Terminal cancer patient 'scared' of dying at home

A woman with terminal lung cancer has said she feels "scared" of dying at home rather than in the care of a specialist hospice.

Mo Jackson, who wants to spend her final days at Marie Curie hospice in Liverpool, said it "shook me to my core" when she discovered the centre had been forced to temporarily close for outpatients.

The 57-year-old, who said cancer had spread to her stomach and brain, went on to say that she had received "lots" of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Marie Curie said the decision to close the 26-bed inpatient unit in Woolton in July was due to shortages in specialised nursing staff.

Ms Jackson, from Liverpool, told BBC North West Tonight that she had been "strangely looking forward" to going to the Marie Curie hospice since she knew it also provided "brilliant" aftercare for patients' families.

She added: "I feel scared for my family - I will not have a happy death if I die in here.

"My house is for living in and not dying in.

"I envisaged being in Marie Curie, in a bed, with all my family around me."

Ms Jackson said she wanted "the staff to look after me when needed, and my children around not as my carers, but as my children".

The 57-year-old said she was determined that her family would "make good memories, even though I am dying."

Ms Jackson's husband Barrie died at the Marie Curie hospice 18 months ago, as did her sister Anne six years ago.

Ms Jackson said the hospice provided "brilliant" care for the family after they lost Barrie and Anne, who both died aged 57.

She added: "But with the threats that are looming, I feel a bit lost, vulnerable and scared.

"I don't know what could happen with me and the effect it could have on my family."

A Marie Curie representative said the charity was "committed to collaborating" with the NHS if the latter could "support us to guarantee safe staffing levels and offer funding that covers costs".

The charity stressed that "services are being offered to people at home while the unit is temporarily closed".

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