This is the tale of three men and the amazing capacity of the human body to survive and heal. It’s also a tale of shared decision-making. The first two men are patients I’ve been trying to support to stay out of hospital; the third is my partner.

In January I was involved in looking after two frail elderly patients, both living alone with permanent catheters in situ. The first was a vulnerable man. He speaks little English, and he is deaf so he cannot use the telephone. Access to his flat is courtesy of a neighbour who lives downstairs (if he’s at home). The key safe is empty.

This man had spent days in bed, unwell, not eating or drinking properly, before a relative alerted us to the situation. He’d been attended by the …