To try and get my Dad back to the UK so he can die here

Another vote for bring him home, and do so as soon as possible.

I have medically repatriated terminal cancer patients on commercial flights; it's absolutely possible and there are ways to make it easier. You can request wheelchair assistance when you book your flights, so that he won't have to walk long distances or carry bags. I would inform the airline of the situation, but if you do this you must get a fit-to-fly certificate from the doctor before you go. Cabin crew are brilliant, and they have medical training if he deteriorates in-flight.

Have you spoken to his insurers about it? I don't know what they'd cover but it's worth asking. The insurance company I work for would send a medic (e.g. me!) out to repatriate him and they'd fly him in business class. A flat bed and lounge access makes it much less exhausting. They'd also arrange an ambulance to take him home from the airport, and the medic would give him IV pain relief if he needed it during the journey. He might need an anticoagulant injection before the flight to prevent blood clots; ask the doc!

That's good to know.

Pain meds are extremely tightly controlled here now but hospice care makes access easier.

Go over the airline regs for flying with his meds. They might have to be in the original containers. Liquids might need hand checking.

Much of Scotland is very rural we have a population of approx 5.5 million of which 4 million of those live in the central belt so most people outside of this area bar a few exceptions are likely to live at best in a small town at worst literally in the middle of nowhere. NHS Scotland is not perfect but it is very aware of the problems of rural remote living including problems of getting carers to visit patients in very remote locations. So in most rural areas HCSWs are employed by the NHS to provide personal care to EOL patients in very remote locations so getting carers to visit is not usually an issue.

Sending hugs OP x

Best thing you can do OP is talk to the local doctors surgery re that side of things.

This. Trying to get a residence permit, despite the extenuating circumstances, can only bring more stress and heartache, and i am not quite sure it would be easy to get at all considering her sponsor would be so ill and unable to suport her in the long run.

in terms of medical support, I really don’t know how things work in Scotland but if in England I would be worried about the likelihood of getting carers willing to travel regularly to a remote location and it may be quite taxing to drive your dad to hospital regularly or problematic in case of emergencies.

The life expectancy for pancreatic cancer has improved very considerably in the last decade so if I were in your shoes, I would try to convince him to stay were he is receiving adequate treatment to prolong his life as you never know, things can change for the better. If he is only receiving palliative care it woukd be different but again, it is impossible to predict if he would be able to get the same level of care he is getting where he is.

There’s so much in this, but as far as his wife is concerned, can’t she just come on a tourist visa (at least to start with)?

^This in conjunction with the palliative care team who advise about syringe driver doses etc. (I’m writing as a community nurse working in rural Scotland).

No one who is palliative will not be able to access pain medication or end of life care I assure you.
GP Partner of almost 30 years.

Op have you checked that an airline would be willing to take him?

Just to add in my extensive experience many parts of rural Scotland have very limited access to hospices and your “local hospice” can easily be a 3 hour drive from your home. Many patients wish to die in a hospice bed but end up dying either in an acute bed in a local hospital because no hospice bed is available we for example only have 6 hospice beds for a population of over 150 000 or some may die in a bed in a cottage hospital. The other option assuming symptoms can be effectively managed is dying at home, I work daily with patients and their families who wish to die at home and know of others who do the same in other rural areas. We go out of our way to support both the person dying and their loved ones as well.

She specifically said they don’t want hospice care but clearly many posters hear ‘die’ and immediately think ‘hospice’. People have been dying at home since forever. It may not be right for some people and families but that isn’t a reason to medicalise death for everyone.

In Scotland?

End of life care at home is provided by the GP and district nurses where I am.

Partly because OP mentioned it

And in my case, partly because we would not have been able to manage EOL care at home with my dad. Obviously, it depends on the patient.

TeaPot496
I don't know why everyone keeps going on about hospice places. End of life care at home is nothing to do with hospices.

The nurses are sent through the hospices in a lot of cases/ have connections there. They also help with home equipment and education. My dad was at home but we went through the local hospice and my friends dad was the same

If there is a possibility that setting up hospice care in Scotland including access to controlled pain medication could be delayed because of his relocating, I wouldn't move him myself. It really needs to be in place before he flies.

Ask his oncologist if he's going to be able to fly however many hours the flight is and is this plan realistic and doable. It's going to be really hard on him. He might need oxygen because of the cabin pressure if he's got lung involvement.

I personally would not risk someone dying of cancer not being able to access pain medication. I also think he's really going to want his wife there.

I'm sorry you're in this situation.

This post, and the one from @BurnoutGP are what you are looking for OP.

I do think there are substantial differences between England and Scotland, so the info from @tiredwardsister should be particularly relevant.

I do think it’s very kind of everyone on the thread to post their experiences.

You are doing a wonderful thing for your dad, but do try to recognise that some of it might be out of your control

I’d say start with the most local Scottish cancer charity and or hospice to where your dad will be and go from there. Best of luck x

I don't know why everyone keeps going on about hospice places. End of life care at home is nothing to do with hospices.

@Ataloss23 hospice care is incredibly difficult to get

Also, is he fit to fly? Would the airlines take him? Or are you planning some kind of private flight?

given all the things that you would need to sort out here, I don't think it's a good idea.

everything would be coordinated through a doctor here and I'm presuming he doesn't have one here?

If you’re coming back to live in the U.K. on a permanent basis rather than popping in for treatment then returning to a foreign country, you qualify for treatment.

No advice, but wanted to wish you, your dad and his wife the best. I really hope they can both get to Scotland asap.

I agree. My mum only got a place because someone pulled some strings.
Do not rely on hospice places they are massively underfunded

my father died at home recently, the community palliative team were excellent and came once a day - and any time we called them (day or night). England not Scotland but he also had three times a day carers for his personal care, which was free for three months (he died before they were up).

The hospital bed and other home equipment was also all free, the nurses requested what he needed and it was delivered quickly and set up by professionals. The company also took it away at the end.

The last few weeks were very hard and my mum, sibling and I were with him around the clock, but we didn’t have to administer medicines etc.

I hope this has reassured you a bit as to what is available!

Best of luck to you in getting it sorted and being able to honour your dad’s wishes, and my sincere condolences for the difficult situation you’re facing.