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10th September 2026
Patient’s family thanks nurses for exceptional kindness
When Sue and Colin Harbett heard that their Uncle Gordon had passed away, one of their first thoughts was the whereabouts of his beloved Cocker Spaniel, Leo. Hearing that Leo had been re-homed with a new family, brought a great sense of relief. But when they heard exactly how this had happened – they were astounded.
“Gordon was a very proud man,” Sue explains, “he was a respected former tax inspector and customs and excise officer and kept the severity of his illness from us. He was nearly 90 but still lived independently, with his faithful companion, Leo, by his side.
“When I heard who had been responsible for making sure Leo was looked after when Gordon fell seriously ill, I was astonished. The local community nursing team in Kingston had gone above and beyond, providing care for Gordon in his final days and then making sure Leo was looked after. They even made sure Gordon knew that Leo was OK.”
Emily Heritage, end of life, frailty and dementia lead at Your Healthcare, Kingston’s community healthcare provider, explains: “Our rapid response team was called to visit a gentleman who was incredibly weak, frail, and clearly entering the final phase of his life. He was living alone with his beloved dog.
“It would have been easy to only focus on the immediate clinical priorities — but our community nurses saw the whole person, not just the diagnosis. They arranged care at home which included an adapted bed, along with carers, medication and everything needed to enable him to remain comfortable, safe and cared for in his own environment. And recognising how important his dog was to the gentleman, the nurses made numerous phone calls until they found a solution.
“Through the charity Spaniel Aid, they arranged for the dog to be collected by a wonderful foster family experienced with the breed. Knowing that his beloved companion would be safe, brought enormous reassurance to the gentleman at the end of his life.”
The story did not end there. The foster family sent photographs to Spaniel Aid showing Leo happy, settled and enjoying life with their other dogs. Rachel, one of the charity’s volunteers, sent them to the nursing team who printed and laminated them, before taking them back to Gordon so he could keep them by his bed.
“Seeing those pictures gave him the reassurance that the dog he loved so deeply was safe, cared for and surrounded by affection,” continues Emily. “That simple act of kindness cannot be measured — it provided comfort that no medication ever could. It is what holistic nursing truly means; recognising that outstanding care extends far beyond medications and equipment. It is about understanding what matters most to a person and preserving dignity, relieving anxiety, and caring for emotional, psychological, practical and social needs, as well as physical symptoms.
“Our nurses didn’t simply organise care—they gave this gentleman peace of mind by ensuring the welfare of the companion he loved most. This is the kind of care that patients and families never forget.”
Sue Harbett added: “Nurses have got enough to do without re-homing dogs and making sure their owners know they are safe. I couldn’t believe it when I found out the lengths this community nursing team went to, to support Gordon at such a difficult time. If I could give them an award, I would!”
Gordon died peacefully at home a few days after Leo was rescued. Through Spaniel Aid, Leo went on to be re-homed permanently by a new family, where he is flourishing.
Rachel recently contacted Emily to say: “Leo has had a new haircut and looks a million dollars – his previous owner would be so happy.”
Unfortunately, as there were some health issues, Spaniel Aid had to spend £4,000 in vet’s fees before rehoming Leo permanently. The Your Healthcare nursing team publicised this throughout their organisation in a bid to encourage donations to the charity.
