Dad suffocated in front of wife as medics said there was nothing they could do
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ANDREW HOGG, 43, DIED IN AUGUST 2019 AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE. HIS WIDOW ALEX, 37, IS NOW CAMPAIGNING FOR BETTER END-OF-LIFE CARE FOR MND SUFFERERS 15:10, 18 Mar
2024Updated 13:11, 21 Mar 2024 A woman who had to witness the tragic death of her husband is now battling for better end-of-life care for people with the rare illness which took his life.
Soldier and dad-of-three Andrew Hogg was struggling to breathe when he passed away. The 43-year-old had diagnosed Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and had been "terrified" when he died
in August last year. Now wife Alex is calling for changes to palliative care for those with the condition, awareness of which has soared thanks to ex-Rugby League star Rob Burrow CBE. Alex,
37, from West Lothian, said she was told her husband had been sedated and wouldn't have understood what was happening at the time. But she claims Andrew had been aware, and has
criticised the "diabolical" and "cruel" level of care he received. "Andrew knew he was dying," she said. "It was a slow suffocation and he was absolutely
terrified. "Since his diagnosis, we had been told at the end of his life he would be fully sedated and wouldn't be aware of anything. But he was and he was terrified. It is
diabolical that someone had to die like that with a medical professional in the room. It was cruel. We must make sure this never happens again." READ MORE: Beauty fans rave over
'magic' 26p pimple patches that 'heal blemishes overnight' Article continues below Alex claims she has not received proper answers from Lothian Health Board, reports the
Daily Record. She was told to seek medical help if Andrew's breathing became difficult. Alex called St John's Hospital in Livingston shortly after midnight on August 25 as he was
having trouble breathing. A nurse came quickly and gave him Buscopan, which had helped before. But then things got worse. Alex recalled: "I called St John's at 3.03am, said it was
an emergency and my husband was suffocating and panicking." She added: "He was grabbing on to me, pulling my hair, grabbing my top. By the time the nurse arrived again, Andrew was
grabbing me mouthing he was going to die." "The nurse gave him drugs but they didn't do anything because he was so far gone. His eyes were bulging out his head, his fingers
were blue, his toes were blue, his lips were blue. She said there was nothing she could do." "She could have escalated it to a doctor or a palliative care consultant but she was
just crying in a corner of the room." Andrew's ordeal has been raised with health chiefs by MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton. Article continues below The Scots Lib-Dem leader said: "In
eight years of being an MSP this is one of the most heartbreaking and traumatic cases I have encountered. She fought so hard for his care but at nearly every time of asking she was met with
inadequate provision and inertia." NHS Lothian medical director Dr Tracey Gillies said: "Members of our senior clinical team wrote to Mrs Hogg and spoke with her directly regarding
her husband's care. We would encourage Mrs Hogg to get back in touch." A spokesman for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership said they did not comment on individual
cases.