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How ‘kith’ as well as ‘kin’ can help hospital patients
• INCREASINGLY we have experienced a problem of individuals ending up in hospital who, for a variety of reasons, are unable fully to participate in decision-making for themselves and yet do not either appear to have any next of kin or what family we are able to identify are estranged.
London has traditionally been a city of opportunity and refuge. We have an increasingly aging population.
I suspect, therefore, that folks without blood relatives on hand is going to become more of an issue not less.
Why can we not give, therefore, more formal recognition to kith, that is, long-standing friends?
Could Camden Council not create a registry of committed friends who could be accessed in times of need. This would have no financial implications at all. I often come into contact with caring and devoted friends who have nothing to gain showing up for loved ones in their hour of need. However they often feel intimidated to come forward and identify themselves unfortunately because they are sometimes greeted with suspicion. Let us formalise this relationship as a declared interest in the well-being of another. It is time that change our customs to reflect our changing world
Dr Stephane Duckett
Royal Free Hospital, NW3
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