When a patient expressed their wish to spend his final weeks in his childhood home of Hong Kong, our team made it their mission to make this a reality for him. With just four days to plan, Resident Doctor, Dr Callum Chessell, and our healthcare team, worked tirelessly alongside the patient’s family to overcome logistical and medical challenges. Here, Callum explains how we managed to get the patient to Hong Kong comfortably.
Q: Tell us about your involvement in assisting a patient return to Hong Kong.
“The patient had been in hospital due to his illness, and it was recognised that he was probably in the last few weeks of his life. His family had long been trying to get him back to Hong Kong, where he was originally from. He wanted to return to his wife’s family and to the place where he grew up, after living in the UK for about 60 years.
“The hospital team initially thought it wouldn’t possible, but they contacted the Hospice to find out if we could help. We liaised with the hospital’s palliative care team, who referred the patient to us.
“We moved quickly. The family were very involved, and a one-way flight was booked for just four days after his admission, so we had a tight deadline. There was a lot of paperwork and organisation to ensure he would be safe on the plane. The Hospice’s occupational therapists and physiotherapists worked with him on mobility – mostly getting in and out of a chair so he could manage an airplane seat.
“We also trained his family to use equipment to make his journey more comfortable. There’s no medical assistance onboard, so they had to be prepared until they reached healthcare in Hong Kong.
“He was dependent on a wheelchair, and there were moments when we thought he might not be able to access the plane. But he was very determined – this was his dying wish, so we did everything possible to support him.
“We liaised with the airline and their doctors, signed forms, and arranged permissions for controlled drugs through border security.”
Q: What happened when the patient got to the airport?
“The airline was extremely accommodating. We arranged airline assistance, a taxi to Heathrow, wheelchair support at the airport, and a special onboard chair that could be used as a wheelchair. Oxygen was also arranged by the airline which could be used in an emergency.”
Q: Did you hear from the family after the flight?
“Yes. They emailed us a few days after landing. The plan had been to spend a couple of days in Hong Kong before travelling into China to his wife’s family, who would continue to care for him. But because of a typhoon, they went straight to China. The family told us things were going very well, and they were extremely grateful. He was happy and comfortable.
“I’m proud to have been involved with the patient’s care. Without our help, he would simply have been discharged back home in the UK, without a chance of returning to his childhood home.”
At St Michael’s Hospice, every patient’s care is unique and personalised and Callum’s experience is another example of creating Moments that Matter when they’re needed most. If you’d like to support us to create more, you can find out more about Moments that Matter here.
