Once upon a time, a wiser, older and more silvery fox than I began to dabble in the newly recognised area of palliative care.

Previously, the care of these patients had been left to nurses and forgotten medical wards at the rear of public hospital grounds.

This more mature GP made himself a regional expert in the field simply by concentrating on this area of his general practice, and by liaising with the solitary tertiary palliative care specialist.

He would consult with the local medical specialists, who supervised the admissions in the local public hospital to stabilise these patients.