on dying and systems change in a long time. “The room was designed for medical procedures, not for kissing.” That line says almost everything.
At Anne Robson Trust, we see every day that good end of life care is about far more than clinical care alone. Presence, human connection and feeling less alone matter enormously yet they’re still often treated as secondary.
What really resonated was the recognition that policy papers alone won’t change this. The challenge is turning good ideas into real, joined-up support for people and families.
There is already extraordinary work happening quietly across the UK. It just rarely connects, scales or gets sustained backing.
We’d love to contribute practical insight and frontline learning to the conversation if helpful.
This is beautifully written and very compelling. In a time of political chaos when each successive government is fighting with relatively few economic levers against instant, unreasonable criticism, it may be too much to hope that the state will get to grips with this issue: one (unlike taxes) that none of us can dodge. Your advocacy of a private, or blended approach seems to me to make a great deal of sense.
Hi Polly - This is one of the most thoughtful pieces I’ve read on dying and systems change in a long time. “The room was designed for medical procedures, not for kissing.” That line says almost everything.
At Anne Robson Trust, we see every day that good end of life care is about far more than clinical care alone. Presence, human connection and feeling less alone matter enormously yet they’re still often treated as secondary.
What really resonated was the recognition that policy papers alone won’t change this. The challenge is turning good ideas into real, joined-up support for people and families.
There is already extraordinary work happening quietly across the UK. It just rarely connects, scales or gets sustained backing.
We’d love to contribute practical insight and frontline learning to the conversation if helpful.
More info available on our website annerobsontrust.org.uk
Liz Pryor
Hi polly, we have lots of social entrepreneurs woŕking in this space, let me know how we can help
This is beautifully written and very compelling. In a time of political chaos when each successive government is fighting with relatively few economic levers against instant, unreasonable criticism, it may be too much to hope that the state will get to grips with this issue: one (unlike taxes) that none of us can dodge. Your advocacy of a private, or blended approach seems to me to make a great deal of sense.