Both my parents died in a hospice the decline I saw in end-of-life care in four years was terrifying | Natalie Morris

It felt like the past had looped back on itself, trapping me in a recurring nightmare. The quality of end-of-life care has undergone a shocking and rapid decline.

For Mum, palliative care was fraught and stressful. There was a tense and time-pressured battle to get her a bed, and when we finally arrived at the North West hospice, she was given a bed on a shared ward.

I called the hospice every night and every morning before our visit, but on many occasions the phone rang out, or there was nobody available to give us an update.

One evening, Mum messaged me asking for help - she couldn't reach her call button in the dark and nobody had been to check on her.

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