A Patient with no Family Support

Rathan is a 70-year-old widower who was referred to GPH in May by doctors at the Rishikesh Government Hospital.

Rathan with GPH medical staff

Guided by the hospice social worker Grace Thomas, Rathan was admitted to GPH for care and diagnosis. Dr Taranjit Singh, the GPH resident doctor, confirmed Basel cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer, but was confident that the malignancy could be successfully treated with surgery. An oncology surgeon from AIIMS Hospital Rishikesh gladly agreed to perform the surgery at no cost for the patient who had no contact with his family.

As Rathan is estranged from his five children it was particularly helpful for him to have the support and guidance of GPH staff in diagnosis, subsequent care and preparation for surgery. Although the social worker did manage to track down one of his sons that son did not seem inclined to help his father in any way. Rathan’s other four children could not be traced.

Rathan asks for help putting in his hearing aid

During his stay at the hospice he also received a hearing aid to help improve his quality of life and interactions with others as he was not able to hear without the aid and communication with him was very difficult.

On Monday the 5th July, Rathan was taken to AIIMS for surgery and GPH provided him with an attendant for his stay there. On Friday 9th of July the hospice staff collected him from the hospital after what appears at present to be a successful operation.